Navy Coward or Conscientious Objector?

Military.com ^ | 9/23/05 | Matthew Dodd

[Red Badger]

Agreed!.....

[azhenfud]

A conscientious objector would not have joined an all-volunteer ARMED FORCE.

Many who legitimately object to war have the smarts not to join when there is a remote chance they'll be called on to fight.

I'd be willing to wager a donut the dude's not as passive as he makes out to be if one were to flail him silly.

[USNBandit]

Judge Lieutenant Commander Klant said to the court: "I think the government has successfully proved that any seaman recruit has reasonable cause to believe that the wars in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq were illegal."

This is a typical problem with the JAG corps in the Navy. They are way too easy on criminals like this one. I had an airman that was lazy, a thief, assaulted host country women that were dumb enough to date him. We tried to get an OTH on the guy, but the JAG folks wouldn't go for it. After spending literally hundreds of man hours on pushing the case the JAG gave him a general discharge.

Funny thing was that after being discharged he immediately came back to Japan, ran out of money, and started robbing ATM customers and cab drivers. Now he is doing hard time in a Japanese prison.

[English Nationalist]

I'd have a hell of a lot more sympathy for him if he hadn't seemingly done his best to become a celebrity.

[billnaz]

He needs to spend many years in the brig, thus keeping him off the speakers' circuit.

Actually, anybody who signs their name on the dotted line, raises their right hand, and then decides to back out deserves execution, especially in a time of war.

And don't give me the old "it's not a declared war" nonsense. This is the 21st century. We have been attacked, and we are at war. Desert in a time of war and suffer the consequences. The same punishment should apply to those civilians who try to demoralize our troops by praising and aiding our enemies.

[pollyannaish]

Two things: He is a volunteer who readily participated in reaping the benefits of military training, but when he was asked for something in return, he bolted. That is problematic.

Second, even if he does have moral objections to this, he MUST understand that taking that stand will come with severe consequences. The left has so screwed up this whole idea of conscientious objection.

Conscientious objection (in any situation) is not a method of dodging responsibility for, or consequences of, a decision, a get out of jail free card if it were.

It is a responsible method of objection that says—I accept the consequences of my choice because I would rather face punishment than to violate my conscience. A true conscientious objector would never, ever try to duck the punishment or the responsibility.

[spunkets]

Sure. Will it be part of a hugh list?

[NavyCanDo]

Navy Coward or Conscientious Objector?

This ole Salt would call him "Shark Bait"

[conservativewasp]

He's just a confused kid, 10 years hard labor will help him sort things out.

[Tax-chick]

A concientious objector is opposed to all war, not just a specific one.

Exactly ... and traditionally, non-combat billets, including front-line medical service, were assigned to those with consistent pacifist religious convictions who had been drafted into the military.

A devout Quaker or Mennonite wouldn't engage in fistfighting over girlfriends, either. I wonder if this machito makes a habit of principled nonresistence in his personal life? (/sarcasm)

It appears that an attempt is being made to expand the definition of "conscientious objection" so that it can be used to reject any assignment a service member doesn't like. Bad idea!

[Exeter]

"I know other people are feeling the same way I am, and I'm hoping more people will stand up," he said. "They can't throw us all in jail."

Wanna bet?

[stbdside]

By missing movement, he put an extra burden on his fellow shipmates, since they have to fill his void.

Funny how conscientious objectors pop out of the woodwork only in time of war.

Retired USN, glad I served, and I'll do it again if I ever could.

[fizziwig]

"A devout Quaker or Mennonite wouldn't engage in fistfighting over girlfriends, either. I wonder if this machito makes a habit of principled nonresistence in his personal life? (/sarcasm)"

My father was a quaker and, supposedly a pacifist but I know dang well if you took his cigars and tv (for football) away from him you'd pay dearly with a beating....:)

I guess in his case pacifist meant he would pass his fist into your face if you pissed him off enough....:)

[Tax-chick]

Maybe he considered that "child discipline" rather than "violence"?

It's a lot of work to live nonviolence consistently. Not many so-called "peace" activitists seem to manage it.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

"He said he was young and naive when he joined the Navy and "never imagined, in a million years, we would go to war with somebody who had done nothing to us."

He thought all those warships and aircraft delivered blankets and sandwiches to beach parties around the world???

[95 Bravo]

Shoot him. Make his execution a training video all recruits are required to view during Basic Training. Thus, he WILL serve his country, even after he becomes worm food.

[Hardastarboard]

"They can't throw us all in jail."

I hope he's wrong.

[MonaMars]

Okay, military people, fill me in here. I thought a conscientious objector was someone who was philosophically or morally opposed to killing, but who served in a combat capacity that didn't require the carrying of a weapon, such as being as a medic. I also thought that there were actual steps that had to be taken to receive that status.

If this guy is seeking a discharge, then where's the conscientious part and how the hell can he claim that status?

[takbodan]

Hang'em high

[04-Bravo]

Others have already said it: Conscientious Objector status is for draftees, not volunteers. A true C.O. wouldn't volunteer in the first place.

It's outrageous that somebody would volunteer for military pay, benefits, and training, then pretend he didn't know what he was getting into.