Military service

[twirlgrrl]

Just after I'd chatted with some folks online about not wanting Blue to join the military, like, EVER, and about my church's historical C.O. and/or noncombatant status, the next time I cracked open my church magazine I saw an article about military service. That sort of synchronicity happens often, believe it or not. Anyway, I wrote about it and put the article on one of my other LJs, so if you want to read it you can go here:

http://spread-word.livejournal.com/21056.html

It doesn't address the only lingering issue I haven't resolved for myself in regards to the topic. The fact is, it seems that sometimes military action is truly necessary--as in the Holocaust, to use an obvious example. What is my duty in that circumstance? Should I feel comfortable excluding myself due to my religious beliefs? It's sortof like the vaccination thing; I'm able to pick and choose because most kids are vaccinated. Is it OK to let others carry that burden? What would be a truly effective nonviolent solution to something like WWII? If people from all over the world had traveled to Germany, Poland etc. to clog up the works and become nonviolent human shields, would that have stopped the Nazis? Eventually? Ever? I know I am personally committed to nonviolence, but I am also committed to compassion and serving others. I'm not sure how to reconcile those values in certain situations.

I'm just musing, but of course your thoughts are welcome!

Comments

[twirlgrrl.livejournal.com]

Interesting perspective, thanks!

I think I would try to find a way to support Blue if he chose to serve, but honestly my heart wouldn't be in it. I would always want to maintain a loving connection with him no matter what his choices.

My personal problem with it is the one that's outlined in the article, about the act of taking up arms = willingness to kill, and I can't reconcile that with "Thou shalt not kill." There are no exceptions in the commandment as I read it. It doesn't say "thou shall not wound" though. ;-)

I like the idea of martial arts, for the art, history and exercise. Though I doubt we'll go in that direction unless Blue comes up with the idea on his own.

[the-changeling.livejournal.com]

If I had to kill to defend Hugh's life, I would. End of.

Everything else above and below that, is just rhetoric: I know I would kill, therefore the entire argument is important, necessary, vital, but academic.

I do understand that others would not make that choice.

But then, I'm not Christian... so I have no conflict over "thou shalt not kill" My belief system accepts that if others are coming over the hill with death in their eyes, you kill the buggers first. :-)

You accept what you've done, and that what you've done is huge, and with great weight, and should not be done lightly, but that there was no choice given the intent of those that attacked...

[twirlgrrl.livejournal.com]

I hear you.