Spring 2003 Number 1 Semantics: Slowly Seizing CO Rights
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The Reporter The Center on Conscience & War for Conscience’ Sake Volume 60 Spring 2003 Number 1 Semantics: Slowly Seizing CO Rights When I was in college I had the chance to study four semesters of ancient Greek, and it was intriguing to by Theo Sitther learn that many words in the English vocabulary in fact have Greek roots. The observation here is that words tend to get borrowed, and once a word or a phrase is reused in another context, it tends to pop up in many different places. The same concept seems to apply when it comes to speeches. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a gifted speaker, many of his speeches during the civil rights movement were inspiring, and so many of King’s wordings and phrases have been borrowed. His I have a Dream speech has inspired many, and the concept of having a “dream” gets borrowed endlessly. The same borrowing effect can have negative consequences as well. In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, President Bush said, “this crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while.” The wording, crusade, by the President virtually went unnoticed in America, but for the rest of the world it brought back dark thoughts about the clash of civilizations long ago, in a war between Christian crusaders and the Muslim world. And, for “Conscience Under Fire” many Muslims today the war in Iraq is seen as a Christian crusade against Islam. Words are powerful. Giving him the The Center on Conscience & War, benefit of the doubt, President Bush might not have had the by Tim Showalter along with friends from the Center’s Christian crusades in mind when he referred to the war on board and from far away places, terrorism as a crusade, but the consequences of his words were convened at the Friend’s Meeting House in Washington, DC for damaging. In the same way, words and phrases can have equal its Annual Advisory Council Conference. The conference, or greater power in congress, when it comes to passing laws. entitled “Conscience Under Fire”, called for discussion on new On January 7, 2003 Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) ideas and concerns for CCW in the coming year. The time introduced the Universal National Service Act of 2003 (H.R. commenced with greetings from the executive director, J.E. 163) in the House of Representatives. The bill was proposed to McNeil and Board Chair, Jonathan Ogle. Trent Moyer, from bring the military draft back into effect. There are many different AFSC, facilitated a workshop on “Military Out of Our Schools”, things that are fundamentally flawed about this bill. Even where participants discussed the dangers of recruiters and the Representative Rangel’s argument in support of this bill is rapidly expanding JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) flawed, and there is little hope that this bill has any chance of program. They were invited to brainstorm different ways to erase going anywhere. Though it is most likely that H.R. 163 will not be military influence from our schools and colleges. Bill Galvin, passed, there is cause for great Counseling Coordinator, facilitated a workshop on the draft and Also Inside: concern. The Center on the proposed Military CO Act; he also co-facilitated a workshop Conscience & War (CCW) is News Briefs..................2 on GI Rights and conscientious objection in the Iraq War, with particularly concerned about the Center’s own Jen Flament. Marion Franz, the director of the the section in the bill concern- National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund (NCPTF), presented the Center News................3 ing conscientious objectors history and current congressional attitude towards the organiza- (CO). The wording in the bill in tion and its goals. The NCPTF strives to set up a Peace Tax Lobby Report...............3 regard to COs is very limiting. Fund, essentially, “to provide that the income, estate, or gift tax There are not sufficient payment of...taxpayers who are conscientiously opposed to provisions for COs in the participation in war...be used for nonmilitary purposes.” Op-ed..........................4 Rangel bill. Under the provi- Following the break for lunch, Stav Adivi, Israeli refuser of the sions provided in H.R. 163, resister organization The Courage to Refuse, held the partici- CO Memory.................6 (cont. on page 5 as Language) pants’ undivided attention (cont. on page 3 as Advisory Council) Reporter for Conscience’ Sake Spring 2003 News Briefs On 25 May 2003, four Catholic Workers The 215th General Assembly of the Presbyte- Board of Directors participated in a Plowshares action aboard rian Church, USA, meeting in Denver, May 24- the USS Philippines harbored in New York 31, 2003, adopted an overture to uphold the Jim Feldman, Sec. City for Fleet Week. Susan Clarkson, Brian registry for members who are conscientious At-Large Buckley, Joan Gregory, and Mark Colville objectors. The Assembly went on to