G.I. Seeks Conscientious Objector Status

bhunt70

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Mon Mar-15-04 09:32 PM
Original message

G.I. Seeks Conscientious Objector Status

G.I. Seeks Conscientious Objector Status

By MARTIN FINUCANE, Associated Press Writer

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. - A Florida soldier who refused to return to duty in Iraq (news - web sites) turned himself in to military authorities on Monday, saying he would seek conscientious objector status.

Accompanied by his lawyer, Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia, 28, surrendered at the base's gate to two military police officers, who drove him away.

A crowd of peace activists cheered Mejia and shouted encouragement: "We love you!" "Go with God!"

snip

"I am saying no to war; I have chosen peace," Mejia said earlier at a news conference arranged by anti-war activists in the town of Sherborn near Boston. "I went to Iraq and was an instrument of violence and now I have decided to become an instrument of peace."

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ModerateDem

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Mon Mar-15-04 09:44 PM
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1. Fine with me

Just make him pay back all the money he has received from taxpayers for education benefits, etc, plus interest.

Or, if he hasn't gotten any educational benefits yet, he should not be allowed to receive them.

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Earth_First

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Mon Mar-15-04 09:58 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. I'm sure the return of personal moral conviction

is payment received enough, and would gladly pay back the government any monies received as benefits of enlistment.

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Fridays Child

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Mon Mar-15-04 10:04 PM
Response to Reply #1

6. He's served in this country's military for eight years.

How about we let him keep his bennies?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3864417,00.html

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Lunatic Fringe

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Mon Mar-15-04 09:53 PM
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2. Ali

As a "child of the 60's", I remember the draft and 'Nam. I also remember a famous Conscientious Objector", Muhammad Ali. He filed for religious reasons, he had converted to Islam.

How ironic is that?

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Muddleoftheroad

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Mon Mar-15-04 10:02 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. Not similar though

We had a draft then. This GI VOLUNTEERED.

I agree with the other poster. He owes a debt to the government if he tries to get out of his commitment.

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Fridays Child

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Mon Mar-15-04 10:00 PM
Response to Original message

4. Link?

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Moderator

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Mon Mar-15-04 10:06 PM
Response to Original message

7. Please continue discussion here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=423415

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