William Sloane Coffin (1924-2006) an American Christian man of God was a famous activist of peace during his era of clergyman ship. During his earlier days, he joined the U.S army and quickly rose to the post of a second Lieutenant. Due to his language versatility he was able to speak in French and Russia, which put in him at the fore front of being recruited with the central intelligent agency.
He then joined the Union Theological Seminary for a course in religious training. William was a gifted pianist and later he joined The Yale University as Chaplain. In this period he rose and became a key member of the Chaplaincy, peace societies and civil rights groups. William held the position of chaplaincy at the Yale University for seventeen years (17 years). His works include A Holy Impatience published in 2004 and once to every man (1977) that will be the focus of this presentation.
It is obvious to the wider people that William would write a book. This was fuelled by the controversies he went through such as the radical condemnation of the American-Vietnam Intervention. His main purpose of writing the book was to show the World and American at large the atrocities that happened during the Vietnam War, cutting through Advocacy, peace activism and safe guarding human rights of all citizens. He once said that showing compassion for a person without showing concern for the foundations of the society is by chance being sentimental and not loving (Coffin 34).
Moreover, his trial and arrest by the U.S authorities, on charges of civil disobedience and conspiracy to assist draft resistance that found him and his friends guilty. The federal government’s handling of the charges and trials angered William who in turn spoke through writing of this book.
Finally his intentions were to uncover the social injustices and racism during his times at the Yale University and other places of work. His anti war speeches motivated him to produce the best piece of writing that we are talking about now. Once to every man gives energy to other activists and population to pull out radical stances for the benefit of the majority (Coffin 42).
Key Points William Is Asking
William in his book is asking many relevant questions that ought to be understood and answered by the government authorities, religious class and civilians who are American citizens. He questions the patriotism of dissent in a democracy. Categorically, he states that though person does not support a democratic process doesn’t mean he or she is unpatriotic. However, when the person supports unprincipled policy then it amounts to unpatriotic. This could be seen in the American regime where bad policies that supported abuse of human rights and escalation of war throughout the world (Coffin 56).
Moreover, he questions the brevity of the clergy. His expectation of the clergy against politics fell short. His views are to that the clergy should face politics just the way Pharaoh did to Moses. It is a worrying trend that clergy men are to support other ideologies that do not conform to the churches constitutions. During his period he managed to be at the fore front in fighting for the minds and voices of the church to be heard at home. This is because, war produces blood stained clothes, that we should be guilty about, none of us should feel ashamed or worthy to air out voices that will be heard.
William is brave to speak his mind as always ever since being an adult. He questions the religious about the biblical search of peace. William states that religious institutions and churches are not doing enough in the search for peace in the entire world. By uttering words such as peace ids desirable do remarkably little, since secular authorities take over the responsibility of deciding the continuity of the war. This is in reference of Vietnam and the Koreans war after the World War 2.
Sloane also questions the authority, particularly the federal authority of the criminal and economic injustices that have occurred during these main two wars; Vietnam and Korean. The state was quickly arresting and trials the so called anti campaigners on the grounds of felony. This made it so difficult for individuals to challenge the government in issues that are considered top secret.
Key Important Information
It is quite easy highlighting some crucial information in this book is about several issues and aspects that I will enumerate. First, it is about Christianity and the modern politics, since William was a clergy before he has demonstrated to us that a minister of God has the responsibility to show moral leadership at all times. It is abundantly clear in his memoir, that he wanted to be a clergy because, the ministers who were instilled with courage and bravery of their convictions had the freedom to do and say what they wanted excellent people in other fields. It is recommended to preachers to put their actions into social causes.
He further talks about understanding of freedom; big freedom is to make the correct choices, to be selfless and fearless enough to take up the responsibility to serve the greater common good rather than to hunt for personal gain. He continues saying that Americans digest freedom in an inferior manner and is stalled in what is called the Dark ages of democracy. Freedom holds up as a key aspect of human rights. Freedom of speech and expression makes an individual to live up to his goals and objectives, it is necessary to criticize the authority if things are not clear and are moving in a total different expectation of the majority public (Coffin 102).
William’s commitment to humanity through various charity and peace initiatives throughout the world as described in memoir is outstanding. His religious beliefs and show of compassion to the victims of social injustices is so deep that he goes through various places to mobilize and condemn all the things the military are illegally involved such as attacking innocent civilians, in the name of protecting the sovereignty of the United States. It is crucial to fight and advocate for social justice and universal human rights for all people living in this world. The same way Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela would have loved it.
Concepts the Author leaves us with
The Author has proved that religion can contribute significantly to the state of vital events in the world. The role of the church should only be to preach the gospel of God but also to criticize and condemn social injustices and human rights abuse in the world. The notion of the silent church should be swept away and the emergence of churches that pay attention to every vital factors that affect the human race be embraced.
Finally, it is clear that William Coffin tries to imply that the wars that the United States takes part are utterly on the grounds of self interest on her part. The population does not have control over it; it is the federal authority that manufactures a hoax to pressurize countries such as the Vietnam and Iraq to enter with them into war as a perfect camouflage to minerals and oil harvesting.
Main Points of the book
William coffin outlines three virtues that if up held the American State will be a convenient starting point of the authorities to deal with the social injustices. The virtues include Morality, activism and optimism that are both integrated with religion in order to understand current issues and mitigate their solutions.
The book describes the way the religion institutions can be a reckoning force in the field of politics in order to streamline the rules and regulations that do not favor people who are being hurt and rights taken away. We should be patriotic, nationalists and more so, be loving State and all human lives that will have peace for all, justice and liberty.
War will never solve anything if the innocent civilians are being hurt. It deteriorates the social fairness in countries where human rights are not given so much value. Violence will never get a space in the society. William Coffin, will be amongst the most influential and radical thinking people in this world. His book gives us vital knowledge that civilians have to undergo during tough times and still strive to succeed. This is a real motivation to all those who read this marvelous piece of writing.
Works cited
Coffin, William S. Once to Every Man: A Memoir. New York: Atheneum, 1977. Print.
