By Linda Donaldson

The theme for the Fall 2017 Issue, Volume 2, Number 2, of the Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal is Justice and Mercy. We see a host of possible avenues for writing about justice and mercy  —  the lack of either virtue OR the presence of either virtue. We include both sides of this theme, for, in Anne Kaler’s words: “If there were perfect justice, we would not need mercy.  If there were perfect mercy, we would not need justice.”

For Pearl’s words on the subject, I refer you two quotes from her works:

“Yet somehow our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless members.” – From My Several Worlds: A Personal Record, 1954

“You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make yourself do right in spite of your feelings.” – From To My Daughters, With Love, 1967, My Neighbor’s Son

Ms. Buck was the consummate social activist as described by her friend and neighbor, author James Michener, in a March 1991 interview with Donn Rogosin:

“She was a spokesman on all sorts of issues: freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the adoptability of disadvantaged children, the future of China, especially the battle for women’s rights, for education. If you followed in her trail, as I did, you were put in touch with almost every major movement in the United States — intellectual, social, and political.”

Your editors – Anne Kaler, Susan Wagner, Cynthia Louden and myself – are very excited to accept your submissions. Click here for the guidelines for the upcoming Fall Literary Journal. Our deadline is October 15^th, 2017.

And click on the link in the upper right side of this blog to read previous issues of our Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal.

Keep Writing!