From a soldier's mouth...

Shadowflame05

Hello fellow Pearl Jam fans I'm a soldier seeking conscientious objection for my views against war and I have a few words to say...

I know the RNC is old news, but this video really touched my heart and I feel the need to share it with you all and hope that you feel the same...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjm6Z_uZakQ

I feel that politicians and media pundits really have no right to talk about a war they haven't participated in so I get my information from the soldiers that have actually been there. If you'd like to hear more testimonies of soldiers, you should check out...

Iraq Veterans Against the War
http://www.ivaw.org

polaris

wow ... the dude with the tattoo was pretty poignant ...

in any case - good luck to you ... if they send you overseas - you can try and come to toronto but the first guy who came just lost his appeal i think to stay ...

edit: just heard on the radio jeremy hintzman has been given a temporary reprieve - he was due to be deported tomorrow but a judget gave him a stay while they review his appeal to stay on humanitarian grounds ...

Shadowflame05

To say the least...

g under p

Shadowflame05 wrote:

Hello fellow Pearl Jam fans I'm a soldier seeking conscientious objection for my views against war and I have a few words to say...

I know the RNC is old news, but this video really touched my heart and I feel the need to share it with you all and hope that you feel the same...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjm6Z_uZakQ

I feel that politicians and media pundits really have no right to talk about a war they haven't participated in so I get my information from the soldiers that have actually been there. If you'd like to hear more testimonies of soldiers, you should check out...

Iraq Veterans Against the War
http://www.ivaw.org

That's Amy Goodman who just arrested at the RNC convention. Charges have been dropped against the 40 journalist arrested today.

Peace

Shadowflame05

Yah, I'm a big fan of Amy Goodman. I knew they had raided activists houses before the RNC happened because I was at the Veterans For Peace convention in Minneapolis and everyone was talking about it, but I wasn't aware that 40 more journalists were arrested.

OffHeGoes29

When did you enlist?

g under p

Shadowflame05 wrote:

Yah, I'm a big fan of Amy Goodman. I knew they had raided activists houses before the RNC happened because I was at the Veterans For Peace convention in Minneapolis and everyone was talking about it, but I wasn't aware that 40 more journalists were arrested.

This came from Amy's Headline report this morning...

St. Paul Drops Charges Against Journalists Arrested at RNC

The city of St. Paul has announced charges will be dropped against journalists who were arrested during the Republican National Convention protests and cited with unlawful assembly. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said Friday that the city attorney’s office recommended against prosecuting reporters for the misdemeanor charge. Over forty journalists were arrested or detained during the Republican Convention, including three of us at Democracy Now!: myself and producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar.

Peace

Shadowflame05

OffHeGoes29 wrote:

When did you enlist?

I enlisted when I was 17 years old

OffHeGoes29

What year/month? And what branch of the Military?

Shadowflame05

may 2004 Army National Guard

OffHeGoes29

I'm not being a dick, but didn't you know there was a war going on? How about switching to other branches of the military, I know you can move to the Army Res. into a non-combat MOS. What is your MOS anyway? How about the Air National Guard? Should be easier to make that transition with in your own state. And if you joined in 04, I would guess your enlistment ends in 2010? If thats the case, you only got two years left, you might as well ride it out instead of going through the paperwork and drama. Is your unit coming up on an deployment?

know1

Shadowflame05 wrote:

Hello fellow Pearl Jam fans I'm a soldier seeking conscientious objection for my views against war and I have a few words to say...

I know the RNC is old news, but this video really touched my heart and I feel the need to share it with you all and hope that you feel the same...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjm6Z_uZakQ

I feel that politicians and media pundits really have no right to talk about a war they haven't participated in so I get my information from the soldiers that have actually been there. If you'd like to hear more testimonies of soldiers, you should check out...

Iraq Veterans Against the War
http://www.ivaw.org

So you haven't even been to Iraq and you say that politicians and the media have no right to talk about a war they haven't participated in? How do you know you're against it?

heartdesire

OffHeGoes29 wrote:

I'm not being a dick, but didn't you know there was a war going on? How about switching to other branches of the military, I know you can move to the Army Res. into a non-combat MOS. What is your MOS anyway? How about the Air National Guard? Should be easier to make that transition with in your own state. And if you joined in 04, I would guess your enlistment ends in 2010? If thats the case, you only got two years left, you might as well ride it out instead of going through the paperwork and drama. Is your unit coming up on an deployment?

