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Waging Peace: Global Adventures of a Lifelong Activist

An autobiography written by David Hartsough with the assistance of Joyce Hollyday. David narrates his journey of peace activism since his early teens till today. His is a life and message of peace, and the power of people when we can believe in one another to build a better future that can envision a productive and healthy role for all.

David learned from examples such as his father and mother Ruth and Ray Hartsough, what it meant to commit to a life of peace, service and justice. Having the Quaker values of love and service instilled in him at a young age, David's childhood was a training ground for what his life was going to entail. Bullies hurled snowballs at him, and he befriended them. David fasted and held his first peace demonstration at the Nike missile site in Tanguy Homesteads in Pennsylvania at the age of fifteen. It warranted him an FBI file. David battled with law and order at a young age. Every time he believed that the law was their to protect him, his family and friends the people in powerful positions seemed to let him down. David mentions often how confusing, disturbing and heartbreaking it was for him to watch those that kept him safe, tear other neighborhoods a part. Those moments were what instilled in him to follow his faith, his love for humankind and to use his privileges always for good.

David spoke with everyone and shared his knowledge of current issues and the concerns he felt with what he was witnessing happen in his community, other parts of the United States and other countries. From nuclear weapons to community service, David was involved. If he did not start the operations himself, he was heavily involved in rallying and empowering people to speak out against injustice.

"Faith and justice, peacemaking and nonviolence, compassion ad community were all lessons whose seeds were planted and nurtured in me long ago. They have borne fruit in ways I never could have imagined when I was young."

To continue on his peace pilgrimage he was deeply involved in the civil rights movement. While at Swarthmore College, David worked to get more people of color admitted. In 1959 he enrolled in Howard University, transferring his sophomore year, wanting to be a contributing and active member for racial equality. He had met Martin Luther King Jr. when he was fifteen. David took note of Kings generous spirit. When David went on to attend Howard, that was when King left an indelible impression on David. David heard the call for universal equality and peace and answered it and practiced it daily. He became a part of the Arlington Drug Store Sit-ins.

"Get out of this store in two seconds, or I'm going to stab this through your heart." Was all David heard before he turned around to face the man who would give him the glue to solidify his faith in the path that David had chosen. David turned to say "Friend, Do what you believe is right, and I will still try to love you." The man turned and walked away.

Crossing the line and bridging borders became an inherited trait from his father that both David and Paul took upon themselves later in life. He participated in a Peace Caravan, spreading the news about the nuclear threat. In 1959 David participated in a Quaker work camp in Cuba. Their he was assisting in building medical clinics and reconstructing homes that had been demolished by Batista's forces.

A year later David won a scholarship with Experiment in International Living to go to Yugoslavia.