Happy International Conscientious Objectors
Day! May 15, 2009.

Greetings,

We are pleased and proud to present our vision of having a national memorial for conscientious objectors. As President Kennedy indicates in the quote that we have adopted as our organizational slogan -- "War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." -- we see a national memorial located in a place of national significance in our nation's capital as an all important and essential step toward "that distant day" when war will no longer need to exist.

In fact, each of us can prove this to ourselves on a personal level by experiencing how the personal recognition of the reputation and prestige of the conscientious objector brings "that distant day" into the present, right here and now. When we actually perceive conscience and its naturally arising objection to war, we experience the ending of war as an internal conflict. For some "conscience" is the sensitive regard for fairness or justice; the whisper of God; the sagacity of the true self; the knowing essence of consciousness itself; etc. But however it is conceived or characterized, being aware of conscience is the foundation of a moral and ethical life, as an individual or a society, whether in a religious context or otherwise. When we become truly aware of conscience and act in accord with conscience, then our internal war of inner conflicts begins to resolve and naturally we find a path through the warring minefield of the "either-or" mind set. Our conscience naturally objects to participation in a war-like frame of mind. What were before perceived as unresolvable oppositions are now seen as complementary perspectives that can be harmonized. In this way, each of us can prove to ourselves in an alive and dynamic way how we as a society may put an end to war by recognition of the reputation and prestige of the conscientious objector.

Building a national memorial for conscientious objectors is a physical manifestation and expression of building the national reputation and prestige of conscientious objectors (COs) in our great nation. The degree of the reputation and prestige of the CO in a society is in direct proportion to the degree of democracy in a society. When there is no room in a society for honoring the objection of conscience then there is no room for democracy.

To proclaim the beneficial reputation and prestige of COs in our nation does not conflict or denigrate the reputation or prestige of our warriors, because the two are complementary.  We believe that the conscientious objector is a kind of warrior -- a warrior for peace -- and like warriors for war the CO as a warrior for peace deserves the honor and recognition that a national memorial establishes. No one who listens to conscience and objects to going to war does it easily without facing difficulties and opposition or without a feeling of "fighting" for what is believed to be the greater good, because such a one is sure to be attacked by those without understanding.

When I became a conscientious objector to the Vietnam war it was not without trepidation as to the consequences. Like a warrior I had to prepare myself to face the adversary and the adversity that was sure to come. I had to prepare my tactics and strategy and to engage in several fields of battle with my draft board, the induction station, the FBI agents, and the selective service system.

Being a CO is no cakewalk for anyone, however my story was easy compared to those who went before me such as Muhammad Ali, Dave Dellinger, and Desmond Doss.  Doss' example is particulary important because he is the WWII CO who served as an unarmed combat medic and who eventually received the Medal of Honor. But even though, or pehaps because, he chose to serve in the military without bearing arms he was initially the target of criticism, ridicule, and harassment by his fellow soldiers and relentless attempts by his commanding offices to break his will.  It is this type of misguided attitude toward COs that a national memorial will address.

Today the reputation of the warrior has been tarnished by a series of national escapades over the last fifty years in which warriors were sent to fight where there was no clear and present danger of threat to the United States. National recognition of the CO will not only enhance the reputation of COs, it will provide a context for renewal of the warrior's reputation as well, because the discussion of the conditions that call for conscientious objection helps to define the need for conflict and war within any international situation to which our leaders wish to send warriors.

In a democracy, when warriors are sent to fight in foreign lands there is always the need for a healthy national debate on the reasons the warrior is called to duty; without such debate a nation can hardly be called a democracy. When warriors are no longer sent to do the dirty work of war profiteers and the warrior's duty is limited to defense against actual attack, then the prestige of the warrior will only be enhanced. When the objection of conscience--to the sending of warriors to fight wars of aggression, invasion, and occupation of other people's land--is not given social prestige, then that is a sure sign that we are living in something far less than a democracy.

We invite you to join our campaign for a national memorial for conscientious objectors for the good health and welfare of our country and of all humankind.

Yours truly,

Alan Gregory Wonderwheel