David Wylie (author)
David A. Wylie{{Cite web |last=Wisslow |first=Thomas |date=28 June 1985 |title=Candidates Clamor for City Council Seats |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1985/6/28/candidates-clamor-for-city-council-seats/ |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=The Harvard Crimson}} (born November 30, 1929) is an American writer, attorney, and former local politician in Boston, Massachusetts.{{Cite news |last=Brodsky |first=Arthur |date=1975-11-14 |title=N. Adams council seeks consensus on city's role in downtown garage |page=21 |newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle |location=Pittsfield, Massachusetts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108276421/n-adams-council-seeks-consensus-on/ |access-date=2022-09-01 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Career
Wylie served as an officer in the United States Coast Guard at the Houston Port Security Station. Later, he worked on several political campaigns, once as an advance man in a presidential run. He went on to become a public servant serving the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts for fourteen years, first on the Cambridge School Committee{{Cite news |last=Juda |first=Daniel |date=1970-08-23 |title=3-way senatorial race stimulates little interest among voters of new Second Middlesex District |page=65 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |location=Boston, Massachusetts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108276387/3-way-senatorial-race-stimulates-little/ |access-date=2022-09-01 |via=Newspapers.com}} and eventually on City Council.{{Cite news |last=Stewart |first=Richard |date=1981-11-10 |title=Tomorrow's subject on US campuses: nuclear war danger |page=39 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |location=Boston, Massachusetts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108276394/tomorrows-subject-on-us-campuses/ |access-date=2022-09-01 |via=Newspapers.com}} As a city councilor, Wylie brought to light the inadequacy of the evacuation plan recommended by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts should Cambridge become a target of nuclear attack. This resulted in hearings on the topic and eventually the publication of a pamphlet titled "Cambridge and nuclear weapons: Is there a place to hide?" The pamphlet was well received by people in Cambridge and communities across the state and country requested copies leading to a reprint being ordered.Larschan, Brad, "Cambridge nuclear pamphlet a hit", United Press International. October 12, 1981 Wylie was also instrumental in the establishment of the Cambridge Peace Commission through a city ordinance. His book is the product of these experiences plus decades of research and advocacy on the topics of nuclear disarmament, citizen activism, and global democracy. He has contributed to Massachusetts newspapers like as the Cambridge Chronicle.{{Cite news |last=Wylie |first=David |date=9 August 2010 |title=Guest commentary: Atomic bomb anniversary — time to reflect ahead not back |work=Cambridge Chronicle |url=https://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x979354401/Guest-commentary-Atomic-bomb-anniversary-time-to-reflect-ahead-not-back |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109110600/https://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x979354401/Guest-commentary-Atomic-bomb-anniversary-time-to-reflect-ahead-not-back |archive-date=9 November 2012}}{{Cite web |date=2 April 2010 |title=Former Cambridge city councilor Wylie to discuss new book |url=https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/cambridge-chronicle-tab/2010/04/02/former-cambridge-city-councilor-wylie/40919418007/ |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=Wickedlocal.com |language=en-US}}
In his book, City, Save Thyself! - Nuclear Terror and the Urban Ballot (Trueblood Publishing, 2009), Wylie calls on the citizenry to act locally to build the global democracy needed to keep international peace. He says the nuclear threat is difficult to make personal because most people feel that they are unable to effect change individually. According to Wylie, tremendous power lies in our cities and towns; the trick is being heard. The book was a finalist in the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the categories of Current Events and Social Change.{{Cite news |last=Cantrell |first=Cindy |date=2010-08-22 |title=Make Peace, Not War |page=P5 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |location=Boston, Massachusetts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108720897/make-peace-not-war/ |access-date=2022-09-01 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Former US Senator Bill Bradley said of the book "Wylie offers a powerful message: If you want to fix America, begin at the local level, but think globally and in the process revive our democracy."{{Cite web |date=13 January 2011 |title=Winter events at Andover Bookstore |url=https://www.andovertownsman.com/news/lifestyles/winter-events-at-andover-bookstore/article_f90e5aa4-8f3c-56c4-aa94-709d01315e2d.html |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=The Andover Townsman}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://thewylieblog.blogspot.com Idea Ransacker] - David Wylie's blog
- [http://www.cambridgema.gov/peace Cambridge Peace Commission]
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Category:American anti–nuclear weapons activists
Category:American nonviolence advocates
Category:Cambridge, Massachusetts City Council members
Category:Cambridge, Massachusetts School Committee members