Peacebringer: Interview with Rev. Bill Bichsel – Part 1
by Electric Elliot
Reverend Bill Bichsel, or “Bix” as he’s known to friends and admirers, has lived an extraordinary life. Born in Tacoma in 1928, he has dedicated his life to education, and peace. An ordained Jesuit Priest, Bill was the dean of students at Gonzaga University from 1963 to 1966, he helped start the Martin Luther King Center of Tacoma for the homeless in 1969, he co-founded the Tacoma Catholic Worker, which houses and provides amenities for the homeless Tacoma. He has also been arrested over 45 times and spent nearly two years of his life in prison for protesting US military force on numerous occasions.
After reading a News Tribune article about Rev. Bichsel, we at The Melon felt compelled to talk to such a brave and caring individual. In calling Bill, he invited us into his home where we talked about everything from his politics and personal accomplishments to the fall of the Soviet Union and his memories of the great depression.
We’ve turned the resulting discussion into a two-part interview with Bill that we’re very pleased to share with you.
In part one, we discuss Bill’s influences, some of his protests, the fall of the Soviet Union, US interventionism, and more. (Part two will be released later this week.)
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Photo credit to: www.companysj.com
October 30th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
the heart in my chest being two sizes too small was filled with an exhilaration listening to this sweet little old man.
thank you sir!
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