Quaker Dave here.
Howdy. After twenty-eight years of being a teacher of language and literacy (what used to be called readin’ and writin’) at a public middle school in southern New Jersey, I’ll begin a new career as a teacher of middle school social studies this fall.
I am a convinced Quaker, meaning I was born into a different tradition and traded that in for a new one. My faith is a very important aspect of my life.
I am a proud New Jerseyan, a union activist, a lover of jazz and the blues, a dedicated fan of all the sports teams in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (my hometown), a Gooner (it’s an Arsenal thing), an avid reader, a frequent movie watcher, a would-be novelist, a wannabe golfer, a husband, and a father of two amazing and wonderful male offspring.
And, if you haven’t guessed it yet, I am a LIBERAL. And darn proud of the label, too.
email: quakerdave@gmail.com
I appreciate your visit.
Welcome back!! its so nice to see you’ve decided to blog again, though your departure was fairly short. I found your blog through crooksandliars and after finding it a week ago went back and read some of your older posts.
I too am a convinced quaker from southern new jersey and active in politics in my new home of washington dc. anyway i just wanted to welcome you back onto the internet, i really do enjoy your blog.
also, i’ve recently become associated with the answer collition, a socialist leaning peace movement that claims a national base. we’re organizing a march on september the 15th in washington we are expecting tens of thousands of people to attend and are planning some civilly disobediant acts for the day.
i’m very new to the organization, i was wondering if you had an opinion regarding the organization and if that opinion is a positive one if you would consider writing a piece on the demonstration attend the demonstration yourself.
These seem to be hard times to mobilize physical aciton, though the blog-o-sphere is becoming increasingly talked about I fear it does substantivly little to shape our culture by emphasising an exchange of ideas over overt expression of political or moral ideology. Increasingly my friends tell me that they are no longer convinced that protests are an effective mechanism for the expression of political will. This opinion despite the major sucesses in the ukraine and elsewhere.
if you’re interested in publicizing our sept.15th march its a good story. the government is making a concerted and directed effort to stop us by fining us for postering, even in accord with city regulations, and thusly suppressing our free speech. also there will be a march in solidarity with our march in london as well as in baghadad where people will most certainly have their lives taken as a result of their standing in solidarity with us.
anyway from one quaker working for peace to another, i really do appreciate your opperating this blog.
your fan,
Ben Litwack
yep, didn’t realise i was writing on a wall
I have Quaker spiritual ties, and my daughter is a graduate of George School, in Newtown, but that is not why I am writing. I have been getting news alerts on Darfur for two years or more. As a matter of fact, that is how your site came to me, with the latest (today’s) news alerts. So please don’t go away; I need time to do some reading here.
I am a uneducated old woman living in north west Arkansas . I just found you blog and wanted to say I enjoyed reading your blog but perhaps enjoyed is not the right word. I feel as if I have been dragged thro’ the brair patch by the hair of my head.
You gave me some food for thought and that is a good thing.
Keep up the good work.
I have read that the educated people in this country were for Obama and supposed that might be just so much talk but you are for him so maybe they are correct.
I put you on my page and gave you a plug. I certanly hope this is ok.
Pasty: Thanks for your kind words. Plug away at will. I’ll do the same for you.
If you are “older,” you are not “uneducated.” You are wise. There’s a difference. Anyone can have education: most people are not wise.
look at that meez! i knew you were that cool.
I’m not quite THAT skinny.
elle! Where you been?
An overbooked, underpaid bleeding heart liberal, educated due to my partent’s dilligence first and then my own. I like going to school. I can’t stop leaning.
I’m anxious to rescue our world and this country (US)
from the evil dictators and can’t stay “mainsrearm” because that isn’t where the truth is. I will pursue many avenues toward non-violent revolution and wonder if I had multiple personalities, could I get more done?
Someone tell me why I am supposed to be on this website? i am not a chronic blogger because it takes too much time.
My late father was a convinced Quaker as well and lived his life accordingly, dedicating it to the well-being of his fellow man (and woman). We need more like him and you in this world.
I love the new look here. Excellent!
Thanks, Alison.
Well, Moonbeam, you know, I have been working out…
And would thee be one that agitates Quakers, or simply a Quaker who agitates? (Both are needed!) Great site, keep up the good work!
Hopefully both, Skip.
Thanks.
i’ll be sending mine!
Best of everything to you, Quaker Dave. I’m a LIBERAL too!
where can i find out more about the – answer collition?
Hey QD – I just found your new site. Great job, and so nice to see you’re still rockin’ the peace. best, Alicia
Hi Quaker Dave, I’m a brit Quaker although we’re a little less into publishing as personal as your site I apprecate the sentiments and you certainly do generate thought out there. Good to see witness across the pond.
I too am a teacher although of science. If I can help further your jouney in any way let me know.
Bless you all in USA
you mention aspiring novelist – and you are a teacher…. ergo you must have heard of NaNoWriMo and it’s offspring? No search button sprang out at me on your site, so sorry if I missed a zillion Nano posts from you!
And if by some miraculous mistake you have NOT heard of it then go to my blog and find the link right away! Well, before November anyway
Hullo Dave.
Bounced over here somehow from a friend’s blog, Ruth’s Visions & Revisions. I’m a writer/teacher as well, now working with city kids in Chicago at a DeVry-like college (though getting more well-rounded, we hope). Enjoying your blog, seeing a lot of similarities to my own (among other things, the spiritual-but-liberal thing I picked up from being a “convinced” Mennonite). Keep pluggin’ with the young’uns, and don’t worry ’bout growing up. (“Let the children come to me, for of such as these is the kingdom made…” -JC)
Glad you ran across my blog; that enabled me to find yours. It’s always good to find fellow agitators! Peace.
Hi Quaker Dave -
Where does your interest in autism come from?
Just curious -
Kate
My niece has Asperger’s and I have autistic students in my classes.
I have a son who is diagnosed on the autism spectrum. The systems for care and education need some agitation. My son is 6 years old and we have him in a private school with his sister and brother. The public school was not a choice because of the specialized classrooms for students with autism. So being something of an agitator myself, it was decide the primary thing that was most important to our family, was helping Sam keep his dignity, heart and soul intact. Everything curriculum based can be remediated if necessary. We got lucky and he is doing great.
Any parent who doesn’t feel the system that exists is a good match for their child has to go it alone. Educational rights (IEP) are waived if a parent places a child with a disability in a private school. I am lucky to have the stamina resilience and resources to make a decision that was the best thing for our family.
I will enjoy reading your thoughts on your page.
Warmly,
Kate
Harrisburg, PA
Found your blog through blogging against disablism. Love it. I too am a convinced Quaker with similar values working in human rights and disability down under, (no not Australia!)
Shall we link blogs? Keep up the great stuff – like the music
Cheers
Robyn: Absolutely! Thanks for the kind words.
I LOVE love love your website! I happened upon it while researching Quakers (I just found out while doing my family’s genealogy that I am descended from one Francis Erstlacke, Quaker, born 1636 in Yorkshire England who was banished to Bermuda by British authorities, punished and persecuted there by the Church of England, then sent to New Jersey–whose descendants wound up in Salem. WV) fascinating stories, fascinating history, fascinating people! I admire the Quakers so much! I feel honored to have a small link to such wonderful beings! Thank you!
Dara: I love love love your comment! Thanks a lot.
If you want to know more about Quakers, check the links to the right there. There are a lot of Quaker bloggers out there who do a much better job of “Quaker blogging” than I do.
Awesome! Thanks! I passed yours on to my friends anyhow, it’s great! Keep up the good work (I’ve been reading all day and my eyeballs are about to fall out, lol) 8*)