She's not really an "advocate of peace." Underneath her carefully couched antiwar rhetoric she's essentially calling for Biden and Putin to get together and carve up Ukraine between them, which will only encourage Putin to attempt further conquest once he restocks his armory (Moldova is presumably next on his list). One needn't have illusions about the goodness of the US and NATO to recognize the necessity of thwarting a genocidal maniac, especially one with no domestic or other constraints.

That said, it's regrettable that her talk was canceled. This bookstore has hosted plenty of controversial speakers over the years, many more so than this one, and it should know how to handle them by now. (I'm a little more sympathetic toward the old folks at the church, who I'm willing to assume didn't know what they were getting into.)

"The Seattle Anti-War Coalition asks, if we cannot hold events in bookstores and churches, then where can people with differing views meet to talk about war and peace?"

One bookstore and one church elected not to host the event. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of alternative venues. Is there some reason this group can't just pick up the phone and make some calls to arrange another venue? That strikes me as far more effective an an op-ed.

I must not be a Far-Leftist because I disagree with Code Pink's analysis.

The US didn't "put pressure" on Rusher by expanding NATO after 1989. Those countries asked to join because they don't want Russia to invade and destroy cities and lives like they've done FOR CENTURIES. Exactly like they've done to Ukraine.

The eastern thirds of Belarus and Ukraine were in Poland before Rusher invaded at the same time the Nazis did. Then after WW2 they kept the spoils, including Konigsberg.

“…the pressure placed on Russia by NATO’s expansion into eastern Europe over the last 30 years.”

I’ve heard this again and again, but nobody can seem to explain how NATO was/is going to pose any sort of realistic existential threat to Russia, unless you want to count slow economic and political liberalization on the western border a threat.

The other problem is that folks like Paterson can’t even imagine a world where there are worse actors than the U.S.

@5: See? Dastardly NATO took away potential invasion sites and routes for Russian imperialism. That’s western aggression!

Seriously, what is it about the Russian invasion of Ukraine that has Stranger pimping sketchy “peace” groups? (https://www.thestranger.com/news/2022/08/15/77807239/new-poll-shows-majority-support-in-seattle-area-for-speedy-diplomatic-solution-in-ukraine) It’s not as if there could be any doubt that Putin’s Russia is the imperial aggressor, and Ukrainians are the innocent victims. This post complains about how “… the U.S. is supporting Ukraine by supplying weapons, intelligence, and training, however, it is our responsibility as citizens to question the true purpose of a protracted war, now over one year old.” Well, then, get Putin to order a cessation of hostilities, and withdraw all Russian soldiers and military assets from Ukraine. Stop whining about how two places in Seattle have enough sense to avoid getting involved in something which is clearly none of their business.

Too much going on at work to comment but commenting anyway...

I'm with CKathes @2 on this. On the one hand, I find the views of Media Benjamin reprehensible, and I'm reminded of wannabe presidential election spoiler Jill Stein being a guest of honor of Vladimir Putin. On the other hand, the bookstore handled this badly, and this comes across as a case of cancel culture and squelching speech. And yes, I realize the First Amendment does not apply to private businesses.

When I think of the pacifist response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, I go back to what George Orwell said during World War II: "Pacifism is objectively pro-fascist. This is elementary common sense."

Correction @9. My mind said "Medea" but my fingers did "Media," and even just now they did the same and I had to backspace.

Code Pink and Ms. Benjamin are not peace advocates. They are narcissists who exemplify a particularly noxious form of American exceptionalism. In their view only the US has agency, everyone else, Russian in particular, simply reacts. The Ukrainians hardly get a mention, along the Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, France, Germany, Australia, Canada and so on.

Giving Code Pink a platform is no different than giving one to the Klan or the American Nazi Party. They can rent their own hall. The Stranger once again shows that contrarianism by itself is not a virtue.

@11: tune in to Democracy Now; you'll hear Madea Benjamin and her ilk talking about the war multiple times a month. The US made Russia paranoid, we backed them into a corner, blah blah.

As much as we'd all love to see peace in Ukraine, the shitty reality is that any peace right now would just be an opportunity for Russia to rearm, re-equip, and further their invasion and mass murder under more favorable conditions. Putin knows this and the peace movement is being used by Russia in an obvious attempt to cut support for Ukraine.
Peace will only come from Ukraine winning the war and repelling Russia's invasion.
A truly lasting peace will only come from the dissolution of the Russian empire with all the colonies finally getting their freedom and self determination rather than the servitude and thievery under Moscow.

Appeasing fascists is really hip right now.

Getting ‘canceled’ is the best thing that could have happened to these publicity-seekers… more people are reading this article than would have shown up at their cancelled event.

I recommend talking about it in Russian cafes

The venues that cancelled have 1st Amendment rights also. They chose not to be associated with a group of people who would rather capitulate in the face of authoritarianism than fight to protect freedom. It shouldn’t have to be said but Russia is one of the least LGBTQ accepting countries in the world. The West has its issues, and some Southern states are nearly as bad as Russia, but there remains a difference. So when you advocate for “peace” with Russia you are advocating for the deaths of the LGBTQ folks in Russia.

The biggest issue with US foreign policy isn’t that we go to war too often. We often go to war with the wrong countries, and don’t fight back (militarily or otherwise) against our true enemies like KSA, China, and Russia.

@23 That's a little harsh. John would know which side to support. God I wish he were still here.

Cressona: @9—I could not agree more with your comment that this whole thing is Orwellian:
-Those that call for ending this carnage side with the enemy, while
-Those that call for expanding death and destruction are the righteous ones.

Or better yet, as Dr. Hilarius @12 says:
-Providing a platform for considering peace is equal to providing a platform for the Klan or American Nazi Party.
“Ministry of Truth” in its purest form.

As for that Orwell’s quote you (Cressona) so like, "Pacifism is objectively pro-Fascist. This is elementary common sense. " it is curious that you fail to connect it to the common use we made of it in defense of our occupation of Iraq, or that Orwell himself rejected it once he saw how it was used, entirely extracted from its context. Orwellian, indeed!

Thank you for this terrific article, Mary Paterson! Agree with all you say.

I appreciate your article. Books, ideas and civic discourse are an essential part of our democracy. I would like to clarify however that University Book Store's cancellation of the Benjamin event was a decision made solely due to financial considerations. Staffing an after-hours event in a store our size is a considerable endeavor and expense and with only one RSVP we could not justify moving forward with the event and absorbing the financial losses. Our events team was in continuous contact with the Seattle Anti-War Coalition in the weeks leading up to the event and asked that they encourage turnout. We offered to reschedule the event and agreed to be the bookseller at the church venue. University Book Store wholeheartedly supports free speech and continues to carry copies of Medea Benjamin's book.