Dorothy Clarke Wilson Peace Writing Prize 2020

Dorothy Clarke Wilson of Orono, Maine was an internationally known peacemaker who was committed to writing on social issues and world peace.  To encourage today’s University of Maine students to share in the commitment, Dorothy Clarke Wilson established a $500 annual award for the most compelling written work on a peace related topic. This competition is open to all University of Maine students.

2020 Topic

Applicants were asked to reflect on the following excerpt from “Where Do We Go From Here?” as published in Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? By Martin Luther King, Jr. (1967), p. 62.

The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness:only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.                              -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Excerpt from “Where Do We Go From Here?” as published in Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?By Martin Luther King, Jr. (1967), p. 62.

2020 Winner of the Dorothy Clarke Wilson Peace Writing Prize: Elizabeth Spiller

 

Elizabeth Spiller with Wilson Center Board Member, Mary Cathcart.

Mary introduced Elizabeth at the MLK Breakfast on behalf of the Board.

You can read her work below.

View last year’s topic and winners here.