We've lost a TRUE HERO!!!!! I'm so sad! RIP, Rev. Sloane Coffin.

[peacebaby3]

MONTPELIER, Vt. - The Rev. William Sloane Coffin, a former Yale University chaplain known for his peace activism during the Vietnam War and his continuing work for social justice, died Wednesday at his home in rural Strafford. He was 81.

<snip>

Coffin gained prominence in the 1960s as an outspoken advocate for civil rights and against the Vietnam War. He joined a group of civil rights activists known as the freedom riders and was arrested several times at demonstrations against segregation. He became a leader of the group Clergy and Laity Concerned About Vietnam, which engaged in civil disobedience including offering sanctuary in churches and synagogues to draft resisters.

"Bill's voice was part of a chorus of conscience for a nation dealing with issues of poverty, war, disarmament, racism and bigotry," the Rev. Frederick J. Streets, Yale's current chaplain, said Wednesday. "He distinguished himself by rising above and emerging out of his own background of privilege to speak on behalf of the poor."

<snip>

He continued his activism after leaving Yale in 1976 and moving on to become minister of the Riverside Church in New York City. There he broadened his agenda to working on issues of peace, nuclear disarmament, poverty, homelessness and protecting the environment. But he was criticized by some in the congregation as too attentive to his social agenda, at the expense of pastoral work and management of the church.

<http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obit_coffin>

He was such a blessing to this world and will truly be missed!

[jaysunb]

1. May he rest in peace

A true American hero......:toast:

[peacebaby3]

3. Yes, he was definitely an American Hero! This thread should go on the

greatest page in his honor. There are very few that can say they have done anything close to what this man did for so many.

Please read the entire article just to get a glimpse of this wonderful man's life and accomplishments.

Thanks for the K&R.

[bananas]

5. another thread already is

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2223737

[peacebaby3]

7. Oh, sorry. I didn't see it when I did a quick search. n/t

[bananas]

8. No problem - I didn't want you to think the news had been ignored. nt

[fortyfeetunder]

2. Yes, he will be missed dearly.

A true fighter for those who did not have a voice, and he was one who walked his talk.

I will remember him most for this quote, also found in this article:

'Remember this: Even if you win the rat race, you're still a rat!"

[peacebaby3]

4. I'm kicking the thread I started. I want this to last at least a little

while in honor of Rev. Coffin.

[Theres-a]

6. Thank you for this post

A remarkable man.Rest in peace.

[Poiuyt]

9. I will always remember him as Rev Scot Sloan

[Hekate]

14. One of Doonesbury's cast of characters; Trudeau's honor roll

You made me smile

Hekate

[roguevalley]

10. ah. this is sad news. :(

[WiseButAngrySara]

11. I'm in tears! He's with God. The world is a bit darker, because he

brought so much light.

[Hekate]

12. K&R. How well I remember his courage and conscience from the 60's and 70's

The country was blessed to have him in this life as long as it did. Rest sweetly, Reverend Coffin, your labors here are done.

Hekate

[gratuitous]

13. Vaya con dios

We'll try to do a little better with this sick son of a Bush.

[renate]

15. I actually STOLE his book from my mom!

This is SO unlike me--but I was at their house, and I picked up his book "Credo," and I could not put it down when it was time for me to leave, so....
(I always intended to return it as soon as I was done--but my mom said to keep it, so I didn't argue!)

This is sad--but he had a long, glorious, blessed, rich, and fruitful life.

He was indeed a blessing to this world. What a wonderful man.

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

16. May he rest in peace. God bless.

[La Coliniere]

17. "Blessed are the peacemakers

for they are the children of heaven"
-Jesus Christ