Conscientious Objectors-Historical Perspective

Before we leave the story of WW2 CO’s and get into the historical perspective, the story of some of theses brave men deserves a last look. Rather than feel despair at the overwhelming support for war in the U. S., many felt energized, used their experiences to fuel later movements at home and around the world.

David Dellinger

A student at Yale, he walked out to follow the path of Francis of Assisi, was among the first to resist and was jailed twice, taking part in the hunger strike that resulted in the desegregation of the Federal Prison system. He coined the phrase “the whole world is watching” regarding the media coverage of the police riots at the Democratic Convention in 1968.Yours truly, as young girl sat and watched ,horrified by what she saw. That moment in time shaped more than any other. During the trial of the Chicago Eight, he and the other defendants turned the tables on the government ,it became a trial of the government.

Stephen G. Cary

He was a CO and a director of a camp, later he used his experience to become commissioner for the Europe Relief for the American Friends Service Committee. In 1947 the committee received the Nobel Peace prize for their work.

Bill Sutherland

An African American he has lived in Africa working for social change and promoted Pan African relations~ serving as special assistant to the 6^th Pan African congress in Tanzania. He co founded Americans for South African Resistance, the American committee on Africa, and the World Peace Brigade.

Carlos Cortez

Part of the pacifist art movement, he has been a construction laborer, factory worker, poet ,journalist, janitor, salesman, writer curator and printmaker. He is a active member of the Chicago Mexican community and done many prints, cartoons and posters.

Asa Watkins

Born a Presbyterian but became a Quaker due to his CO experiences. He led the mental health reform movement in Louisiana and was a Special Education teacher, lifetime activist and artist.

George Houser

One of the Union 8 seminarians who were the first to resist the WW2 draft, a founder of CORE. He and Bayard Rustin, in 1947 organized the first freedom ride: The Journey of Reconciliation. With Bill Sutherland he co-founded the first American organization against Apartheid.

The concept of conscientious objection is unique in U.S. history and can be traced back to our founding fathers~ some of whom fled Europe because of oppression for their Pacifist belief’s. Three of the original colonies~ New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware were founded by William Penn~ a Quaker and pacifist.

The framers of our Constitution considered a clause for exempting CO’s in the second Amendment. They omitted this exemption because they could see no need for creating a standing army.

At the start of the Revolutionary War , George Washington called for a draft “all young men of suitable age to be drafted, except those with conscientious scruples against war”.

In the Civil War, if you could not buy your way out of service, CO’s were treated harshly~ some 4000 served unarmed in combat.

WW1 Ushered in the first draft since the Civil War ,politics and the government were intolerant of the CO’s 17 died from mistreatment at Alcatraz.

In WW2 43,000 Americans were CO’s. During Viet Nam more than 170,000 were officially recognized by draft boards, many leaving the country.

Though today’s military is all-volunteer during the Gulf War 2,500 men and women refused to serve on the basis of conscience. While draft opposition has been an individual choice in all U. S. wars ,such wars as the Mexican War, the War of 1812,WW1 and the Viet Nam war sparked mass movements.

Pacifists generally hold that violence is costly. Either that somewhere on the spectrum of personal violence to armed combat ,violence is morally wrong~ “Thou shall not kill”. Or the consequentalist view that the costs of war or personal violence are so huge that other ways of conflict resolution must be found. The majority of pacifist believe in non-violence as morally superior and/or pragmatic force. Some condone the use of violence to protect themselves or others, still others condone destruction of property, splattering red paint-blood- on a recruiting office, for example. But no matter the core belief to all is taking responsibility for ones own actions by submitting to arrest. Then to use that trial to publicize and fight against war and other forms of violence.

Next Monday, CO’s and religion. I will leave you with these quotes.

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy? - Mahatma Gandhi

Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction…. The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation- Martin Luther King ,Jr.

The Holy Prophet Mohammed came into this world and taught us - That man is a Muslim who never hurts anyone by word or deed, but who works for the benefit and happiness of God’s creatures. Belief in God is to love one’s fellow men. - Khan Abdul Ghaffer Khan

Being a pacifist to save your own life is normal, being a pacifist for the lives of others is true pacifism. - Jacob Borer

In all history there is no war which was not hatched by the governments, the governments alone, independent of the interests of the people, to whom war is always pernicious even when successful. - Leo Tolstoy

Sphere: Related Content