FORsooth Volume 18, No. 7 A publication of the Louisville Chapter of the Fellowship of Reconciliation www.louisville-for.org September 2007 US health system’s woes Floating remembrances crossed the line in 1970s by Eustace Durrett there and knows of no widely-reported and Ike M. Thacker IV long waits; care was provided immediately. This is an incomplete review of some Louisville native Peggy Kidwell was aspects of U.S. health care. However, a non-citizen resident of Canada while consider these statistics: working for five years on her doctorate at The United States used to have the tall- the University of Toronto when her mother est people in the world. But no more. The suffered a heart attack and stroke in 1979, short of it is that Americans met a height following which Kidwell brought her to plateau after World War II and gradually fell Canada because the latter had neither health behind the rest of the world’s populations. insurance nor savings. As early as the 1960s, most countries The mother had emphysema, too, in northern and western Europe had taller and had likewise been told that the pa- (the long of it) citizens. The younger ralysis of her right side, caused by the generations of Japan and other prosperous stroke, was permanent. countries of Asia stand nearly as tall, on This paralysis was cured by Canadian average, as Americans. Holland has the doctors within two months; Kidwell had tallest men at six feet, two inches taller her mother with her in Toronto for some 11 than their U.S. counterparts. months until her mother insisted on Many economists and nutritionists returning to Kentucky — after which she argue that height is correlated with a saw a cardiologist for less than five minutes. population’s well-being. They say that, as This U.S. doctor inadvertently left off one a rule, tall people are healthier, wealthier, medicine from her list of prescriptions and and live longer than short people. Some — photos by Eddie Davis said he would see her again in two months. researchers have even suggested that tall Lanterns on a pond in Cherokee Park in Louisville Aug. 5 She died in six weeks. The funeral was people are more intelligent. on Christmas Eve. Tallness, in itself, doesn’t make you commemorate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Not surprisingly, Kidwell believes that smarter, richer, or healthier. It’s that the Japan. The program, organized by the Louisville FOR and other the Canadian health care system is same elements that make you taller — a groups, also included a talk by Margie Hunt, right, of Louisville, a absolutely excellent (no bill resulted from nutritious diet, good prenatal care, and a Hiroshima survivor, who said she harbors no ill will toward her mother’s treatment in Canada); she healthy childhood — also confer these also said she knew many dozens of people Americans, but strongly believes we must prevent nuclear weapons (continued on page 7) from being used again. See a poem about the gathering on page two. Torrent of water, drought of votes concern FOR chief by George Morrison country basically generated a slate for elec- “So I’ve inherited a learner, meaner FORsooth editor tion that six or seven hundred people re- organization, and it means that the strategic sponded to. And the vacancies that had to plan that was adopted by FOR in 2005 has Waterlogged documents and voter apa- be filled between natural rotations and some sort of been slow to take legs. So we’re thy are two problems concerning FOR ex- resignations meant that the entire slate anxious now to make sure that we’re staffed ecutive director Mark Johnson, who attended ended up on the national council. many peace and justice events in the Louis- “So one of the questions that the orga- ville area in July as he traveled the nation to nization wrestles with is how do you main- become more familiar with the organization To help with FOR needs, go tain a democratic relationship to your mem- since taking its top post in March. bership base and still sustain the recruit- Still, Johnson, the former treasurer of to www.forusa.org, then ment of talented individuals to serve on the the Chicago FOR, was upbeat during a July national council.” select “JoinFOR/donate.” 