“I could by no means bring the Quakers to any terms. They chose rather to be whipped to death than to bear arms.”

Virginia‘s Assembly passed an act for drafting single men into the militia in 1756. (This is in response to the French-Indian War, war for empire) A number of young Quakers allowed themselves to be drafted, ignoring the advice of Virginia Yearly Meeting to resist the new law. However, some of the valley Friends’ young men were sentenced to Winchester‘s log jail for refusing to soldier, and some were flogged. George Hollingsworth–the same George who was the valley’s first Quaker bridegroom–was also jailed when he took part in a silent meeting of Friends under the jail’s windows to protest the incarceration of the draft refusers there.

East of the Blue Ridge seven young Friends absolutely refused to be drafted. They were marched under guard to Winchester–John and William Ellyson of Black Creek Meeting in New Kent County, Cornelius and John Harris and Archelaus, William and John Stanley of Cedar Creek Meeting, Hanover County. The seven were prodded along 140 miles to Winchester, refusing all the way to take the oath of allegiance, remove their hats, eat the King’s rations, or answer their names at roll call. Once in Winchester they were lodged in the guard house, refusing to hold muskets or to work on FortLouden then being built in the town.

George Washington, the militia colonel commanding at Winchester, now 24 years old, threatened them with flogging. He held off, however, when Edward Stabler of Petersburg and Isaac Holingsworth of Winchester, Friends’ ministers, called on him (I suppose you can say an early version of “Courage To Resist” protecting draft resisters by working in solidarity actions) and asked him to wait until Friends could appeal to Governor Dinwiddie on behalf of the seven. Washington wrote to Dinwiddie for advice, and Dinwiddie’s instructions were “to confine them with a short allowance of bread and water till you bring them to reason.” But on 4 August 1756, Washington, frustrated, wrote Dinwiddie that:

“I could by no means bring the Quakers to any terms. They chose rather to be whipped to death than to bear arms.”

Meanwhile, Edward Stabler and four other Friends visited Governor Dinwiddie in Williamsburg. On August 19, Dinwiddie wrote to Washington“

“A great body of Quakers waited on me in regard to their friends with you, praying they may not be whipped. Use them with linity, but as they are at their own expense I would have them remain as long as the other draughts.”

Finally, in December 1756, Joshua Brown, 39, a minister of West Nottingham Meeting in Maryland, came to Winchester, “having felt a draft of love to visit Friends settled about Hopewell in Virginia.” He wrote”

“There were seven young men who had been brought up out of Virginia by militia officers under Colonel George Washington, who had been condemned to imprisonment for six months because they were not free to bear arms. They had suffered much threatening and were taken out to be whipped. This was not done. The great Master had preserved them in faithfulness. They had gained the favor of the officers. Their time was now out and they requested me and my companion to go with them to Colonel Washington. He was very pleasant and discharged them.”

Hey George Washington, Happy Birthday. No hard feelings. To Grandfather Cornelius and Uncle John, thanks for being part of a real people’s history we hear so little about. You have inspired so many. May a thousand or a million or a billion follow in your steps as the US continues to wage war in Afghanistan and Iraq… and who knows where else in the days to come.

If the utility company has not already done so, can someone turn off the lights in the campaign offices? Such a waste of energy, and we’re trying to save the environment here.

Check this out people. This is the beginning of the end of the occupation. History is being made. If you want this war to end, don’t wait for the politicians, we gotta do it ourselves. Protest Pelosi’s support for yet another $100+ billion for this war, and support our union sisters and brothers in this historic protest.

http://maydayilwu.googlepages.com/home

“She was a former law professor, no prosecutorial experience, and the former campaign manager in Southern California for Clinton, and they’re trying to say that this administration appoints people politically?”

She has had 15 years of prosecutorial experience when she was appointed by George W. Bush. She successfully prosecuted ex-Congressman”Duke” Cunningham.

Ironically, it is rumored that Hatch is on the short list to replace Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should he be forced to resign over his handling of the firings of US Attorneys for purposes of thwarting prosecutions of Republicans (and to punish those who were not quick enough to prosecute Democrats).

We hope Gonzo is forced out. We also hope, that despite Hatch’s attempts to lie on behalf of the Bush administration (we can imagine that this is endearing him to Karl Rove) , that he is not appointed to the upcoming vacancy.

If folks call his office (202) 224-5251 or Fax: (202) 224-6331 to complain, let us know what his office is saying in response, and when he will come out with a big apology. Hatch must never, never, be allowed to forget this, not until his retirement day.

Here is the video of Rachel Maddow explaining it all for you.

Update:

From Josh Marshall at TPM

My comments about Carol Lam’s record as a U.S. Attorney were accurate, but I misspoke when making the point of discussing politically connected U.S. Attorneys. I accidentally used her name, instead of her predecessor, Alan Bersin, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton.

This is kind of classic on a couple levels. My comments were accurate, just not the facts I used in the comments.

But that’s only the half of it.

The simple fact is that Hatch’s explanation makes no sense. He’s saying: In the course of attacking Carol Lam I inadvertantly used Lam’s name when describing facts that may or may not apply to, Alan Bersin, a guy Bill Clinton appointed to the same office back in the mid-1990s.

As one of the comments suggests, it seems Hatch knew exactly what he was doing. Few people heard that “clarification” as on the April 8th Meet The Press it was only said that Hatch left a message about what he said the week before, look at the website. He was deliberatly putting this disinformation out there, and it did not matter a few people heard his statement later, most did not. Many people now believe Lam was an unqualified person appointed by Clinton.

Since this was originally posted, the Big Brothers at You Tube took down the video that used the song and presented material regarding the oppression of Palestine. Here is a replacement video of Labi Siffre himself singing the song.
A Powerful video “Something Inside so Strong” (Lyrics).

Sumud = Steadfastness, the non-violent resistence of the Palestinians against land confiscation and ethnic cleansing. Like an old olive tree deeply rooted to the ground, those practicing sumud refuse to move-away despite political, economic and physical injustices committed against them.

He is the first commissioned officer to refuse duty in Iraq, and his courage and determination deserve our greatest respect.

Please visit his website at ThankYouLt.org Also visit CourageToResist