My Father, the Activist

Thirty some years ago, in my Pacifism and Religion class at UMBC (taught by Dr. Tom Benson), Phil and Elizabeth came to speak to us. Elizabeth had a baby with her at the time...maybe Frida?...and I can tell you the whole experience lit the class on fire for peace and justice. It was a beautiful moment in time....the youth of this nation were hungry for change, and we were taught by the best. I can only hope that we will have new leaders and teachers for this generation who come close to those of yesteryear....

What a joy to see and hear Frida Berrigan, a second generation peace activist, speaking with simplicity and pride about her father and mother, who have comtributed so much to teaching us all about peace and nonviolence. Their courage and steadfast commitment to the poor and disadvantaged of the world has shown many of us the way to break open the myth of America. We shall always be in the debt of Phil and Dan Berrigan, and Liz McAlister. And now Frida, Jerry, and Kate Berrigan, in their own ways, are continuing to challenge us to breathe peace. Alice Bach

With respect, Haywood: you could not be more wrong. I am sorry for what you father experienced, but while my father was a man of fierce conviction, he was also a man of fierce compassion. He would never have spit on a soldier, or demeaned someone in any way.
He was a veteran of World War II, a field-decorated lieutenant and an artillery expert. He fought and killed in WWII, an experience that haunted him as it haunts all who fight in wars. It also gave him considerable empathy for those who-- by choice or draft-- where placed in the same position. So, my father was no spitter.
As for you other comments: I would like to see the same kind of introspection and self-criticism that my father displayed when he shared his regret for his rough treatment of the Catonsville secretary mirrored in the "leaders" of our country who rain death down on innocent civilians in the name of democracy and foment terror throughout the world in the name of countering terrorism.
I would like to see it too from those who send judgmental, ignorant screeds rife with mis-spelled through the internet. There was no irony nor **hypocrisy** in my father. He was not perfect, nor was he without regret-- but he earned the love and respect of soldiers and veterans, prison wardens, the Catholic hierarchy, members of Congress, the poor of Baltimore, the international peace community, his family and those who love a good Irish joke. How? He was untirringly committed to peace and justice and to struggling to be nonviolent in a violent, violent world. Sincerely, Frida Berrigan