it's been nearly 50 years since I began protesting against war as an often too early approached solution to conflict. Since I first held flower decorated signs on Fifth Avenue in NYC and on the Washington DC Mall in the mid to late 60s claiming that war was " not healthy for children and other living things," I've struggled peaceably to learn and teach all manner of alternative conflict mediation and resolution strategies in an effort to-- beginning within myself and emanating outward--solve problems in a way that maximizes growth and healing for all concerned, while minimizing harm and destruction.
So, as much as I want to honor and thank miliitary veterans for their service-- as well as support and ensure their needs and rights to adequate compensatory care afterwards, I find that in doing so, I am not comfortable without also acknowledging the many folk who bravely over the years have refused to participate in war, at great risk to their own safety and well-being, many imprisoned for doing so, others losing contact with their families and other loved ones in their relocations to other countries in order to avoid the draft or military retribution. Those who cannot or will not participate i current non-draft but ailing economic climate sacrifice the educational and financial benefits of playing what I think of as the Russian Roulette of military service: That is, if you survive, unbroken and with relatively little trauma, oftentimes military service results in improved social standing for many. Education, skill training, and medical benefits (once the ridiculously long waiting periods elapse) are available to those who enlist and serve in the military, but sadly not to many of those who choose alternative routes to making their way through this complicated social world we inhabilt.
Little acknowledged as heroes in my experience are the conscientious objectors, draft dodgers, deserters and others who stood up to power and refused to engage in practices they knew or learned once involved in them were unethical and/or likely to be ineffectual.Many of these folk work in the social services, barely eking out of living, without adeqaute salaries and benefits, while ethically striving for the common good.
Gulf War vet, Clarence Davis, who comitted suicide last year, had, as a teen, been advised to enlist by a judge as an alternative to jail time for a petty crime, But, according to the War Resisters' League website, he quickly became uncomfortable with what he experienced as a participant in war, and wrote in 1990: I can never support the same country that killed millions of Native Americans, Vietnamese, Japanese Americans (sic) Iraqis, Panamanians, etc....that does not include me in the the constitution that I supposedly enlisted to uphold and defend. I am not a Muslim, but another reason for my refusal to fight came from the immorality of killing a Muslim brother or sister."
With respect to Mr. Davis, who paid dearly for his ethical concerns, and others like him, I salute all our different, often difficult and dangerous paths to service.
So, as much as I want to honor and thank miliitary veterans for their service-- as well as support and ensure their needs and rights to adequate compensatory care afterwards, I find that in doing so, I am not comfortable without also acknowledging the many folk who bravely over the years have refused to participate in war, at great risk to their own safety and well-being, many imprisoned for doing so, others losing contact with their families and other loved ones in their relocations to other countries in order to avoid the draft or military retribution. Those who cannot or will not participate i current non-draft but ailing economic climate sacrifice the educational and financial benefits of playing what I think of as the Russian Roulette of military service: That is, if you survive, unbroken and with relatively little trauma, oftentimes military service results in improved social standing for many. Education, skill training, and medical benefits (once the ridiculously long waiting periods elapse) are available to those who enlist and serve in the military, but sadly not to many of those who choose alternative routes to making their way through this complicated social world we inhabilt.
Little acknowledged as heroes in my experience are the conscientious objectors, draft dodgers, deserters and others who stood up to power and refused to engage in practices they knew or learned once involved in them were unethical and/or likely to be ineffectual.Many of these folk work in the social services, barely eking out of living, without adeqaute salaries and benefits, while ethically striving for the common good.
Gulf War vet, Clarence Davis, who comitted suicide last year, had, as a teen, been advised to enlist by a judge as an alternative to jail time for a petty crime, But, according to the War Resisters' League website, he quickly became uncomfortable with what he experienced as a participant in war, and wrote in 1990: I can never support the same country that killed millions of Native Americans, Vietnamese, Japanese Americans (sic) Iraqis, Panamanians, etc....that does not include me in the the constitution that I supposedly enlisted to uphold and defend. I am not a Muslim, but another reason for my refusal to fight came from the immorality of killing a Muslim brother or sister."
With respect to Mr. Davis, who paid dearly for his ethical concerns, and others like him, I salute all our different, often difficult and dangerous paths to service.
