Peace and Cooperation

God's law of love, as fully exemplified by the life of Jesus, is applicable to nations as well as to individuals. Because of this application, war as a means of settling differences between nations becomes morally unlawful, just as are feuds between groups and duels between individuals. We cannot recognize a double standard of morality, one for individuals and another for nations. The morality which is required of us in our dealings with one another is equally binding upon us when we are called upon to act for our nation.

From its earliest days the Religious Society of Friends has held that war is contrary to the spirit, the life and the teachings of Jesus, who renounced the weapons of worldly passion and used methods of love and self-sacrifice in their place. We restate our conviction that no plea of necessity or policy, however urgent, can release individuals or nations from their duty to follow the law of love. It is a serious and solemn thing to stand as the advocate of an inviolable peace. To carry out such a profession consistently will, at times, require the highest resolution, perseverance and courage. Such should, however, be the devoted effort of every Friend.

Prevention of War

If war is to be prevented, the spirit from which war proceeds must be eliminated, and the beginnings of strife must be as watch fully guarded against between nations as between individuals To give occasions of offense or jealousy to the inhabitants or to motives, by trade or other discrimination, by needless alarms of invasion, by the accumulation of armaments or by anything approaching a hostile attitude, is inconsistent alike with Christian duty and with the best interests of any nation.

History provides evidence that armed preparedness is not only futile in preventing war but is actually conducive to it. Friends are urged to develop the better preparedness of a public mind which is ready to grant justice to other nations exactly as we desire justice for our own country.

Friends and Taxes

Seeking the guidance of the Inward Light, both in solitude with God and in fellowship with each other, Friends should consider seriously the social significance of the purposes to which their tax money is put.

Payment of federal income tax, when used in a war-related activity, is a demand which may properly move Quakers and other responsible citizens to take a position of conscientiously withholding financial support of war. We support both those who pay their taxes in full and those who undertake alternative action or conscientious resistance to war taxes. Such action may take many forms: refusing to pay part or all of the tax, refusing to file a return, working only at a job where no tax is withheld from wages, intentionally keeping one's income so low that it is not taxable, resisting coercion by tax collectors and their agents, supporting other resisters and their families, and giving public testimony and witness. Friends undertaking such action should be prepared to suffer willingly for the sake of their convictions. They should consider whether money withheld from the federal government should be donated to organizations which promote world peace and equality.

Creating a Peace Spirit

It is very important that young people be so imbued with the spirit of love as manifested by Jesus that they will be able to take their stand for peace and international good-will under all circumstances. We therefore encourage parents and teachers to carefully instruct their boys and girls in the principles and practice of peace, and of the numerous successful settlements of disputes between nations by nonviolent means. We also recommend that Friends exert their influence toward the use of text books in the schools that give emphasis to the peaceful achievements of nations, and that tend to create a sympathetic understanding of their conditions and problems.

Friends should endeavor to eliminate all military drills from schools and to avoid connection with military organizations of all kinds. Such associations have a serious effect on those who take part in them by creating a spirit of militarism which destroys calm judgment on international issues and retards the growing sense of kinship in the world.

Patriotism

We greatly desire that the children of our country shall be imbued with the true conception of patriotism and service to the nation and to humanity. True patriots are those who exert themselves to make their country a positive factor in cooperating for the betterment of the world. Working to improve the civic, economic, social and moral condition of one's country is a truer expression of patriotism than exalting one's own nation at the expense of others or supporting and justifying its action irrespective of right or justice.

International Cooperation and Arbitration

"Because God hath made of one blood all nations" (Acts 17:26) the higher interests of all nations are closely allied. Friends should work for the promotion of such association among the nations as will consider and settle international problems in the interest of all without regard to size or power. Friends should vigorously advocate arbitration as a practical step toward maintaining peace.

We recognize it to be our duty to inform ourselves regarding those of other races and nationalities within our own country and regarding other nations having a culture different from our own, that we may be qualified to exert our influence in establishing a high standard of individual and national conduct toward them Friends should rise above prejudice and unjust discrimination in dealing with persons of other races and in speaking of them either as individuals or as nations.

While people either within or without our borders remain in economic, mental or spiritual bondage, we cannot be true to the obligation which our common heritage imposes upon us without doing our utmost to give them assistance and cooperation in obtaining equitable opportunities for growth.