A Friendly Letter

Since 1981: Quaker stuff, civil rights and other issues, hopeless causes, jokes, photos, stories

Our Motto:

"And it's all right, even if you're old and gray,

'Cuz it's all right, you still got something to say . . ."

                           --Traveling Wilburys

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    • Print Issues-A Friendly Letter – March, 1981 – May,1985 Archive
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    • Print Issues-A Friendly Letter – June, 1985 – May 1985 – Archive
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Do Ukraine’s Ceasefire Hopes Hang on Trump’s Nobel Fever Dreams?

  Ukraine: Maybe a short cease-fire, maybe not By Gwynne Dyer –  Mar 14, 2025 What’s hard to keep in mind, with all the hype that’s flying around, is that there’s no particular reason for either side in the Ukraine war to want a cease-fire right now, let alone a full peace settlement. The only … Continue reading Do Ukraine’s Ceasefire Hopes Hang on Trump’s Nobel Fever Dreams? →

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Tom Fox – Quaker Peaceworker Murdered in Iraq March 10, 2006

  March 10: Remember Tom Fox March 10 — how could I forget? How dare I fail to remember? Nineteen years and four months ago, John Stephens and I began a blog site called freethecaptivesnow.org , as both a personal vigil and a community service, compiling and posting nightly updates of reports — or mostly … Continue reading Tom Fox – Quaker Peaceworker Murdered in Iraq March 10, 2006 →

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Trans & The Bible: Is God On Their Side? I Say —

  Transphobia: The Bible Is Better Than That 2025 is becoming a crucible year for trans people and those who would be their allies: the Pete Hegseth-Trump Defense Department is after them; Iowa’s legislature just deleted them from its anti-discrimination statutes; other states may follow. And don’t even get me started on the Supreme Court. … Continue reading Trans & The Bible: Is God On Their Side? I Say — →

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“Bloody Sunday” in Selma plus 60: Victory Undone, Battle Renewed

  Below is a black & white news photo from late February, 1965. It turned up a few years back (hat tip to the sharp-eyed Lewis Lewis): it was taken on the steps of Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Alabama when John Lewis (center-left, with a tie) announced the plan to march from Selma … Continue reading “Bloody Sunday” in Selma plus 60: Victory Undone, Battle Renewed →

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Washington Post: More In Sorrow, But With PLENTY of Anger

  –     NOTE: “Corruptio optimi pessima” = Corruption of the best is the worst of all. I can’t remember when I started reading the Washington Post. I was following it through the Watergate years, but was a mostly broke rookie trying to find my footing as a writer to afford a subscription. By … Continue reading Washington Post: More In Sorrow, But With PLENTY of Anger →

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Classic 20th Century Quaker Books That Need to Live on

Let’s Go Goatwalking, Friends

Jim Corbett was a fascinating guy, but like all of us he had his faults. In his amazing first book, he way overdid the self-deprecation: ”Goatwalking is a book for saddlebag or backpack —to live...

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Announcing: A Very Special Quaker Publishing Award

For years, I’ve been loudly protesting the sky-high, exclusionary prices on “academic” or “scholarly” books and monographs.  The particular focus of my ire has been publications by or about Quakers and Quakerism, though the price-gouging...

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From “Tell It Slant,” Excerpt #2: Encouraging Rejections

(Excerpt #1 is here.) In the spring of 1956 — Chuck was in eighth grade — orders came for the family to  leave an Air Force base in California. His father, now a major, was...

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John Calvi: Boon Companion for Spiritual Travel

English-speaking Quakers today are in dire need of some new “spiritual” books, and I have a top candidate to recommend here. It is John Calvi’s How far Have You Traveled? Amid all the wonderful stuff...

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A History of NOW and its Women who Made History

The Women of NOW review: superb history of feminist growth and groundswell Katherine Turk has produced a must-read on the group which did so much for American women in the 1960s and 70s Clara BinghamSat...

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A Sparkling New Podcast on “Tell It Slant” – The Biography of Chuck Fager

Announcing A Brand-New, free podcast, now online at the link below: Tell It Slant-Podcast with Emma, Chuck & Mark A Review of Tell It Slant By Dan Whitley (Chuck, here is...

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Recent Books by Chuck Fager: Click a book for ordering information

New release

Selma Alabama Voting Rights March

. . .widely recognized as the most vivid and accurate account of the Selma movement . . .

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Memoir of early Civil Rights Movement .

. . vivid, revealing first-person counterpart to the author's highly-praised historical account, Selma 1965 . . .

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Iraq, Afghanistan Wars

Examines the strategy & tactics, successes & failures, history & future of faith-based work to end war, and to dismantle militarism and the repression it has spawned.

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Progressive Quaker Activism

Examines the neglected role of Progressive Quakers in 19th and 20th century activism -- abolition, women's rights & more.

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Progressive Quakers

How Progressive Quaker activism helped change America.

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Quaker Humor

A new collection of jokes, humorous anecdotes, cartoons and graphics about Quakers.

Archives

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A Sign of The Times In My Neighborhood

Chuck Fager November 25, 2025

I won’t say its name. It’s one of several in the area. I go there often, particularly on Tuesdays with my daughter, when she’s off work and can drive. A...

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Hey, Big Political Media — You MISSED Tuesday’s NC Political Earthquake!

Chuck Fager November 6, 2025

So 2025 is a municipal election year in North Carolina, with seemingly little to catch wider public attention. A crowd  of candidates with only local name recognition was running for...

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Ten Funny/Defiant Music Videos to Keep Your “NO KINGS” Spirits Humming

Chuck Fager October 25, 2025

On October 18, I helped host a ZOOM No Kings virtual rally, meant to include & encourage resisters who couldn’t attend in-person events. We didn’t want droning speeches, and had...

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Is Arthur Waskow Now Done With “Godwrestling”? I doubt it.

Chuck Fager October 23, 2025

In 1978, a Jewish writer-activist named Arthur Waskow published a book called Godwrestling. I read the book a year or two later, and have never forgotten it. Waskow died this...

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New Quaker Art Journal Now Online

Chuck Fager October 22, 2025

In these tough times, the arts can support resistance, endurance, and vitality. Yet Friends were firmly opposed to the arts for 200 years. That era is over, but in many...

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Homeland Invasion Update: 09-26-2025

Chuck Fager September 26, 2025

Homeland Invasion: Update 09-24-2025 – Chuck Fager Recent scenes from the front: — A combat vet protesting Chicago ICE raids, emerging from a thick cloud of their tear gas, unmasked...

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