My hat’s off to another heroine of the 20th century: Peace Pilgrim.

Born in New Jersey, this pacifist started walking across the United States in 1953 and continued for 28 years (walking over 25,000 miles before she stopped counting). Travelling without money or possessions beyond what she carried in her pockets, Peace Pilgrim called for “international and personal disarmament”. She was described as “a gentle, soothing, spiritual tornado”.

She wrote:

No one walks so safely as one who walks humbly and harmlessly with great love and great faith. For such a person gets through to the good in others (and there is good in everyone), and therefore cannot be harmed. This works between individuals, it works between groups and it would work between nations if nations had the courage to try it.

(Photo: http://www.peacepilgrim.net)