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Timebinder, v. 1, Issue 2, 1945
13
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THE PROBLEM OF THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR ((NOTE: I have recently had the pleasure of receiving a copy of a letter written by a sister to her brother, which I have been given the privilege of printing. The brother is in the US Armed Forces, the sister and her husband are sincere, honest and active Christian Conscientious Objectors. This letter states the problem from the angle of the CO better than anything I have yet read on the subject. I think it will give you food for thought.)) "I was very glad to receive such a long and sincere letter from you. It means much that you are concerned about some of the things that are happening in the world. I realize that, as you have said, you have a big job to do now, and cannot be too concerned about the non-military aspects of life. "I am sure that there is little that I can say that will bring you full understanding of our attitudes and beliefs, but I would like to try to help you to understand. Perhaps something else in your experience may help you to know how we feel. "In the first place, we fully recognize that there are conscientious objectors who are doing excellent work in the medical corps. There are a great many more conscientious objectors who would be glad to do such work, particularly in the war-torn countries, trying to bind up the wounds of those who have suffered through no fault of their own. But the government refuses to let them go to such work except as part of the army. "You must try to understand that each person much make his own decision of what he can do and what he cannot do. Some men believe firmly in the military method and would deny that war accomplishes nothing. They have enlisted and gladly and willingly give everything. Others do not believe in war, but believe that they must obey the will of their government which is supposed to represent the will of their countrymen. They go to war because they know of nothing else to do, but they do not believe that they will accomplish a great deal by that method. "Others believe that the method of warfare is wrong, that war accomplishes no good, that it is unChristian, unhumanitarian, immoral to kill others, yet they are willing to do anything they can to help those who are caught up in the maelstrom, they go into non-combative service although they refuse to fight or kill. "Others believe that war is morally wrong, and that they can have no part in it and refuse to be subject to military authority in any way or to do anything occupationally which is directly related to the war effort. They acknowledge the government's right to conscript men for military or labor service but they believe that those who are conscientiously opposed to such service should be given alternative service of civilian national 9
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THE PROBLEM OF THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR ((NOTE: I have recently had the pleasure of receiving a copy of a letter written by a sister to her brother, which I have been given the privilege of printing. The brother is in the US Armed Forces, the sister and her husband are sincere, honest and active Christian Conscientious Objectors. This letter states the problem from the angle of the CO better than anything I have yet read on the subject. I think it will give you food for thought.)) "I was very glad to receive such a long and sincere letter from you. It means much that you are concerned about some of the things that are happening in the world. I realize that, as you have said, you have a big job to do now, and cannot be too concerned about the non-military aspects of life. "I am sure that there is little that I can say that will bring you full understanding of our attitudes and beliefs, but I would like to try to help you to understand. Perhaps something else in your experience may help you to know how we feel. "In the first place, we fully recognize that there are conscientious objectors who are doing excellent work in the medical corps. There are a great many more conscientious objectors who would be glad to do such work, particularly in the war-torn countries, trying to bind up the wounds of those who have suffered through no fault of their own. But the government refuses to let them go to such work except as part of the army. "You must try to understand that each person much make his own decision of what he can do and what he cannot do. Some men believe firmly in the military method and would deny that war accomplishes nothing. They have enlisted and gladly and willingly give everything. Others do not believe in war, but believe that they must obey the will of their government which is supposed to represent the will of their countrymen. They go to war because they know of nothing else to do, but they do not believe that they will accomplish a great deal by that method. "Others believe that the method of warfare is wrong, that war accomplishes no good, that it is unChristian, unhumanitarian, immoral to kill others, yet they are willing to do anything they can to help those who are caught up in the maelstrom, they go into non-combative service although they refuse to fight or kill. "Others believe that war is morally wrong, and that they can have no part in it and refuse to be subject to military authority in any way or to do anything occupationally which is directly related to the war effort. They acknowledge the government's right to conscript men for military or labor service but they believe that those who are conscientiously opposed to such service should be given alternative service of civilian national 9
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