Songsheet cover
Jesus at Gethsemane - "Put away the sword"
This past Friday the world celebrated, with little fanfare,
International Conscientious Objector Day.
I’ve been a C. O. since 1969 and had never heard of the event. This day of recognition was first declared in
1985, by a group named the International Conscientious Objector Meeting, and had
members from 20 countries. They met
yearly from 1981 till 1997, and not since, but International War Resistors and
the Peace Pledge Union, strongest in the U.K., maintain support for the Day
that promotes peace—nonparticipation in war.
Pax Christi USA, Hallelujah, sent me an email last week announcing the
Day, and in the U.S., War Resisters League, Fellowship of Reconciliation, and
other peace organizations have been part of some efforts.
International CO Day in Columbia - no pictures found for USA {except for Berkeley, CA}
In the U.S. it’s difficult to get people to pay attention to
something that many think unpatriotic, against the national interest. Even the churches in the main consider
conscientious objection a stumbling block.
War is hell, yet no nation’s church,
and certainly no nation, has ever directly declared a war unjust—so all war
sides justified? It is then up to a
person, and all of us people in all countries, to claim war itself unjust,
immoral, and stop preparing for it, as best we can, with the grace of God. For those of the Christian faith, who follow Jesus,
“put away the sword” “love your enemy” -- the way towards peace should be clear,
though the details bedeviled and politics most unpopular.
one of this is easy.
We have many examples of saintly objectors/peacemakers to help guide us
[see below]. To be a loving local citizen,
yet engaged with worldwide problems, committed not to kill, is very difficult,
especially in the day to day present moment decisions. Lord teach us to pray and live your Sermon on
the Mount, your Good News. Help us to be
C.O.s transcending all national boundaries.
Convert to the love of Jesus, and therefore each other--family,
friend, and enemy.
From the War Resistors International website--History of International Conscientious Objector Meeting
National gatherings “held in the Netherlands, Spain,
France, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Turkey, Colombia, and Chad, among others.” These meetings not held since 1997.
Focus areas: “Greece (1986), Yugoslavia (1987),
Poland (1988), South Africa (1989), Spain (1990), Turkey (1992), former
Yugoslavia (1993), Colombia (1995). There were thematic focuses too: forced
service for women (1991), and asylum for women and men who refused military
service or deserted from the army (1993). In 2001, the War Resisters'
International Council Meeting decided to focus on the situation of
conscientious objectors and deserters in Angola. The focus for 2002 will be the
Balkans region.”
A very short list of those who've lead lives of conscientious objection
Muhammad Ali
Las Madres de Los Desaparecidos
Rachel Corrie
Otto Schimek
Sophie Scholl
Desmond Doss + https://www.npr.org/2016/11/04/500548745/the-real-hacksaw-ridge-soldier-saved-75-souls-without-ever-carrying-a-gun
Franz Jagerstatter + Most recent film on Franz Jaggerstatter – A Hidden Life - recommended
And from earlier times --
St. Maximillian, d. 295
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-maximilian/
St. Martin of Tours, d. 397 https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-martin-of-tours/
Saints Nerius & Achillus, d. ? Roman soldiers https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saints-nereus-and-achilleus/
St. Enda of Ireland, d. 530 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-enda-700
During the battle, Doss (a Seventh Day Adventist) (seen
here at the top of Hacksaw Ridge) dragged severely injured men to the edge of
the ridge and lowered them down to other medics below.
Courtesy of the Desmond Doss Council
Some references
https://rachelcorriefoundation.org/
https://detroitcatholic.com/news/guest-writer/the-seldom-told-story-of-otto-schimek-a-faithful-witness-to-peace-for-poland
My service during the Vietnam War was alternative service at
a Catholic parish Cristo Rey Community Center in Lansing, MI, which was also a
social service center for the Mexican American community and welcome center for
immigrants & migrant workers. Part
of my job was to organize for Cesar Chavez’ United Farm Workers union. Much more still needs to be done, and I try
to keep working on these justice issues.
"Conscientious Objector" Poem from 1929
I shall die, but
that is all that I shall do for Death.
I hear him leading his horse out of the stall;
I hear the clatter on the barn-floor.
He is in haste; he has business in Cuba,
business in the Balkans, many calls to make this morning.
But I will not hold the bridle
while he clinches the girth.
And he may mount by himself:
I will not give him a leg up.
that is all that I shall do for Death.
I hear him leading his horse out of the stall;
I hear the clatter on the barn-floor.
He is in haste; he has business in Cuba,
business in the Balkans, many calls to make this morning.
But I will not hold the bridle
while he clinches the girth.
And he may mount by himself:
I will not give him a leg up.
Though he flick my shoulders with
his whip,
I will not tell him which way the fox ran.
With his hoof on my breast, I will not tell him where
the black boy hides in the swamp.
I shall die, but that is all that I shall do for Death;
I am not on his pay-roll.
I will not tell him which way the fox ran.
With his hoof on my breast, I will not tell him where
the black boy hides in the swamp.
I shall die, but that is all that I shall do for Death;
I am not on his pay-roll.
I will not tell him the
whereabout of my friends
nor of my enemies either.
Though he promise me much,
I will not map him the route to any man's door.
Am I a spy in the land of the living,
that I should deliver men to Death?
Brother, the password and the plans of our city
are safe with me; never through me Shall you be overcome.
nor of my enemies either.
Though he promise me much,
I will not map him the route to any man's door.
Am I a spy in the land of the living,
that I should deliver men to Death?
Brother, the password and the plans of our city
are safe with me; never through me Shall you be overcome.
~Edna
St. Vincent Millay
This was written after the Spanish influenza of 1918-19 killed millions riding in on the hoofs of WWI. Today we live in a more well-fed, healthcare-modernized world. But we’ve courted needless death in throwing piles of our national treasure at the feet of our massive military killing machinery, leaving us defenseless against microbes we could otherwise master.
This was written after the Spanish influenza of 1918-19 killed millions riding in on the hoofs of WWI. Today we live in a more well-fed, healthcare-modernized world. But we’ve courted needless death in throwing piles of our national treasure at the feet of our massive military killing machinery, leaving us defenseless against microbes we could otherwise master.
Even
the arts sometimes conspire against unpopular vision. poets.org does not list this poem in it’s extensive list of Millay's works.
Albrecht Durer_king_death_on_horseback
We believe death is not the end.
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