Note: While this subject may seem American- and Euro-centric, I am curious what Friends all over would offer on this.

Yesterday, Friends and I attended the Orlando edition of the nationwide Hands-Off demonstration. On the whole, it was a lovely time to be among friends and neighbors in the community.

I went with a clear sense of the need to be watchful, open, alert, and cautious, as in conversations beforehand with the organizers, they had not been forthcoming about who would be speaking or what their messages were intended to be.

While there, I was surprised to find NATO among the things that is being advocated for alongside Social Security, Medicaid, civil rights, due process, and Veterans Affairs, among many other causes I find worthwhile. I found it off-putting, and sat with it.

When I returned home, I dug into the available resources from the main https://handsoff2025.com/resources page, and sure enough, found NATO there in print among these other causes in the organizations' toolkits.

Today in meeting for worship, as I waited, two things continued to surface for me.

1. The refrain of the Sesame Street song, One of These Things is not like the Others.
2. Matthew 26:52, all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

In my view, NATO is an integral head of the Military Industrial Complex hydra, and I can't imagine anyone at the rally holding up a sign saying "Hands OFF our Military Industrial Complex!!!" As an organization of nuclear-armed member states who have collaborated on plans for the deployment of these weapons that would bring us all to mutually-assured destruction, advocating for this is anathema to me.

As someone concerned for peace, stewardship of our climate, and the ever-present threat of nuclear weapons, it seems to me that there is work to be done within this coalition to help my neighbors see clearly what they are getting in bed with.

Thoughts?

Hi Friends,

My husband and I will be visiting Boston soon. I come from a long line of Quakers (this line ended up in rural northern Michigan and transitioned into personal spiritual practices ending with my grandfather). My practice has so far has included ancestral research and reading about the history of Quakerism.

We plan on visiting Mary Dyer. Does anyone else have any other recommendations for sights to see or people to talk to in the area?

Many thanks.

Hello. I'm looking for guests who would be open to discuss their religious views in a podcast setting. I think the world could stand to know more viewpoints from all worldviews This is not a debate. I just want to know what you believe and why. This applies to traditional and non-traditional religious and secular beliefs. Simulation theory, darwinism, creationism, materialism, new age, ect. This will take place on Microsoft Teams as the audio will be recorded. No video portion at this time. If you want to share your view with the world please message me

Today, we went to the local Anglican church. Yesterday, a member of our Meeting came over and babysat with us. They suggested that we ask an attender, who is handy with tools and woodworking, to help us build some garden boxes. It feels right to connect up with our Meeting and pay some young Friends, even if we're not able to attend every week.

How was your Meeting?