reaffirm Janet Horman held a banner with the words ‘Riverside the church’s “historic commitment for the right United Methodist Church Plowshares - Disarm and Choose Life’ while of individual conscience by expressing concern they hammered and poured their own blood for conscientious objectors in the military and Greg Davidson Laszakovitz Church of the Brethren on the missile hatches. Their action was the dilemmas they often encounter, and by inspired by the words of Isaiah 2: “they shall urging the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains Shannon McManimon beat their swords into plowshares.” The and Military Personnel, to ensure that all Pax Christi USS Philippines fired missiles in the recent Presbyterian chaplains are educated in both David Miller wars against Afghanistan and Iraq. The four the PC(USA)’s policy in support of conscien- Mennonite Central Committtee Catholic Workers were arrested, released tious objectors and the appropriate military after several hours, and are awaiting charges. regulations and procedures for reclassifying Mary Miller, Treas. and discharging conscientious objectors.” Episcopal Church - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jonathan K. Ogle, Chair - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Philadelphia Yearly Meeting In an effort to satisfy the recent increase in Ibrahim Abdil-Mu-id Ramey requests for information about conscientious The Unitarian Universalist Peace Fellowship Fellowship of Reconciliation objection to war, Anne Yoder, of the has recently made the decision to award the Swarthmore College Peace Collection has Center on Conscience & War with its Adin Irving Ruderman Ballou Peace Award. The Unitarian Universal- Jewish Peace Fellowship created a website entitled, “Conscientious Objection in America: Primary Sources for ist (UU) General Assembly has its continent Daniel Seeger Research.” The site includes a brief history wide annual meeting in Boston this year, during At-Large of conscientious objection in America, a the last weekend in June. At the assembly, the listing of over 175 archival sources from UU will be making the official presentation of Staff over 30 US institutions, stories and ac- the award, which will be accepted by the Center’s Bill Galvin, after which he’ll give a J.E. McNeil counts of real conscientious objectors, and Executive Director links to non-archival sources as well. The short presentation on the efforts and business site can be accessed at: of the Center. Bill Galvin Counseling Coordinator www.swarthmore.edu/Library/peace - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jen Flament - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Program Assistant Marine Reservist and conscientious objector Tim Showalter In August, a coalition of about 60 organiza- Stephen Funk, who declared his CO status BVS Volunteer tions, including CCW, are organizing a publicly on April 1, is being charged with commemoration March on Washington. It desertion under Article 85 of the Uniform Code Theo Sitther of Military Justice. Funk went UA for a few MCC Volunteer will have been 40 years, come August, since the 1963 gathering, where Dr. Martin Luther weeks to prepare his CO papers for discharge. James Reichard King, Jr. called for a Poor People’s Campaign The Marines are charging him with desertion Program Assistant and an Economic Bill of Rights. Dr. King’s because he was “shirking important duty.” linkage of poverty, militarism, and racism Funk is only one of the marine reservists The Reporter for Conscience’ continues to resonate today. “We invite all waiting for a discharge. Many other COs Sake is a publication of the working with CCW are now being turned down. Center on Conscience & War. people of conscience to join us in that same spirit, to spread this call and meet us at the As Bill Galvin suggested in the last newsletter, 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC on our good luck with military CO cases may be Washington, DC 20009 August 22, 23, and 24, 2003.” Watch urgent coming to an end. These cases seem to be Tel: 202-483-2220 actions and keep in touch with CCW for evidence that CO rights may be taking a turn Fax: 202-483-1246 further details and information. for the worse. Hopefully, they are just a few Email: [email protected] bad luck scenarios. URL: http://www.nisbco.org Reporter for Conscience’ Sake 2 Spring 2003 Center News A Servant JOIN THE CENTER IN LEARNING HOW TO A servant of peace, love, and unity in a broken world. Hello, my name is Theo Sitther the newest staff member of CCW. I am a STOP WAR WHERE IT BEGINS ... volunteer of the Mennonite Central Committee here on my two- year assignment. I will be doing lobbying for the Center; lobbying primarily for a Military Conscientious Objection Act to be introduced and passed. Have any questions? Contact me at [email protected]. One More Willing and Helpful Volunteer Hi, I’m Elizabeth Wyrsch a member of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in Washington D.C. and have volunteered here at the office a few times.