Scott Nearing

Scott Nearing (August 6, 1883 - August 24, 1983) was an American conservationist, peace activist, educator and writer. Born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, Nearing is still viewed as a radical 20 years after his death. In 1954 he co-authored Living the Good Life: How to Live Simply and Sanely in a Troubled World with his wife Helen. The book advised a "back to the land movement", in which war, famine, and poverty were discussed, and also advocated a modern day "Homesteading". Eugene V. Debs, the perennial Socialist Presidential candidate, called Nearing the "greatest teacher in the United States," and Allen Ginsburg, the famous Beat Generation poet, referred to Nearing as a "grand old man. A real mensch." Nearing's anti-war activities cost him two teaching jobs, and he was even charged under the Espionage Act for being against the First World War.

Largely self-reliant, Nearing lived in the wooded areas of Vermont and Maine, self-publishing his own books and pamphlets. Interestingly, Nearing made a cameo appearance in the film Reds, starring Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton. The movie was centered around Nearing's close friend John Reed (who was portrayed by Beatty in the film.) Feeling a sense of dignity and servitude to the common man, Nearing wrote pamphlets on low income, peace through out the world, feminism, many different environmental causes, and a political autobiography, titled The Making of a Radical, published in 1972.

Nearing was also notably critical of the U.S Government. On August 6, 1945, the day President Harry S. Truman ordered the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, Nearing wrote a damning letter to the President, stating "your government is no longer mine."

As the Vietnam War took center stage in the mid 1960s, a renewed interest in Nearing's rhetoric and work began. Hundreds of faithful anti-war believers flocked to Nearing's home in Maine to hear the master radical's anti-war tirade. As he approached his first century, Nearing was hardworking and still was in perfect health. An avowed vegetarian in his last years, on August 6, 1983, Scott Nearing celebrated his 100th birthday. A month or so before this Nearing stated, "I think I won't eat any more." Soon after that, Scott's wife Helen began to give him just liquids, consisting of various fruit and vegetable juices. Then, about ten days before his death, Nearing began to just drink water.

Eighteen days after his 100th birthday, the celebrated radical, educator, conservationist and centenarian Scott Nearing passed away.

Quotes "War is an attempt of one group to impose its will upon another group by armed violence."

"War drags human beings from their tasks of building and improving, and pushes them en masse into the category of destroyers and killers."

"Your government is no longer mine."

External Link

• Scott Nearing -- Peace Activist and Practical Conservationist (http://www.afsc.org/pwork/0202/020219.htm) short biography with photograph