Sounds like cowardice to me.
Posted on 05/18/2005 11:41:19 AM PDT by JZelle
Washington, DC, May. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has approved nine of 19 applications for "conscientious objector" status since the war in Iraq began, a Navy document shows.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Colonel: (Graham Chapman) Come in, what do you want?
(Private Watkins enters and salutes.)
Watkins: (Eric Idle) I'd like to leave the army please, sir.
Colonel: Good heavens man, why?
Watkins: It's dangerous!!
Colonel: What?
Watkins: There are people with guns out there, sir.
Colonel: What?
Watkins: Real guns, sir. Not toy ones, sir. Proper ones, sir. They've all got 'em. All of 'em, sir. And some of 'em have got tanks.
Colonel: Watkins, they are on our side.
Watkins: And grenades, sir. And machine guns, sir. So I'd like to leave, sir, before I get killed, please.
Colonel: Watkins, you've only been in the army a day.
Watkins: I know sir but people get killed, properly dead, sir, no barely cross fingers, sir. A bloke was telling me, if you're in the army and there's a war you have to go and fight.
Colonel: That's true.
Watkins: Well I mean, blimey, I mean if it was a big war somebody could be hurt.
Colonel: Watkins why did you join the army?
Watkins: For the water-skiing and for the travel, sir. And not for the killing, sir. I asked them to put it on my form, sir - no killing.
Colonel: Watkins are you a pacifist?
Watkins: No sir, I'm not a pacifist, sir. I'm a coward.
Colonel: That's a very silly line. Sit down.
--Monty Python
Sounds like cowardice to me.
Actually, I would have no problem supporting and agreeing with a concientious objector if this person were an Iraqi-American.
I imagine these were the ones that given the pass.
Not endorsing it, but we need more details. Conscientious objectors *can* serve a function in the military, if they want to serve their country but will not/can't willingly take another's life. Medics, doctors, and corpsmen, for example, have often been roles taken by conscientious objectors who served with honor and distinction.
Watkins: I joined to better myself at your expense, not to fight!
Colonel: You son are a scum bag!
I believe their problem is with the actual killing part. They can serve their country in support roles though. I have no problem with them if they are legit. I think that would be easily researched.
Agreed. If I'm not mistaken, I think that one of the WW2 recipients of the CMH was a conscientious objector medic who saved a number of men at the expense of his own, without thought for his own safety - and he never touched a weapon.
Might also want to look at the military service of people from violence-forbidding religious sects like the Quakers - all non-combat, but mostly impressive and honorable service.
Very good point.
At least they are going through the system and not taking a vacation in Canada...
Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Pfc. Desmond T. Doss Sr. , Conscientious objector
When I joined the military, they asked me if I was a conscientous objector. These people knew what it was all about when they joined. Gee, why do they think they had weopons training. This is a joke.
I think there's one from the Pacific Theatre as well, but I'm not sure. However, this proves my point - there is a place in the military for conscientious objectors who wish to serve their country. Someone has to try to save the lives of wounded soldiers, as well as heal them and care for them while they recover; those positions do not usually involve the taking of life or the bearing of arms.
That said, most conscientious objectors do declare their status upon enlistment and the services can then figure out how to train and deploy them.
Er, that should read "another" one from the Pacific Theatre.
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