Posted on 12/13/2005 4:48:03 PM PST by Thunder90
Katherine Jashinski Statement read near Fort Benning gate November 17, 2005
My name is Katherine Jashinski. I am a SPC in the Texas Army National Guard. I was born in Milwaukee, WI and I am 22 years old. When I graduated high school I moved to Austin, TX to attend college. At age 19 I enlisted in the Guard as a cook because I wanted to experience military life. When I enlisted I believed that killing was immoral, but also that war was an inevitable part of life and therefore, an exception to the rule.
After enlisting I began the slow transformation into adulthood. Like many teenagers who leave their home for the first time, I went through a period of growth and soul searching. I encountered many new people and ideas that broadly expanded my narrow experiences. After reading essays by Bertrand Russel and traveling to the South Pacific and talking to people from all over the world, my beliefs about humanity and its relation to war changed. I began to see a bigger picture of the world and I started to reevaluate everything that I had been taught about war as a child. I developed the belief that taking human life was wrong and war was no exception. I was then able to clarify who I am and what it is that I stand for.
The thing that I revere most in this world is life, and I will never take another person's life.
Just as others have faith in God, I have faith in humanity
I have a deeply held belief that people must solve all conflicts through peaceful diplomacy and without the use of violence. Violence only begets more violence.
Because I believe so strongly in non-violence, I cannot perform any role in the military. Any person doing any job in the Army, contributes in some way to the planning, preparation or implementation of war.
For eighteen months, while my CO status was pending, I have honored my commitment to the Army and done everything that they asked of me. However, I was ordered to Ft. Benning last Sunday to complete weapons training in preparation to deploy for war.
Now I have come to the point where I am forced to choose between my legal obligation to the Army and my deepest moral values. I want to make it clear that I will not compromise my beliefs for any reason. I have a moral obligation not only to myself but to the world as a whole, and this is more important than any contract.
I have come to my beliefs through personal, intense, reflection and study. They are everything that I am and all that I stand for. After much thought and contemplation about the effect my decision will have on my future, my family, the possibility of prison, and the inevitable scorn and ridicule that I will face, I am completely resolute.
I will exercise my every legal right not pick up a weapon, and to participate in war effort. I am determined to be discharged as a CO, and while undergoing the appeals process; I will continue to follow orders that do not conflict with my conscience until my status has been resolved. I am prepared to accept the consequences of adhering to my beliefs.
What characterizes a conscientious objector is their willingness to face adversity and uphold their values at any cost. We do this not because it is easy or popular, but because we are unable to do otherwise. thank you.
If she hates the military so much, and she supports commies, then why did she enlist?
Hate America filth in the military PING!
She obviously didn't find anything.
Ping!
Has anyone told her that Crest makes teeth whiteners now...if she's gonna be in the public eye, try to look presentable! Oh, that's impossible for dirty, vile America haters.
I don't belive you can even get CO status based on a "belief in humanity" only for religious reasons. So now you have secular humanists seeking Concientious objection?
Get her out. Love America or leave it. I don't buy this about her saying she was growing up. I don't want this woman anywhere neat our people that are in country and in danger. They have more to do than look after her.
Perhaps she is one of those leftists who was propped up to join the Military, so she could be used as an example by the other leftists.
Deepest moral values which took her a very short time to develop. She joined in the middle of a war and now she is upset because she might have to kill somebody. Anybody want to guess if her unit is due to rotate to Iraq?
If they let her out I hope the Guard gets their money back. I'm sure the real reason she joined was for tuition assistance for college.
Someone needs to tell this idiot beotch that MURDER is immoral.. if killing was immoral then God wouldn't do it, or advocate it in certain circumstances. She needs some serious re-edumakashion.
Yeah, like a test case. To put the military and war on trial. That makes sense.
I don't know WHERE in the South Pacific, but it wasn't MY island..
BUmparoo
"I think killing is wrong. So, I guess my only choice is to join the Army!"
Send her to Iraq without the wespons training. She can be a "human shield."
I look forward to seeing her lead protest marches against the violent insurgents who main and kill small children.
She doesn't even have to go to Iraq and put her life at risk. She can protest the vile terrorists safely from America. At LEAST one "antiwar" protester has to show some opposition to the terrorists' war.
She apparently doesn't believe in God. She worships humanity. Fool.
"Just as others have faith in God, I have faith in humanity."
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