GI publicly speaks out against war in Iraq

Friends and all people of good conscience:

Here is the personal statement of the first woman GI to publicly declare opposition to the war in Iraq.  She spoke at the witness against the School of the Americas in mid-November at Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA.

I discovered this on the website for Courage to Resist ( www.couragetoresist.org). Has anyone on this list been involved with the work?  Please let me know!

May we all be so deliberate and clear in our convictions!

Yours,
Matt Guynn
On Earth Peace

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From www.couragetoresist.org:

"COURAGE TO RESIST is a new group of concerned community members, veterans and military families organizing support for military objectors to illegal war and occupation and the underlying policies of empire.  We have adopted a people power strategy to weaken the pillars that support the Iraq war and occupation by supporting GI resistance, which together with counter-recruitment and draft resistance work can remove the supply of obedient troops."

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Army SPC Katherine Jashinski speaks out against war at Fort Benning, Georgia

First woman GI to publicly declare resistance to participation in the war -- facing immediate deployment to Middle East

Katherine Jashinski
Statement read near Fort Benning gate at the protest against the School of the Americas
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.

Please visit www.couragetoresist.org