ENDING U.S. WARS by Honoring Americans Who Work for Peace

by Michael D Knox

Overview

Makes the case for ending our war culture by honoring the actions of role models for peace to inspire other Americans to work to stop war. Features 95 color images, the US Peace Registry, and the 2020 US Peace Prize winner.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781736099414
Publisher:	Us Peace Memorial Foundation, Inc.
Publication date:	11/24/2020
Pages:	308
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Michael D. Knox grew up on Grosse Ile, Michigan, and earned a PhD in psychology from the University of Michigan in 1974. Knox's academic career focused on disease prevention, HIV/AIDS, death, community mental health, ethics, and peace. His work included over 130 scholarly publications and well over $50 million in research grants. He is currently a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at the University of South Florida, holding faculty appointments in Internal Medicine, Mental Health Law and Policy, and Public Health.

His long-standing peace and antiwar activities began in 1965 when he chose the Vietnam War as the topic of his first speech for a public speaking class. From that point on, a passion for peace and opposition to war were deeply ingrained in him. As a delegate to the 20th National Student Congress, he introduced a successful resolution to hold an antiwar demonstration in 1967 in front of The White House, and in 1970 he co-founded a draft counseling center. In 1971, he blew the whistle on prohibited classified research at the University of Michigan, disclosing secret details and providing evidence that university researchers were "perfecting weapon systems used by the military to kill and incapacitate other human beings."

Years later, in the summer of 2005, he took his son James to Washington, D.C. for a graduation trip. They visited numerous monuments to war, where they heard veterans talking about their combat-related experiences with young listeners who seemed proud of the speaker's military record, perhaps viewing them as role models.

Suddenly, with his son present, he realized that all of his memories and stories in that realm were of antiwar activities and that there are no national monuments to show that our society values peace and recognizes those who took action to oppose a war. There is no public validation of antiwar activities and no memorial to serve as a catalyst for discussion regarding peace. This new awareness led to the organization of the US Peace Memorial Foundation in 2005, which he currently chairs.

In 2007, Knox was awarded the Marsella Prize for the Psychology of Peace and Social Justice by Psychologists for Social Responsibility, recognizing him "for more than four decades of outstanding contributions to peace and humanitarian assistance." After he retired in 2011, he discontinued his license as a clinical psychologist to devote his full attention to ending U.S. war and militarism. Dunedin, Florida is his home.

For more information, visit: www.uspeacememorial.org/Knox.htm or view his antiwar activities in the US Peace Registry at www.uspeacememorial.org/Registry.htm.

Table of Contents

Author's Note

Introduction

Chapter 1: A Culture of War

Historical Perspective

U.S. Wars Since the End of World War II

Emotional Perspective

Cultural Perspective

War Culture at Home

Racism and War

Financial Perspective

Changing the Culture

A New Perspective

Chapter 2: A Culture of Peace

Imagine

Questioning

Speaking Out

Cultures Can Change

Beginning Steps

Beliefs

Toward a Culture of Peace

Chapter 3: The National Monument

Chapter 4: Quotations

Chapter 5: US Peace Prize

Chapter 6: US Peace Registry

Chapter 7: Individuals Honored

Chapter 8: Organizations Honored

Chapter 9: Antiwar Behavior Content Analysis

Chapter 10: Progress, Volunteers, and Founding Members

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

"In today's America, objecting to the glorification of war-and the warriors-is tantamount to blasphemy. Michael Knox takes this on in a unique fashion, by honoring those who have committed their lives to building a culture of peace. With Knox's view of war as a disease and peace as the cure, his beautifully crafted book represents a critical dose of preventive medicine."-Medea Benjamin

"The US Peace Memorial Foundation, honoring those who devote themselves to pursuit of peace, is a very welcome initiative, directing attention to what the world badly needs. I hope you will join in supporting it."-Noam Chomsky

"We are desperately in need of voices that are convinced that law is better than war. Dr. Mi- chael Knox has been a champion for peace for many years. His new book can help move the world toward a more humane and peaceful future."-Benjamin B. Ferencz

"Envisioning a culture of peace, Michael Knox describes ways to recreate social bonds, em- bracing fairness and friendship rather than militarism."-Kathy Kelly

"Americans are subjected to war propaganda from their schools, the media and even their religious institutions. Michael Knox tells us how to cultivate a culture of peace by giving recognition to those who work to end wars. This effort is long overdue."-Margaret Kimberley

"Many years ago, Michael Knox saw a need in this violent empire of the USA for a memo- rial to peace workers in a country where war is glorified and recklessly memorialized. I was honored to be the first recipient of the US Peace Prize and do highly recommend this book as a furtherance of Michael's quest for peace. I hope it inspires the next generation of peace workers."-Cindy Sheehan

"An indispensable tool to overcome the culture of militarism that impoverishes human needs at home while creating endless wars, failed states, and boundless misery abroad. Dr. Knox challenges the pathology at the heart of the U.S. empire by providing a blueprint for amplify- ing the voices of antiwar heroes through a national peace memorial. A critical piece of the uprising for people, planet, and peace."-Jill Stein

"This book powerfully makes the case for shifting from a culture that honors war to one that honors peace-making, but is principally devoted to concrete examples of how to do it, including through rewarding those who work for peace and creating a public peace monument."-David Swanson

From the Publisher