Opinion
Conscientious Objector Day?
Heartless, Not Stupid
November 14, 2007 - 12:00am
There was a federal holiday — arguably the most important one — just three days ago. Some Cornell students only recognized this because Nov. 12 was no ordinary Monday. Simma Reingold ’08 summed it up pretty well: “Of course I knew it was a holiday — we didn’t get any mail.” But sadly, many Cornell students were unaware that Veterans Day occurred this past weekend.
And one cannot blame them; the University administration also seemed unaware of the occasion. There was no campus-wide observance of Veterans Day; no forum discussing the history behind Veterans Day or the contributions that our fighting men and women have made to this country; no ceremony paying homage to fallen Cornell soldiers of past conflicts; no service honoring the alumni defending us overseas now; no Sun coverage about the Veterans Day ceremonies in Ithaca except a few photos. There was nothing.
It is appalling that Cornell did less than nothing to observe Veterans Day; unfortunately, we could have done worse. Neglecting to recognize the sacrifices of our veterans is not as disrespectful as purposely misrepresenting the holiday.
And that is just what Rolf Hanson, a fourth grade elementary school teacher, attempted to do last week. Bay Haven Elementary School in Sarasota, Fl. decided to commemorate Veterans Day by allowing classes to make banners honoring American veterans. While most teachers had their students create banners recognizing veterans from specific wars or military branches, Hanson took a much different approach. He decided that the best way to celebrate Veterans Day would be to make a banner paying homage to conscientious objectors, rather than combat veterans.
Conscientious objectors have been around as long as there has been a draft and many have served this country with honor. Corporal Alvin York, most widely recognized from the biographical film Sergeant York, was a conscientious objector — before he won the Medal of Honor for personally killing and capturing some 150 Germans, while securing the German Decauville rail line on Oct. 8, 1918. Conscientious objectors like Sergeant York deserve just as much recognition as any other veteran for their service.
A distinction, however, must be drawn between conscientious objectors and pacifists. Conscientious objectors, dating all the way back to the First World War when Woodrow Wilson first instituted conscription, fulfilled their duty as soldiers in non-combat roles by becoming medics or tending to wounded comrades in other ways. These men and women served the war effort and demonstrated their patriotism in this way.
Pacifists, on the other hand, choose not to contribute to the war effort. Honoring this section of the population — draft dodgers, part time Canadian citizens and their ilk — is antithetical to the true meaning of Veterans Day, which, believe it or not, is to honor those that have served in our nation’s military; to pay tribute to those that have risked and sacrificed their lives to safeguard our freedom from foreign enemies.
If anything, these pacifists use their C.O. status to undermine America’s war-making efforts. Muhammad Ali was a conscientious objector; but not in the mold of Sergeant York. Rather than fulfilling his obligation to serve in our nation’s army, Ali refused to join the military, under any circumstances. Using his most patriotic voice, Ali said, “War is against the teachings of the holy Koran. I’m not trying to dodge the draft. We are not supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger. We don’t take part in Christian wars or wars of any unbelievers,” before famously proclaiming, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong.”
Ali invoked the same call for conscientious objector status as hundreds of Americans had before him. Unlike soldiers like Alvin York, however, Ali refused to serve his country in any capacity, even as a non-combatant. Ali embodied the poisonous rhetoric of pacifism; his attitude reflected anti-Americanism, not conscientious objection to violent conflict.
It is a safe assumption that the good teacher Mr. Hanson probably did not have veterans like Alvin York in mind when he told his class they would be honoring conscientious observers. Like any good educrat, Rolf Hanson was using the classroom as his soapbox; Veterans Day was just another opportunity to indoctrinate 10 year-olds. Veterans Day is supposed to remind our citizens that freedom isn’t free; its survival depends on the sacrifices that the men and women in our military make. Mr. Hanson wants to teach his students that not only is freedom a free ride, but that there is bravery and honor in refusing to serve in its defense.
Equating the sacrifices of pacifists and conscientious objectors — “I had to live in Canada for a whole decade!” — with those of our men and women in the military is the ultimate insult to our veterans. Veterans actually defend our freedom; pacifists merely enjoy it. Celebrating pacifists on Veterans Day is about as logical as honoring flag burners on June 14 or ex-wives on Valentine’s Day.
