The Reporter The Center on Conscience & War for Conscience’ Sake Volume 62 2005 Number 3 direct order from someone of authority. However, it was Army Teaches Killing In discovered that it was fear of killing, rather than the fear of being killed, that largely influenced the actions of these War Is Moral soldiers. Even when there was a perceived threat to the A Response to Work of Major Peter Kilner soldiers, relatively few actually fired their weapons. By Bill Galvin General S.L.A. Marshall, one of the official historians of CCW Counseling Coordinator WWII wrote, “[The American soldier] is what his home, his religion, his schooling, and the moral code and ideals On Aug 17, 2005 the Wall Street Journal reported that of his society have made him. .He comes from a Major Peter Kilner’s articles on the ethics and morality of civilization in which aggression, connected with the taking war have been receiving wider attention. “At the Army’s of life, is prohibited and unacceptable. .[this teaching] school for newly minted chaplains in South Carolina, has been expressed to him so strongly and absorbed by Major Kilner’s writings are being incorporated into a new him so deeply and pervadingly– practically with his course to be offered later this year on how to counsel mothers milk– that it is part of a normal mans emotional soldiers on the morality of war.” Possessing a seeming make-up. This is his great handicap when he enters fascination with this issue and believing the military to combat” Marshall notes that “at the vital moment [the have ignored the matter of morality when training soldiers rifleman] becomes a conscientious objector.”2 to kill effectively, Kilner has produced several recent publications, beginning with his Master’s thesis, Soldiers, See KILNER, Pg. 4 Self-Defense, and Killing in War. An active duty From Warriors to Resisters officer, he has also taught these and similar topics in a variety of contexts including at the United States Military A Book Review Academy at Westpoint. He even maintains a blog, By Theo Sitther Thoughts of a Soldier-Ethicist, providing a forum for CCW Lobbyist his own essays and encouraging public discussion. Since “By putting my weapon down I CCW receives calls daily from soldiers struggling with the chose to reassert myself as a morality of their role in war, it is essential to explore what human being.” Major Kilner and the Army is teaching chaplains on this -Camilo Mejia subject. “I sold my soul to the Marine The “Problem” With Corps a long time ago, but Also Inside: Current Training every time I tell my story, I get a little piece of it back.” -Jimmy Massey New Briefs...................2 Studies conducted after WWII indicated that fewer No one knows the reality and horrors of war better than Center News................3 than 25% of soldiers veterans, providing no better voice for peace and resis- actually fired their weapons tance. Veterans bring a unique perspective to the peace Operation Refuse War...6 at the “enemy.”1 Peer movement. They are the storytellers of the war experi- pressure increased the ence, providing a sense of urgency and passion with each CO Memories...............7 likelihood of firing, as did a See BOOK, Pg. 6 Reporter for Conscience’ Sake 1 Vol. 62, No. 3 News Briefs South Korea Reviews Canada Divided On Fate of U.S. Conscientious Objection Issue War Dodger After the National Human Rights In January 2004, Jeremy Hinzman, 27, Board of Directors Commission recommended in Decem- left his 82nd Airborne unit, heading to ber the recognition of conscientious Canada days before he was to be Jonathan K. Ogle, Chair objectors within the South Korean deployed. Now, having been denied Philadelphia Yearly Meeting compulsory conscription system, refugee status and awaiting a Federal Jim Feldman, Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung Court review, two human-rights advo- At-Large proposed the formation of a committee cacy groups are attempting to intervene David Miller, Vice Chair to explore the idea of an alternative civil on his behalf. Amnesty International Mennonite Central Committtee service system. In August a Constitu- and the International Human Rights Shannon McManimon, Sec. tional Court ruled the current conscrip- Clinic argue that Hinzman’s claim that Pax Christi tion practices as fully within the law, and the invasion of Iraq was illegal is Phil Jones many still believe alternative service adequate evidence that he is indeed a Church of the Brethren would only weaken national security. conscientious objector. However, in his Irving Ruderman However, each year around 700 March hearing, the board rejected the Jewish Peace Fellowship conscientious objectors are jailed or war legality argument, ruling that as Anita Cole otherwise disciplined. Hinzman is