Common Sense for The Twenty-First Century

A collection of George W. Bush–era observations and interviews from a former priest turned activist for peace—a Thomas Paine for modern times.

Much of our current media makes us feel powerless and unconscious. These commentaries are designed to make us conscious and aware of the power we must build humane national and international polities.

“Blase Bonpane is a true guerilla for peace, an exception to the rulers. From the occupation of Iraq to the war at home; from the coup in Haiti to the prisons of the U.S., Bonpane cuts through the lies to tell it like it is. For years, his commentaries have been broadcast over the airwaves of Pacifica station KPFK in Los Angeles. Today, in a world dominated by occupation, war and a crackdown on civil liberties and human rights, these commentaries become an essential counterbalance to the lies. Common Sense for the Twenty-First Century is evidence that the voices of the silenced majority can and must be heard.” —Amy Goodman, broadcast journalist, host of Democracy Now!

“Tom Paine was a pamphleteer who proclaimed the need for revolution in 1776. Common Sense for the Twenty-First Century is based on the need for a moral revolution in our own time. This was the call made by Dr. Martin Luther King. This is the call today made by Blase Bonpane, who rejects the ancient tools of clubs, spears, guns and bombs, while promoting the non-violent tools of dialogue together with militant grass roots action. Blase believes firmly that we can have a future of international participatory democracy directed toward distributive justice.” —Martin Sheen, actor and activist