Scott Nearing: Difference between revisions
concervationist -> conservationist |
Allen Ginsburg -> Allen Ginsberg |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Scott Nearing''' ([[August 6]], [[1883]]-[[August 24]], [[1983]]) An American conservationist, peace activist, educator and writer. Born in Kittanning, [[Pennsylvania]], Nearing is still viewed as a radical 20 years after his death. He is best known in writing circles for a book co-authored with his wife Helen Nearing in 1954, called ''Living the Good Life: How to Live Simply and Sanely in a Troubled World'', the book advised a "back to the land movement", in which war, famine and poverty, were discussed, and also advocated a modern day "Homesteading". [[Eugene Debs]], the perennial [[Socialist]] Presidential candidate, called Nearing the "greatest teacher in the United States", and [[Allen Ginsburg]], the famous beat generation poet, referred to Nearing as a "grand old man. A real mentsch". Nearing's anti-war activities cost him two teaching jobs, and he was even charged under the Espionage Act for being against the First World War. |
'''Scott Nearing''' ([[August 6]], [[1883]]-[[August 24]], [[1983]]) An American conservationist, peace activist, educator and writer. Born in Kittanning, [[Pennsylvania]], Nearing is still viewed as a radical 20 years after his death. He is best known in writing circles for a book co-authored with his wife Helen Nearing in 1954, called ''Living the Good Life: How to Live Simply and Sanely in a Troubled World'', the book advised a "back to the land movement", in which war, famine and poverty, were discussed, and also advocated a modern day "Homesteading". [[Eugene Debs]], the perennial [[Socialist]] Presidential candidate, called Nearing the "greatest teacher in the United States", and [[Allen Ginsburg|Allen Ginsberg]], the famous beat generation poet, referred to Nearing as a "grand old man. A real mentsch". Nearing's anti-war activities cost him two teaching jobs, and he was even charged under the Espionage Act for being against the First World War. |
||
Largely self relient, Nearing lived in the wooded areas of [[Vermont]] and [[Maine]], almost almost self-publishing his own books and pamphlets. Interestingly, Nearing made a cameo appearence in the film "Reds", starring Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton. The movie was centered around Nearing's close friend John Reed (who was portrayed by Beatty in the film.) Feeling a sense of dignity and servitude to the comman man, Nearing wrote pamphlets on low income, peace throught the world, feminism, many different enviromental causes and a political autobiography, titled "The Making of a Radical", published in 1972. |
Largely self relient, Nearing lived in the wooded areas of [[Vermont]] and [[Maine]], almost almost self-publishing his own books and pamphlets. Interestingly, Nearing made a cameo appearence in the film "Reds", starring Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton. The movie was centered around Nearing's close friend John Reed (who was portrayed by Beatty in the film.) Feeling a sense of dignity and servitude to the comman man, Nearing wrote pamphlets on low income, peace throught the world, feminism, many different enviromental causes and a political autobiography, titled "The Making of a Radical", published in 1972. |
||
Revision as of 11:00, 11 April 2003
Scott Nearing (August 6, 1883-August 24, 1983) An American conservationist, peace activist, educator and writer. Born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, Nearing is still viewed as a radical 20 years after his death. He is best known in writing circles for a book co-authored with his wife Helen Nearing in 1954, called Living the Good Life: How to Live Simply and Sanely in a Troubled World, the book advised a "back to the land movement", in which war, famine and poverty, were discussed, and also advocated a modern day "Homesteading". Eugene Debs, the perennial Socialist Presidential candidate, called Nearing the "greatest teacher in the United States", and Allen Ginsberg, the famous beat generation poet, referred to Nearing as a "grand old man. A real mentsch". Nearing's anti-war activities cost him two teaching jobs, and he was even charged under the Espionage Act for being against the First World War.
Largely self relient, Nearing lived in the wooded areas of Vermont and Maine, almost almost self-publishing his own books and pamphlets. Interestingly, Nearing made a cameo appearence in the film "Reds", starring Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton. The movie was centered around Nearing's close friend John Reed (who was portrayed by Beatty in the film.) Feeling a sense of dignity and servitude to the comman man, Nearing wrote pamphlets on low income, peace throught the world, feminism, many different enviromental causes and a political autobiography, titled "The Making of a Radical", published in 1972.
Nearing was also a big critic of U.S Government. On August 6, 1945, the day Pres. Harry S. Truman ordered the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Nearing wrote a damning letter to the President, stating "your government is no longer mine".
As the Vietnam War took center stage in the mid 1960s, a renewed intrest in Nearing's rhetoric and work began. Hundreds of faithful anti-war belivers flocked to Scott's home located in Maine to here the master radical begin an anti-war tyrade. As he approached his first century, Nearing was hardworking and still was in perfect health. On August 6, 1983, Scott Nearing celebrated his 100th birthday. A month or so before this Nearing stated, "I think I won't eat any more". Believe it or not, Nearing was an an avowed vegetarian in his last years. Helen, his wife beagan to give him just liquids, consisting of various fruit and vegetable juices and water. Then, about ten days before his death, Nearing beagn to just drink water.
18 days after his 100th birthday, the celebrated radical, educator, conservationist and centenarian Scott Nearing passed away.
A picture of this amazing and worldly individual can be found at the following web site:http://www.afsc.org/pwork/0202/020219.htm
Quotes------
"War is an attempt of one group to impose its will upon another group by armed violence"
"War drags human beings from their tasks of building and improving, and pushes them en masse into the category of destroyers and killers."
"Your government is no longer mine."