The Outlook

Gordon Maham is featured in the book, Positively Ninety: Interviews with Lively Nonagenarians by Connie Springer (2011) . The book can be purchased at Joseph-Beth or previewed and ordered at http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1785463#.

Maham has authored a self-published book entitled “Let’s Simplify More” which will be available at the event free of charge. The book follows from Henry David Thoreau’s philosophy of “Simplify”.

 As background, the below letter was written 5 years ago - 2007 for Gordon’s 90th birthday.

 Gordon Maham is an organic farmer; a retired civil engineer; an inventor; a collector of junk which he rebuilds and recycles; an animal lover and protector; a vegetarian; an environmentalist; a widower; a father of 4 and grandfather of 2.  He is one of the kindest, most gentle people I have ever known.  And he is the only person I know personally who really knows how to live in peace and harmony with nature, how to live directly from the land.  He knows how to survive there, and he treats insects and buzzards with the same love and respect he shows all people.  He has a disposition that never ceases to amaze.  He spends almost no money on himself, gives to anyone in need and then gives more.  At age 89 (90 in January, 2007) he continues to work actively for a peaceful planet and a kinder distribution of resources.

 “It’s over 65 years since Gordon Maham choose to spend 3 years in Ashland Federal Prison by refusing to report  for induction into the military”, said  Mary Ann Lederer of Fay Apartments.  “He had registered for the draft as a conscientious objector, but the draft board refused to grant him C.O. status.  He took several military jobs that he hoped would be of peaceful intent, one building the Panama Canal, another with the Manhattan Project.  He did this to avoid the draft board. As the Manhattan Project was top-secret even the workers such as Gordon were unaware of the details of the project. When he realized the Manhattan Project in Oakridge, Tennessee was actually a nuclear bomb production plant, he quit.  He made the decision that a jail sentence was preferable to participating in nuclear war.  Now he returns frequently to Oakridge to continue his protest against nuclear weapons”, she said. Since that time he has lived a wonderful life in sync with his heart and his conscience. According to Lederer, “Gordon is the most helpful person I’ve ever known.  He has long lists of people he helps with all kinds of problems.  For a number of years he built me a vegetable garden every summer to help me with health problems”.

 Brian Garry describes Gordon as “a person who has taught me how to live correctly… a measuring stick…almost perfection.  Buy nothing.  Stop the bomb.  Who cares what others think.  Kindness.  Gentlest.  Utterly peaceful.  Give everything, shirt off back, last food in the house.  Give time…Give food…clothes…wood…appliances…money.  Anti war, anti racist, anti-war on the poor.  Anti roots of homelessness, anti-poverty.  Peaceful Planet Person…child friendly.  Rev. McCrackin’s right hand man.”