Perhaps a separate day of remembrance could be set aside on the calendar to recall the sacrifices of stateside or Canada-bound pacifists. I am open to the idea so long as its creation follows the rubric laid out by one military blogger: “the most appropriate day for this would be February 30 of each year.”
Until then, why don’t we stick to the true meaning of Veterans Day and pay homage to those who defended this country and our freedom. Nov. 11 is about men and women like Alvin York, not Muhammad Ali.
Bill McMorris is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. He can be contacted at bmcmorris@cornellsun.com. Heartless, Not Stupid appears alternate Wednesdays.
There was a federal holiday — arguably the most important one — just three days ago. Some Cornell students only recognized this because Nov. 12 was no ordinary Monday. Simma Reingold ’08 summed it up pretty well: “Of course I knew it was a holiday — we didn’t get any mail.” But sadly, many Cornell students were unaware that Veterans Day occurred this past weekend.
And one cannot blame them; the University administration also seemed unaware of the occasion. There was no campus-wide observance of Veterans Day; no forum discussing the history behind Veterans Day or the contributions that our fighting men and women have made to this country; no ceremony paying homage to fallen Cornell soldiers of past conflicts; no service honoring the alumni defending us overseas now; no Sun coverage about the Veterans Day ceremonies in Ithaca except a few photos. There was nothing.
It is appalling that Cornell did less than nothing to observe Veterans Day; unfortunately, we could have done worse. Neglecting to recognize the sacrifices of our veterans is not as disrespectful as purposely misrepresenting the holiday.
And that is just what Rolf Hanson, a fourth grade elementary school teacher, attempted to do last week. Bay Haven Elementary School in Sarasota, Fl. decided to commemorate Veterans Day by allowing classes to make banners honoring American veterans. While most teachers had their students create banners recognizing veterans from specific wars or military branches, Hanson took a much different approach. He decided that the best way to celebrate Veterans Day would be to make a banner paying homage to conscientious objectors, rather than combat veterans.
Conscientious objectors have been around as long as there has been a draft and many have served this country with honor. Corporal Alvin York, most widely recognized from the biographical film Sergeant York, was a conscientious objector — before he won the Medal of Honor for personally killing and capturing some 150 Germans, while securing the German Decauville rail line on Oct. 8, 1918. Conscientious objectors like Sergeant York deserve just as much recognition as any other veteran for their service.
A distinction, however, must be drawn between conscientious objectors and pacifists. Conscientious objectors, dating all the way back to the First World War when Woodrow Wilson first instituted conscription, fulfilled their duty as soldiers in non-combat roles by becoming medics or tending to wounded comrades in other ways. These men and women served the war effort and demonstrated their patriotism in this way.
Pacifists, on the other hand, choose not to contribute to the war effort. Honoring this section of the population — draft dodgers, part time Canadian citizens and their ilk — is antithetical to the true meaning of Veterans Day, which, believe it or not, is to honor those that have served in our nation’s military; to pay tribute to those that have risked and sacrificed their lives to safeguard our freedom from foreign enemies.
If anything, these pacifists use their C.O. status to undermine America’s war-making efforts. Muhammad Ali was a conscientious objector; but not in the mold of Sergeant York. Rather than fulfilling his obligation to serve in our nation’s army, Ali refused to join the military, under any circumstances. Using his most patriotic voice, Ali said, “War is against the teachings of the holy Koran. I’m not trying to dodge the draft. We are not supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger. We don’t take part in Christian wars or wars of any unbelievers,” before famously proclaiming, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong.”
Ali invoked the same call for conscientious objector status as hundreds of Americans had before him. Unlike soldiers like Alvin York, however, Ali refused to serve his country in any capacity, even as a non-combatant. Ali embodied the poisonous rhetoric of pacifism; his attitude reflected anti-Americanism, not conscientious objection to violent conflict.
It is a safe assumption that the good teacher Mr. Hanson probably did not have veterans like Alvin York in mind when he told his class they would be honoring conscientious observers. Like any good educrat, Rolf Hanson was using the classroom as his soapbox; Veterans Day was just another opportunity to indoctrinate 10 year-olds. Veterans Day is supposed to remind our citizens that freedom isn’t free; its survival depends on the sacrifices that the men and women in our military make. Mr. Hanson wants to teach his students that not only is freedom a free ride, but that there is bravery and honor in refusing to serve in its defense.
