Friends don't let friends go off to war to kill kids
16 July 2007
by Timbre' Wolf, Staff Writer for AnaiRhoads.org
Radio Interview with Fr. Roy Bourgeois.
For the students who might be listening to me, let me say: You have a choice. That recruiter might be asking you , there in your high school or your university, to go off to Iraq - to go to war. You better think about it. This is serious. There's nothing more serious than to give your life for a cause. What you should also know is that, if you go, you will have to kill another person. Ask yourself if you can take the life of another human being. That is some serious stuff there. Many believe they can do that and don't even think it through. When that happens you are haunted for the rest of your life. You will never sleep well again. Also know that if you are killed, and there's a good possibility that you will die in this war because it's so dangerous, think about what that's going to do to your loved ones. Do you believe in this cause so much that you are willing to put your loved ones - your parents, spouse, children, brothers or sisters - through all of this pain and grieving? For many, many years…their lives will never be the same.
And lastly I want you to think about this: Those who have declared this war , those macho-talking politician, will not be going. They'll be talking about how "we've got to stay tough." Two nights ago I heard President Bush say, "We have to keep sacrificing." But when he says, "we," he's not talking about himself - he's not going to sacrifice anything. He will continue to live his same lifestyle and he will have his comfort and security at the White House. He will not go off to this war or put his body on the line. His life is not in danger. Nor will his daughters, or the sons and daughters of the politicians who declared this war, go off to fight this war. Those who declared the war will not fight it, nor will their children. They will send you.
I wish that I had, back in the days of Vietnam, someone to challenge me that I had a choice. An inspiration to me is Katherine Jashinski who is 23 years old. Her unit arrived at Fort Benning to receive their weapons training. She was on the firing range, during weapons training - using that M16, she had to ask that basic question, "Am I ready, willing, or able to take the life of another human being?" She was fortunate that she asked that question. Most of us are mindless…we don't ask that question. By the time we get off to Vietnam - in my day, or Iraq - today, or Iran - tomorrow, it's too late. Katherine asked that question and she came to the conclusion that, "No, I cannot take the life of another human being. I'm not going off to this war."
They're going to be court marshaling her soon. And she said this, "I'm willing to go to prison rather than to take the life of another person., perhaps even a child. I'd rather go to prison and be free..live with my conscience as a free person than be haunted for the rest of my life for doing something that I know is wrong and immoral. Katherine is a real role model. Someone we can all learn from. She reminds us that we do have choice when it comes to war.
Ed. Note: Katherine is the first soldier to chose to be a conscientious objector during this "war." Lt. Ehren Watada, who is not opposed to war - per se, has refused to go to Iraq on the grounds that the war is, in fact, an illegal war waged in direct conflict with International and Constitutional law. Still other soldiers have refused to "redeploy" after doing one, two, or three tours in Iraq. As long as one is alive it is never too late to embrace new beliefs or to change one's mind.
This transcript was taken from a YouTube video by Timbre' Wolf and was edited only slightly for clarity.
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