International concientious objector day!!!!

I offer no comment except to say, read the stories...Interesting personal thoughts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3025495.stm

 

Really interesting stories, in my opinion. That kind of thing can require bravery in itself (this is where I cringe and wait for the "go to hell"s). But I'll shut up...

As I"m sure is obvious, I read all I can about US WWII medical corps. A somewhat (depending on how you look at it) large percentage (I don't have the time to find the stats at the moment) of the medical corps was made up of quakers who were COs, but still felt the need to "do their duty". Damn, I wish I wasn't in grad. school so I had more time to research this kind of thing! But someday I'll be a reference librarian, and I'll do nothing but!!!!!!

[ 15. May 2003, 12:58 PM: Message edited by: Doc Raider ]

 

Well my sentiments are probably same as yours Doc, so we can go to hell together...

 

Doc, my girlfriend's father did the same thing during the Vietnam war. I'm not sure if he filed for conscientous objector status... but he served in the medical corps specifically for that reason- so he could "do his duty" without having to kill anyone.

Probably plenty of mixed feeling on this one...

 

I have to say I agree with you guys, sometimes saying 'I will not take up arms' is a harder way out than volunteering, particularly if by doing it you risk serious penalties. I can't help thinking about the episode of Dad's Army where they find out that Godfrey was a CO but it turns out he is probably braver than any of them...

 

Yup Steffan, its got to take something to actually go the other way....Not saying its always the right way, but on a personal basis, to stand out with the knowledge of how it will affect you personally, more so in other years than today is something else..

Always reminds me of a story I thought was sad, a young girl sent it to a book on Dunkirk, a collection of stories of civilians and forces etc..She stated how she remembered it..troops on front pages, nation going into overdrive at rescue and fighting spirit etc...she was walking with her dad who was in civilian clothing..he was presented with a white feather..he said nothing, but was in tears by time he got home..the person giving him the feather obviously did not see his merchant marine badge..or knew of the fact he had just spent over a week in an open boat in the Atlantic after being sunk...sad the way we preconceive people..

 

Nice website, urgh! It was very interesting to see that these men didn't lose their concious mind and stood firmly there for their convictions. very admirable.