Equating the sacrifices of pacifists and conscientious objectors — “I had to live in Canada for a whole decade!” — with those of our men and women in the military is the ultimate insult to our veterans. Veterans actually defend our freedom; pacifists merely enjoy it. Celebrating pacifists on Veterans Day is about as logical as honoring flag burners on June 14 or ex-wives on Valentine’s Day.
Perhaps a separate day of remembrance could be set aside on the calendar to recall the sacrifices of stateside or Canada-bound pacifists. I am open to the idea so long as its creation follows the rubric laid out by one military blogger: “the most appropriate day for this would be February 30 of each year.”
Until then, why don’t we stick to the true meaning of Veterans Day and pay homage to those who defended this country and our freedom. Nov. 11 is about men and women like Alvin York, not Muhammad Ali.
Bill McMorris is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. He can be contacted at bmcmorris@cornellsun.com. Heartless, Not Stupid appears alternate Wednesdays.
Conscientious Objector Day?
While what the author said was very imformative, please note that Ali was correct about the Vietnam War. We went there under false pretenses (The Gulf of Tonkin incident), and over 58,000 American Soldiers paid for this folly with their lives. Don't forget also that many more ended up with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome), got exposed to Agent Orange, or become addicted to drugs and/or alcohol because of the mess over there. A lot of marriages ended up ruined because of what the soldiers endured in Vietname, for example. War tends to do that to a person, which is why I was dismayed at the leadup to the current one. Along with the recent news that up to 1/4 of all the homeless in the US are Veterans, what anyone sent to war whether willingly or not ends up facing a lot of physical and mental changes during and after combat. Plus, remember that there was drugs and racial unrest in the military, along with Fragging of officiers that the soldiers detested. Like a lot of today's soldiers say, they'd rather be in a foxhole with someone who wants to be there. Finally, if anyone wants to support the troops, all they have to do is walk down to the Recruiting Office and Enlist. No one's blocking their access to the Military at any time.
What's a freed ride?
What's a freed ride?
Freed Ride
Oh, the anonymous contirbutor is so clever, but apparently so lacking in innate intelligence and common sense that he/she/it cannot detect a typographical error. Nice contribution to the discussion.
I find it appalling that, despite the fact the country is at war, Cornell did nothing to commemorate Veterans Day. Perhaps it is becasue the tide has apparently turned in Iraq, and the situation on the gorund has improved to such an extent that the troop surge is being reversed. I guess good news on the war front cannot be countenanced by liberal-leaning institutions when there are democrats to be elected next year.
By the way, a free ride is what smug college students writing to school newspapers receive on the backs of their fellow citizens who fight to preserve their right to be smug college students writing to school newspapers. As the saying goes, "Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share." It would be nice to hear you say thank you once in a while. You don't have to enlist, but it might be nice if you visited a local VA hospital or recruiting station to do so in person.
freedom?
since when was the invasion of Iraq about freedom? I'd prefer to visit marines in the comfort of their homes without families destroyed by an unwarranted war. You are right. Freedom is not free. Apparently we are paying for what is sold as 'freedom' with a lot of young lives as well as a lot of tax money that is going into the hands of corporations. You chest thumping 'conservatives' are so clever.
What's a gorund?
What's a gorund?
Armistice Day
I'm sure Bill McMorris will receive many angry responses to his view of pacifists and I leave that to others. Instead I point out:
First: Did Cornell celebrate any other federal holidays in a big way? Memorial Day? Labor Day? Why pick on them for Veteran's Day?
Second: Desmond Doss, conscientious objector and medic during WWII, received the Medal of Honor from President Truman, for his service -- during which he did not kill anyone. A wonderful example of a CO who lived by his values yet did his duty to his country. Of course, Doss is not a good example to support Bill McMorris' opinion that pacifists are poisonous and anti-American. Nor is Thomas Bennett, a CO medic during the Vietnam War to whom President Richard M. Nixon presented a posthumous Medal of Honor. Whatever facts do not support our opinion, we reject.
