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Opening Arguments

Wimper fi

Let's see. I have an aversion to killing and participating in war. "Blood lust" upsets me, and even profanities bother me. The "sanctity of life" forms my moral center. What ever should I do with my life? Oh, I know, I'll volunteer for the Marines.

A Marine lance corporal who said he had an aversion to killing and participating in war must be released from the military as a conscientious objector, a federal judge ruled. The Marine Corps Reserves must discharge Robert Zabala, 23, by mid-April, under the ruling.

Oops. I know I just said I sometimes find myself becoming too snarky here, but come on.

Posted in: Current Affairs

Comments

Admirable Happy Horatio Hornhonker
Wed, 04/04/2007 - 9:20am

Great ...

At least the US taxpayers won't be forking over thousands of dollars rehabbing a possible future PTSD victim.

Now how'z 'bout a cup of warm Joe with that snark? Come on over to the link an' pour yourself a cup.

Adm Happy H. Hornhonker

Bob G.
Wed, 04/04/2007 - 10:37am

Time was that any conscientious objector was weeded out BEFORE shipping out for "boot"....and your draft card even reflected as much when you were classified... (1-A, 1-Y, 4-F, etc)
Guess that's all changed now, eh?

They didn't call it SELECTIVE service for nothing, did they?

And if memory serves, Sgt. Alvin York was a C-O as well, but still served...and became a medal winner...imagine that.

;)

B.G.

W D
Wed, 04/04/2007 - 2:14pm

If in that 'time was,' C-O's were weeded out, then how did York make it through? Somebody was too selective, eh?

Steve Towsley
Thu, 04/05/2007 - 4:38am

>A Marine lance corporal who said he had an
>aversion to killing and participating in
>war...

This is no different from any other employee in America who contracts with an employer to take a position, with a job description, in exchange for wages. You don't get the contracted money for nothing.

If you can't take a boss' directions, don't sign up to take his or her paycheck.

In short, don't appy for a job you will have to be fired for not performing.

Robert Zabala
Thu, 04/05/2007 - 7:40am

I made a mistake at the age of 18. I will admit it that it was a mistake.

The Marine Corps thought I had a bright future, so much that I graduated as Platoon Honorman.

David Craik
Fri, 04/06/2007 - 2:33am

So either

a)you intentionally lied on your paperwork, because there are specific questions asking about moral aversions to bearing arms

or

b)you adopted a moral code which now renders you unable to perform the duties which you agreed to do.

Rather than simply released, you should be charged with breach of contract and/or fraudulent enlistment.

roach
Mon, 04/09/2007 - 1:02pm

If the government would abolish mandatory selective service/ draft registration; that would be a good start. And abolish the federal criminal penalties, and fines for not registering with the "draft board"
Then require the military recruiters to change their tactics from unethical used car salesmen, and give potential prospects the facts- you will get sent to boot camp, then sent straight to Iraq, where you will have tinfoil armored hummers, inadequate flak jackets, and if you're lucky, you wont get your cranium splattered by an iranian made IED. just lose your b.lls, and a leg.

Every HS senior needs to sign up for an e-mail order minister credential, and become educated in non-combat zone peacetime alternative service.
it used to be that your Dan quayles, and george bush's were safe in their local army natl. guard. Now nobodys safe.
But again, the Pentagons fighting the wrong kind of war with the wrong kinds of equipment, as this weeks time magazine illustrates. WW2, we bombed, and bombed, and bombed. then artillery shells till tuesday. then sent in tanks, and soldiers to mop up. ugly, but effective.
We are fighting our enemies war on their terms, and turf. always a bad outcome.

and what about all the killers, and dangerous felons in our prisons? why not send them ? they have nothing to lose.
as another post by leo mentions about the movie "bridge over the river kwai "Madness".
or apocalypse now " the horror. the horror."
todays kids need to be educated how to avoid the draft, and war, just as much as being prepared to kill for their country. (notice I didnt say die for their country- Its a sea-change in perspective).
At least that wayward marine has more active duty service time than the last several presidents, vice-presidents, speakers of the house, and a real lesson in military life 101; so thats still something to be proud of. and he didnt have to kill anyone. but he'll still suffer PTSD. everybody does. some more than others..
War isnt hollywood

In times of WW2 epic conflict, it is easy to locate "fresh meat for the grinder" through drivers license, voters registration, and other means.

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