not a pacifist, he is not a At-Large (The Korea Times 1/6/2006) conscientious objector. While the U.S. Jean Martensen, Treas. A Question of “Opting-Out” does not recognize this kind of selective At-Large conscientious objection, Hinzman’s Parents may be surprised to learn that lawyer is asking Canada to consider Staff even after “opting-out” of having their UN jurisprudence that “talk(s) about child’s information provided to military objecting to a specific war, if its charac- J.E. McNeil recruiters at schools, this information ter is contrary to fundamental human Executive Director remains in a larger Pentagon database, norms.” As at least 20 others are Bill Galvin the Joint Advertising Market Research currently seeking similar refugee status, Counseling Coordinator and Studies (JAMRS). The Pentagon this case is sure to set precedence. Elizabeth Sprague insists that JAMRS is necessary in (Canada Press 2/5/2006) Outreach Coordinator order to maintain the volunteer military Turkey Charged In CO Case Theo Sitther and claim that one central directory will Lobbyist even save money. However, both the On January 24, 2006 the European Marcus Kroll budget and legality have been put to Court of Human Rights ruled that Law Clerk question. In June 2005 seven senators Turkey had violated Article 3 of the Hannah Kliewer requested that Rumsfeld “immediately European Convention on Human Rights BVS Volunteer cease creation of this database.” Until by giving conscientious objector Osman that happens, there is a push for more Murat Ulke multiple prison terms for The Reporter for Conscience’ easily accessible “opt-out” options; refusing to serve his compulsory military Sake is a publication of the Center on Conscience & War. however, even with such a request for service. While the ruling does not the information to not be released, the exempt Ulke from his service or 1830 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20009 child’s name and information is never stipulate a change to Turkey’s draft Tel: 202-483-2220 actually removed, making the value of system, it does raise the question of Fax: 202-483-1246 Email:[email protected] “opting-out” of JAMRS uncertain. reform. (Turkish Daily News / The URL:www.CenterOnConscience.org (Vermont Guardian 1/17/2006) Anatolian Times 1/15/2006) Reporter for Conscience’ Sake 2 Vol. 62, No. 3 Center News From The Hill // Theo Sitther not be forced to choose between going to war and On December 18, 2005 violating their beliefs or being punished. However, president Bush addressed the lobbying for this bill in the current political environment is nation justifying his decision to an up-hill struggle. While many members of Congress are invade Iraq. In this speech he sympathetic towards the bill, no one is willing to take the said, “My most solemn responsi- lead to introduce it. In spite of this we are working very bility is to protect our nation, and hard to educate congressional staffers and members on that requires me to make some conscientious objection and working to find a lead tough decisions. I see the consequences of those deci- sponsor. If you would like to speak to your Congress sions when I meet wounded servicemen and women who member about this issue please get in touch with me cannot leave their hospital beds but summon the strength through e-mail ([email protected]) or by to look me in the eye and say they would do it all over telephone (202.483.2220). again.” The President, however, failed to mention that A New Face Here and Gone there are many who take the courageous step and say that they cannot kill or participate in war. Katherine Marilyn Schirk has been a Jashinski is one of the most recent examples of such diligent addition to the office over conscientious objection. In Katherine’s case, CCW the past few months. Volunteering executive director J.E. McNeil has continued to be part her time one or more days a of her legal team as she waits at Fort Benning, Georgia week, she has all but finished and is “disciplined” for refusing to train with weapons. transcribing a manual of military medical deferments to be used Currently it is only military policy to discharge someone by draft counselors. “It’s been wonderful to be able to who is a conscientious objector. Since a CO discharge is help the Center with such important work. This project not law, the Pentagon can suspend this policy at any time. with hopefully allow the Center to continue counseling In fact, the CO policy was suspended during the Persian conscientious objectors and GIs.” While Marilyn has Gulf War in 1991 resulting in thousands of COs going to now left CCW, she and her husband will soon be pursu- jail or going AWOL because their conscience would not ing six more months of service through Brethren Volun- allow them to go to war.