Third: I assume, given Bill's RaRa America stance, that he simply neglected to mention that he's in the Army Reserve or National Guard or ROTC. Once he has fought a little in a real war, let's see what he thinks about looking for peaceful solutions to conflict.
Fourth: Veteran's Day began life as Armistice Day -- a celebration of the peace gained after WWI, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. So noting famous conscientious objectors on that day can make some sense. War is, after all, fought so that peace and freedom can be gained. Taking a look at those who feel we can skip the war part if we try, could be interesting and enlightening.
"First: Did Cornell
"First: Did Cornell celebrate any other federal holidays in a big way? Memorial Day?"
Because Veteran's Day is about honoring those who have served our country (As is Memorial Day for our fallen soldiers, but school is not in session). I'm sure ILR has some sort of discussion panel or event for Labor Day even though we don't get class off, but the purpose of the day is far less important than Veterans or Memorial Day.
"Of course, Doss is not a good example to support Bill McMorris' opinion that pacifists are poisonous and anti-American."
Did you even read the column? McMorris makes a distinction between COs who still serve their country (good) and pacifists who don't serve even in a non-combat role (bad). Obviously Doss would fit into the first category, and McMorris commends these individuals.
"Third: I assume, given Bill's RaRa America stance, that he simply neglected to mention that he's in the Army Reserve or National Guard or ROTC. Once he has fought a little in a real war, let's see what he thinks about looking for peaceful solutions to conflict."
Classic Chickenhawk argument. It's about the message, not the messenger. Under your logic, only people who have personal experience in something would be able to comment on it. And, if we polled the majority of soldiers, I'm sure they would say that war is awful but sometimes absolutely necessary.
"Fourth: Veteran's Day began life as Armistice Day -- a celebration of the peace gained after WWI, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. So noting famous conscientious objectors on that day can make some sense."
No, it doesn't make sense, unless those COs actually served in some capacity. Who helped bring about the peace after WWI? It wasn't a magic fairy; it was through the sacrifices of the people in our armed forces. Celebrate International Peace Day or whatever holiday you want to invent, but Veterans Day should be about the men and women who brought about that peace.
Dear Friend
Dear Friend Anonymous:
First, I had the courage to put my name to my opinion. Who are you?
Second, yes, I did read the column, and Bill uses two COs to illustrate his point -- the 'good' one who he says personally killed over 150 people, and the 'bad' one who lived his values and went to jail instead. Bill does not use the two COs I mentioned who lived their values AND served their country, and as I say, Bill does not use them because that would make his point harder to make. And by the way, now that I think about it, since when is standing up for your values in the face of opposition not a way to serves this country? How about Martin Luther King, Jr. who died for his values in the face of obvious and violent opposition, even for some time (and some say still) government opposition. Did he not serve his country?
Third, I personally honored the veterans of this country in the most patriotic fashion possible. Not with speeches and parades, which fade, but by voting on November 6th, even in what we unpatriotically call an 'off' year. People have fought and died so you and I would have the freedoms of speech, religion and representation. I will honor their sacrifice by exercising the freedoms they fought for. Including being a Quaker and a pacifist.
Two Kinds of Consciencetious Objectors
Even in the "all volunteer" US Military there is still legal status for Conscientious Objectors of two types. The first, which Mr McMorris recognizes is non-combantant, now someone who signs up to do service where they won't have to kill--medic/clergy and other jobs where its not necessary to carry a weapon. The second type of CO is someone who is opposed to war of any kind. These soldiers come to conscience after they enlist. Turns out that killing is an excellent way to discover that you are opposed to war. This type of CO must prove to her command that she came to her objections after she enlisted. If the command accepts the application the soldier is released from their obligation with an honorable discharge.
It is very difficult to prepare for and obtain a discharge as a conscientious objector in today's military. Frequently soldiers of conscience face ridicule and worse by their peers and leaders. Coupled with the long wait for consideration and the expectation that they will fulfill their mission until their application is settled, soldiers of conscience frequently find themselves in the brig or go AWOL to avoid participating in war.
If you'd like to learn more or to help someone you know who is struggling with issues of conscience in the Military contact http://www.objector.org/