23 interview in Louisville about the national Finances are also a concern; although organization’s work in Colombia and Iran, this problem resulted from good fortune a new blog (www.forpeace.org) that allows among membership, Johnson added, to meet the goals of that strategic plan and internet users to converse on issues, and explaining that the national FOR relies that the staff we have is adequately the “Festival of Peace” planned at the considerably on bequests and annuities. compensated and has the opportunity for Nyack, N.Y. headquarters Sept. 13-to-16. Mark Johnson “Well, there were a couple of years training and developing a culture of Johnson, 60, has devoted part of his first very wet, soggy papers,” Johnson said. where not as many people passed away; teamwork and coherence.” five months as director to a small disaster at Aside from the flood, the FOR is also not as many major gifts arrived,” he said. Despite these challenges, Johnson, a Shadowcliff, the national FOR’s headquar- dealing with a drought of participation in “And it turned out that the organization peace activist and conscientious objector ters on the Hudson River at Nyack. A sprin- National Council elections. was overextended in terms of staff and during the 1960s who did c.o. alternative kler malfunctioned in July, sending a torrent “The last two elections have secured programs and that led to, as they say in the service in Beirut, Lebanon, talked of water into the unoccupied building and only a few hundred votes from a member- corporate world, some downsizing. (continued on page 3) causing a third floor ceiling to collapse. ship that is in, literally, the tens of thou- “I would have liked to have spent the sands,” Johnson said. “The process that Fellowship of Reconciliation Louisville Chapter 2236 Kaelin Avenue Louisville, KY 40205-2608 last two weeks sort of catching up with ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED was put in place to nominate candidates for at 502/458-8056 Call F.O.R. correspondence and so on, but instead I the National Council by regions across the spent the last two weeks sorting through INSIDE Louisvillians, Rwandans join peace efforts ................................. p. 2 Race has always been taken into account.................................... p. 4 Non-Profit Org. Permit No. 962 Abe was never more honest .......................................................... p. 5 Louisville, KY U.S. Postage PAID Reviewers look at two activists’ works ........................................ p. 7 A poem written to capture the experience of those who gathered by Willow Pond in Cherokee Park on the first Sunday in August to remember Hiroshima. Reaching to Rwanda Margie Hunt, a Hiroshima survivor, and Lee Thomas, a serviceman at the time — photos by Eddie Davis of the bombing, were among those who shared with the group. Six peace educators from Rwanda studied methods of training mediators June 24 to 26 in a program at Central Presbyterian Church in Louisville organized by the Peace Education Program, which for 25 years has taught REFLECTING nonviolent conflict resolution in Louisville area schools and community centers. 62 years after the bomb Left photo, Brenda Moorman (right), an educator through Peace Ed, discusses resolution 62 resounding, fading gongs— techniques while Peace Ed executive director 62 candles float along Eileen Blanton listens. Bottom photo, Cliff Reflecting on the surface of the pond— Irons, in dark shirt, youth services coordinator Reflecting as twilight descends at Iroquois High School, speaks. Next to him Upon us gathered there, are Rwandan peace educators, from left, David As we, listening, watching on the shore Bucura and Sizere Marcellin. Reflect upon the pain of War Blanton said the Rwandans have been training adults of the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa And yearn for people in conflict resolution in light of the Peace. genocide of the 1990s and, through the June program, they learned ways to teach youth. 62 years after the bomb 62 resounding, fading gongs— 62 candles float along, As we reflect upon The words of those among us Who bore witness to the bomb That cleaved skin from bone— The bomb that tore a gaping hole In hearts and history. 62 resounding, fading gongs As we reflect upon The story of one woman Of Japanese descent Who as an adolescent survived The horror of August 6, 1945— One who literally could not speak at all Of her experience— Not even to her family Until recently. Reflecting, as 62 candles float along, On the story of a man— Then a young American soldier Waiting on a boat offshore At the moment of the bomb— Yarmuth backs war curb Living witness to the devastation done— Two area activists for a peaceful January, they told the congressman of Living now as a passionate resolution of the Iran-U.S. conflict have their trip. In a letter of response, Yarmuth Ambassador for Peace. helped secure the backing of U.S. Rep. wrote: “I am a proud sponsor of John Yarmuth of Louisville for the cause. H.Con.Res 33, legislation which ex- Reflecting, as 62 candles float along, Husband and wife David and Ona presses the sense of Congress that the On the old “Gonna Love One Another” song, Owen, who traveled to Iran last year as part President should not initiate military ac- On a prayer chanted by Tibetan monks, of an FOR-sponsored delegation, asked tion against Iran without first obtaining On a prayer in Hebrew prayed, Yarmuth, a democrat elected last fall, to authorization from Congress.” oppose the Bush administration’s leaning Yarmuth’s letter described the need And on a Rumi poem of unity, toward war with Iran.