On Being a Conscientious
Objector
By Rev. Dr. John W. Mann 19 December 2004
John was asked to speak at a showing of a new video/film
being produced to tell the story of Gordon Gentle and
his mother’s activities subsequent to his death in Iraq last summer.
He notes that given the
tone of the conversation in Scotland, his comments "are
fairly mild by comparison to some others."
My name is John Mann. I am a Church of Scotland pastor,
serving St. James' Parish in Pollok. I also happen to be an American. I am
deeply ashamed of my country. I'll tell you why.
America is a nation governed by fear at every level of
society. America has devolved into a crass culture of materialism, violence
and war, fueled by fear, all in the pursuit of empire.
Any hope that 9/11 might lead America to engage the world
in meaningful ways soon collapsed under the weight of a thousand lies. Those
lies paved the road from 9/11 to Iraq. Those lies are destroying lives in
places that were once unheard of outside of their own realms. Places far
apart in geography, yet united in the common tragedy of stolen lives. Names
such as Fallujah and Pollok. We wonder what new names will become part of
the landscape of this tragedy.
I read on the CNN website that Universal Studios has
commissioned a screenplay on the battle of Fallujah. Harrison Ford is being
courted to play the role of the American general in charge of the assault.
It struck me how typical that is. Before the bodies are even buried, let's
wrap it up in a neat Hollywood package, get some big names to act in it,
score with a heroic soundtrack and make some money off it.
We've watched a different kind of film here tonight. One
that tells the real story of the impact of war. There weren't any actors in
this film. The pain we saw is real. Rose Gentle wasn't playing a part. The
bomb that exploded under Gordon's vehicle was real. He didn't get up for
another take to get it just right for the cameras.
I have decided to become a conscientious objector. Even
though I have never been in military service, as an American living in Great
Britain whose politics are caught in the updraft of American imperialism, I
have decided to try and sort out what is the civilian equivalent of the
military conscientious objector to the politics of violence, lies and greed.
These thoughts are initial and rough draft. If any of you
here tonight have anything you would like to add, please let me know.
Reject Violence
As a conscientious objector, I must reject violence. The
ideals of democracy, a just, fair and tolerant society are not found at the
end of gun barrel. I reject violence both as a form of entertainment and as
a means to an end.
Refuse Debt
As a conscientious objector I must refuse to be in debt.
Refusing debt is a rejection of the greed and materialism which are the
building blocks of a violent society. Debt is more than just owing money;
when you are in debt, it's as if you owe a piece of yourself. The forces of
materialism and greed want us to want. The degree to which we encumber debt
is the same degree to which we are owned by the system that wages war.
Choose Hope
As conscientious objector, I must choose hope. When we
live in a society that thrives on fear, hope is like trying to swim against
the current. Hope requires the courage to act on your convictions. Yet
that's what each one of you here tonight has done. Your effort to come here
tonight is the same kind of effort it takes to change the world.
To make peace I believe we must reach across the barriers that divide us;
religious barriers, sectarian barriers, economic, racial and cultural
barriers. When politicians govern by lies and deception they depend upon the
populace being separated by special interests and united only in fear.
We are united in courage and we know that the common
ground of our concern for peace and justice is a greater source of unity
than whatever the differences may be between us. It sounds like a cliché,
but reach out. Justice and peace might seem like a distant reality, but when
we reach out across the divide, they are within our grasp.
Gordon Gentle's death was an unnecessary and tragic waste.
We want justice for Gordon Gentle and so we'll keep working for justice
until the name Gordon Gentle defines the very meaning of the word justice.