International Conscientious Objection Day

 

Anti-draft demonstration 1971 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Religion News Service

May 15 is International Conscientious Objection Day.

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

A Visit To The Wall That Heals

This spring I paid a visit to The Wall That Heals, a traveling three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Being a Vietnam era Conscientious Objector I have always felt drawn to see the Memorial in person. Even though I don’t personally know any of those whose names are engraved on the wall, I have always felt a deep need to acknowledge those 58,000 fallen or missing men and women who served in Vietnam.

Silence, awe, reverence, pain, gratitude, loss, emptiness, speechlessness…

I don’t know how to explain it, I not only experienced all of those feelings, but I also felt a sense of healing connection to those who served in the war that I fought to end.

Although I am against war I respect and support our men and women in uniform.

For more info about The Wall That Heals visit Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

Peace, Love & Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Remembering The Draft

Photo: Religion News Service

I still have my draft card stashed neatly in a small box of keepsakes in the nightstand drawer beside my bed. 

 During the Vietnam War I registered for the draft in 1974 as a Conscientious Objector. Being a Christian, I could not reconcile the Great Commission or the Great Commandment with the realities of war.

A Conscientious Objector needs to evaluate deep personal views on the use of force... here is part of that thought process that I went through.

A Conscientious Objector need not be a Pacifist so I am not afraid to protect loved ones or to use reasonable force for personal self-defense.

I support the local Police, National Guard and Coast Guard in their role of keeping us safe. Our government is required to protect us but a nation going to war in a foreign land is not the same thing as protecting its citizens or borders.

 I do not believe that there is such a thing as a “Just War”. Historically the highest number of war casualties have been civilians, so applying the Just War Theory would make all wars unjustifiable and therefore a matter of personal and national conscience.

Here are a few other blog posts of mine about the Draft: 

The Draft

Jesus Freak Peacenik 

"And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Isaiah 2:4)

 

Peace, Love & Light,

Kevin (Cloud)