Oct./Nov. 1982 RAIN Page 13 r( ithat we must develop our ability to discontinue the hatred and to liberate both the oppressors and the oppressed. In response to an industry that "assaults our f)syches . . . damages our bodies . . . and] erodes our freedoms," this path of non-violence may be our only hope. — Meg Roland An energy conservation specialist, Meg is active in several Portland-area peace and community self reliance organizations. Parenting for Peace and Justice, by Kathleen and James McGinnis, 142 pp., 1981, $4.95 from: Orbis Books Maiyknoll, NY 10545 With some books, it's all I can do to prop my eyelids open and keep turning the pages. This one was a joy to read both for its content and its style. The authors, who have three children, describe their experiences in seeking to live out their faith by making social justice concerns an integral part of family life. In chapters on stewardship/simplicity, nonviolence in the family, multicultural- izing family life, and family involvement in social action, they outline their rationale and the principles that form the basis of their action in each particular area. Following that, they give an outline for "Looking at Ourselves," which suggests ways to examine your family life, television shows, toys, the school environment, the neighborhood, etc., and evaluate those areas in terms of whether they promote or undermine social justice. Also included are ideas for activities that foster social consciousness, nonviolence, and personal affirmation. The authors' inspiring anecdotes about their children will challenge the skepticism of readers whose own offspring may be somewhat less than angelic. On Good Friday in 1979, the McGinnis family discussed the significance of the day and then visited a neighborhood school that was soon to be demolished, delivered some favorite books to the children's hospital, and mailed tax protest letters to the president, the IRS, and to Congress members. Daughter Theresa, however, was more concerned with how to spiell her name on the protest letters than with their message! On another occasion, Martin Luther King's birthday, they asked their son Tommy what he had learned in school about King. Tommy said, "We were talking about how he was working for freedom for all men." Their quick response was, "You mean freedom for all men and women.” "No," said Tommy, "the book said men, and it meant just men.” Parenhng for p>eace and justice has its ups and downs. I was esp>ecially impressed by the way the McGinnises have woven their faith and social justice concerns into every part of their family life in a natural, comfortable way. They remind parents to incorporate these ideas slowly and comfortably, and not try to make their families models of social justice in one week or less. This book raised some questions and gave me many ideas to ponder from my p>erspective as a parent-(someday)-to-be. I'd like to review it again in about 10 years. — Ann Borquist War or Peace?; The Search for New Answers, edited by Thomas A. Shannon, 1980,255 pp., $9.95 from: Orbis Books Maryknoll, NY 10545 Pacifism used to be associated with Quakers, political radicals, and draft dodgers, or with what Gordon Zahn, a Catholic p>eacemaker, referred to as the "lunatic fringe." We are seeing a tremendous and encouraging shift in that focus today. I attended several activities during "Ground Zero" week and was astounded — and overjoyed! — by the diversity in the audience. It seems that some middle Americans are lining up on the lunatic fringe. Pacifism is fast becoming a "legitimate" option for every citizen, and for the Christian, it may be a necessity. The authors of these essays deal with this issue as it relates to the just war theory (which states that war under certain conditions is justified) and suggest ways that our individual and institutional lifestyles must change. Responding to Pop>e Paul Vi's statement that "Peace cannot be limited to a mere absence of war . . . p>eace is something that is built up day after day, in the pursuit of an order intended by God, which implies a more p>erfect form of justice among men," Catholic bishop Thomas Gumbleton writes, "... we are not being coaxed into considering whether we would like to do anything. We are being asked, each of us, what we intend to do. Isn't the promise of true p>eace something all of us are willing to sacrifice for, something precious beyond measure?" One man who made that sacrifice wasn't mentioned in the history books I read. His name was Franz Jaggerstatter and he was beheaded for refusing to serve in Hitler's army because he felt that war was unjust and evil. It is accounts like this and the short histories of the nonviolent tradition in America, the involvement of Christians in war, and the emergence of the Catholic Worker community that were of special interest to me both as a Christian and as a war tax resister. This is not light reading. In fact, I had to read some passages twice before I could translate the thesis level writing into understandable English, but it was well worth the effort. I recommend this book to those of you who are serious about exploring the basis and new direction of Christian pacifism. — Ann Borquist Politics Marxism After Marx, by David McLellan, 1979,355 pp., $6.95 from: Houghton Mifflin Company 2 Park Street Boston, MA 02107 Tired of waiting for the movie but still wary of tackling original Marxist tomes? Wait no longer. David McLellan, respected biographer and popularizer of Marx, has written a readable and comprehensive study of the old master's followers. Everybody who's anybody is included — from Rosa Luxemburg to Louis Althusser, and beyond. The format is conveniently organized around individual authors, placed roughly in chronological order. McLellan begins with Engels and follows through to the present, providing substantial discussion of about 20 theorists and passing references to countless others. There are chapters on a single theorist ("Lenin"), on schools of thought ("The Frankfurt School"), and on certain theoretical trends ("Structural Marxism"). One advantage of having so many important Marxist thinkers represented in one book is that the reader is able to trace the progressive development of Marxist theories through time and across continents. The author does a good job of pointing out the connections between different theorists and how each is related to Marx himself, giving us a clear view of the evolution of ideas. A disadvantage of the all-in-one-book style is the brevity which is required. The prose is clipped, the discussions often seem to be cut short. In only a few cases does the reader gain a clear understanding of even the essence of a particular theory. Obviously, this book is best read with a background understanding of Marxist thou^t, though it isn't absolutely necessary. Marxism After Marx is enjoyable and informative at the same time. It gives a panoramic view of some very influential ideas which, if well understood, can provide a useful framework for observing the way our world works. Like a trip to the zoo, this book allows us to catch a glimpse of a different world, while we leave it to others to spend their lives there — Scott Androes A former RAIN intern, Scott is a student at Harvard.
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