Real Peace-Makers: Muriel Duckworth

by Scott Cressman

Most Canadians have probably never heard of Muriel Duckworth, the pacifist and activist from Nova Scotia who died Saturday. Neither had I, but now I wish Canadians knew this peacemaker better. She seems like the kind of Christian who grabs Jesus’ ideas of peace with both hands and won’t let go. Judging from these admiring articles from the CBC and the Associated Press, her strong voice and efforts earned real results and respect.

Ms. Duckworth was an outspoken pacifist during World War II, a position that made her unpopular with her neighbours. Decades later, she worked with Oxfam and led the national Voice of Women group against the Vietnam War by focusing on war’s real victims and causes. She brought Vietnamese women to Canada to share their stories, and also condemned our country’s support for the war through arms dealing. More recently, she remained dedicated to justice by speaking out through the Raging Grannies activist group.

How will we be remembered?

by Scott Cressman

What will we be remembered for?

I had this discussion with my friends recently. When our children and grandchildren look back at how we lived at the beginning of this century, what will make them roll their eyes in disbelief? What will make them mutter “that generation was so wrong about…”?

I might shake my head at the past decades’ over-sized SUVs, lack of seatbelts, or asbestos use, but am also sure my descendents will do the same towards me.

Predicting the future is a tricky task, but I think my generation could be judged for how it uses water. Of course, we can be dangerously careless with all the resources we’ve been given. But water is so vital to our survival: we need fresh water to drink, to stay clean, and to grow crops. No wonder the biblical writers portray water as the symbol of life itself.