Essentially, defence qualifications website is no laughing matter. Even though I can empathize with First Lieutenant Ehren Watada, I don’t really feel sorry for him. He’s about to understand the difficult way: You can’t use civil disobedience to make a point in the military. For 1 issue, the Army’s own regulations preclude selective conscientious objection. No exceptions.
It really is a morale situation. If one man can argue his way out of going to a war with which he disagrees then each and every soldier will want that privilege. You will soon have a breakdown in discipline. The ranks will disintegrate.
Watada, by his personal admission, joined the military in response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 as an act of patriotism. His views regarding the Iraq War developed more than time because then. It seems he joined the military out of youthful petulance and now he desires out by means of the very same door. He’s going to discover that the door won’t open.
By contrast, I was against the war before it began. It was wrong. I nevertheless believe it was incorrect. I went mainly because I could see the writing on the wall. Other males had gone to jail for refusing to serve. They had the same moral arguments. And lost. I reasoned that I would too.
When it comes to military service, there are but two possibilities: Volunteer and do as they say, or refuse to serve. On the eve of my deployment, I pondered the choices. I sought the appropriate counsel, deemed the consequences. I am sure I created the suitable choice, although I will generally regret the position my government place me in.
I, like a lot of other soldiers prior to me, discovered my lesson the really hard way. Elected officials are not infallible. They make mistakes. Some of them are sincere errors and some of them are not. They are blunders nonetheless. When your sons and daughters volunteer for military service, they are placing their lives on the line for human infallibility. It is a higher-threat venture. I gambled and lost. Lieutenant Watada is placing considerably far more on the line and I think he, too, will shed. I hate to see (or say) it, but never count on Watada’s gambit to alter the rules. It will likely lead to checkmate and a fried liver massacre.