becoming a conscientious objector

“Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change. And I believe that in this generation those with the courage to enter the moral conflict will find themselves with companions in every corner of the globe.” - Eulogy of Bobby Kennedy

Sometimes, on the road, I have the honour of encountering those wonderful humble souls who've truly lived it. Those who are rooted and sane and beautifully true. These people remind me to keep going sometimes when I slip in to doubt and appreciate that we can all make a difference and needn't fear standing up for what we believe to feel right for humanity even when it requires the courage to face the scathing judgement of others or even, in Jackson's case, leaving his home country.

Besides touching my soul in the most remarkable way, introducing me to some wonderful rhythms of Jazz, Rag-time and Blues, showing me his home town of Strafford (Vermont) and giving me a souvenir of 'real deal' Pure Maple Syrup, Jackson did something greater; he reminded me to have faith in humanity and to have courage. I want to share the story of a real game changer who made a huge decision during the Vietnam war among other noble movements toward equality when he sought to challenge Vermont's abortion law.

I know personally life keeps repeating lessons for me until I learn them; I wish mankind could do the same when reflecting upon some of the devastating actions against peace and equality in the world we live in; our backyard not just a place we see on TV.

Here is his story on becoming a conscientious objector.

"Dean Rusk spoke at our graduation, defending the commitment to South Vietnam. That fall back home in Philadelphia I took science classes hoping to qualify for medical school. At semester’s end though, I was shocked to receive my draft board notice. In person I proffered my potentially greater military value later as a physician, but it fell on deaf ears. “Report for your physical in two weeks with your bags packed.” Miraculously, I received my medical school acceptance a week later.

In junior year we kept hearing rumors that nationally all new graduating M.D.’s were being drafted. One could, however, complete post-graduate training in the inactive reserves then serve as a specialist. I enlisted in the Air Force, but upon leaving the Federal building afterwards, I felt this inner angst that I just may have made a big mistake.

My wife, one year old son and I moved to the University of Vermont in1969 for five years of postgraduate training. My hair and mustache grew, as did my rage over the war. Nightly news showed soldiers setting fire to thatched roof peasant shacks and burning out entire villages, women and children screaming and crying.

I had intense discussions with friends about the war’s immorality. How could I honorably serve and help soldiers heal if they then might be returned to war? Literature from The American Friends Service Committee was especially helpful to me. I agonized for three years - I had to be absolutely certain I was not merely acting expediently. Then Nixon’s Cambodian Christmas bombings pushed me over the edge.

After submitting my essays and application to the Pentagon, I drove around a frozen Lake Champlain to the air force base in Plattsburg, NY for interviews with a psychiatrist, Catholic chaplain and commanding officer. They deemed that I was “sane, morally committed and respectful.”

Soon after two letters arrived. One offered me a fellowship at Norway’s cancer center in Oslo, the other was a brief ruling by the Secretary of the Air Force: “You have not demonstrated the sincerity of your moral and religious beliefs. Report for active duty July 1.”

I was crushed.

I located the only selective service lawyer in the state, and the AFSC contacted the Senate Armed Services committee to retrieve my ‘pentagon papers’, which revealed a progressive series of rubber stamped rejections all the way up to the top.

My lawsuit went to Federal court and I finished my residency under a legal cloud with a wife, two young sons, no job, no income and no judicial response. The docket said five more months. Desperate, I wrote the judge asking only for timeliness in his judgment so that I might plan my medical future.

He ruled in my favor four days later. The Air Force gave me an Honorable Discharge, Nixon resigned and we moved to Norway." - Jack Beecham

Matt Damon recently stood for what he believes... in this powerful speech he speaks of a movement towards a global interdependent disobedience.

In the words of Gandhi:

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”  

“The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problem.”  

“If I had no sense of humour, I would long ago have committed suicide.”