Conscientious Objection and Pacifism
February 22nd, 2008
For many of us who have grown up Mennonite and attended a Mennonite church, the topics of conscientious objection to war and pacifism always went hand-in-hand.
As Mennonites, the reason for applying to be a conscientious objector is because of our faith and the moral principle that violence and war can and should be peacefully resolved. The thought in no way entered my mind that one could apply to be a conscientious objector (CO) after participating and being trained in the army. This was partly because the way my church explained the topic to my youth group. They simply stressed the reasons WHY we are conscientious objectors, and that it is the RIGHT thing to do if you are a true Mennonite; it was a very exclusive view.
But, becoming a CO doesn’t always have to stem from religious thoughts and backgrounds.
As part of a chapel series on campus a couple of volunteers from the Military Counseling Network(MCN) came and gave a presentation on how they work with men enlisted in the armed forces to consider other options. Many times this includes offering information on their rights, understanding and interpreting regulations, helping with legal issues, or just providing someone to talk to about their troubles. Of course, one of the options of getting out of the army is to apply for Conscientious Objector status. However, this a very LONG and COMPLICATED process, and one that only has a 45% success rate. The process includes:
- writing a 15-20 page essay on exactly when/how/and why your thoughts changed about war
- an intimidating interview by an army chaplain and commanding officer on a NEW FOUND belief
- having a commanding officer write a proposal either recommending the GI for or against CO status
- sending the application through the chain of command until it makes its way back the U.S.
- sending it to the GI’s relevant state for a military board review
In theory, this process should take about 9 months but the chances of that happening are very slim. (ie: armed forces + bureaucracy= red tape/slow) During this time of review, the GI is still in the army although they are not supposed to be given a duty which conflicts with their beliefs. They are also surrounded by army personnel who obviously do not agree with their choices, the pressure of strict regulations, the consequences of training and their own conscience.
So you see, becoming a CO can’t be an easy decision. It can be influenced by much more than a religious background including experiences, morals, beliefs, emotions, and psychological influences. I encourage those of you who read this journal to think about the roots of your beliefs and to extend those thoughts in different or unique directions to get a better understanding of other opinions or views and the people who hold them.