Not to a bitch OffHeGoes29, but chill out on this guy. I knew you were gonna dive in by the questions you were asking.

I know him. He is a good kid who has an amazing peaceful heart. I've spent quite a bit of time with him of late. He was really young when he signed up with the consent of his parents. I'll let him share his story ... just chill out on him ...

Shadowflame05

OffHeGoes29 wrote:

I'm not being a dick, but didn't you know there was a war going on? How about switching to other branches of the military, I know you can move to the Army Res. into a non-combat MOS. What is your MOS anyway? How about the Air National Guard? Should be easier to make that transition with in your own state. And if you joined in 04, I would guess your enlistment ends in 2010? If thats the case, you only got two years left, you might as well ride it out instead of going through the paperwork and drama. Is your unit coming up on an deployment?

Yes I knew there was a war going on, but like many young men in this country I believed all the lies and deception that mainstream media had thrown at me. I was heavily influenced by the violent nature of our culture and had a view that by going into the military I could help change the world for the better, which I'm not arguing the military hasn't done, but I have found ways more peaceful to do so which don't involve the killing of other people.

melodious

know1 wrote:

So you haven't even been to Iraq and you say that politicians and the media have no right to talk about a war they haven't participated in? How do you know you're against it?

Maybe it's the same army you are enlisted....:)

Salvation

Shadowflame05

know1 wrote:

So you haven't even been to Iraq and you say that politicians and the media have no right to talk about a war they haven't participated in? How do you know you're against it?

My views on this war don't come from the media, but from the soldiers that have actually been there. I know I'm against it because I've spent a great deal of time speaking with the veterans whom have been there. But on a bigger scale I no longer believe in the entity of war as a whole, I know in my heart there must be better ways of changing this world than by war and I won't support a war of any kind, regardless of the political, social, or economic interests involved. War results in death and destruction on both sides, something I've witnessed firsthand, and if you know Tomas Young you've witnessed it too.

know1

Shadowflame05 wrote:

My views on this war don't come from the media, but from the soldiers that have actually been there. .

Maybe some of the media is getting their views from the soldiers that have been there too.

OffHeGoes29

You do also know any bonus they gave you will be taken back; I hope it wasn't a large sum of money like 15k to 20k?

There are a lot of was to serve your country with out being in a combat situation:

Active Duty Air Force
Air Force Reserves
Air National Guard
Active Duty Navy
Naval Reserves
Active Duty Coast Guard
Coast Guard Reserves

They all need good people and have plenty of jobs that don't involve long deployments in combat. It really depends on your job and unit, but the ARNG during these times is asking for a tour.

I did six years active duty Air Force as an aircraft Mec. and now I'm in the Air National Guard while I go to school. Never been deployed once, didn't even try to avoid it, just never happen. In fact it seems like the only way you could get deployed in my career field is to volunteer for a three month rotation if it was available.

Just because you're in the military doesn't mean you support any specific cause. You do whats needed when America calls you, regardless of the political and social direction. If we where to be "fair weather" members of the military, then the United States would have a track record like the Italians and the French during war time. We all swore to protect the US, and if combat isn't for you, there is absolutely no shame in that what so ever, you can finish your time in a better suited career field.

80% of the military is a support function; they need more people in those jobs then in a combat related career field. I will give credit to the people who step up and are apart of the small percentage of combat related jobs, not just anyone can do that. I was going to join the active duty Army in the summer of 01, but my father and step father were in combat related career fields during their time in the Army, and pointed me towards the Air Force. Best choice I've ever made, and that has nothing to do with the current war in Iraq.

I honestly don't care if you support the Iraq war or not, just think long and hard about what you are about to do. It might not be worth it in the end.

Shadowflame05

If the media really wanted to hear from the soldiers of this war maybe they might have covered the Winter Soldier testimonials in D.C. in March, but there was a blackout from all major news sources and was only covered by Democracy Now! and other non-mainstream news organizations.

Shadowflame05

OffHeGoes29 wrote:

You do also know any bonus they gave you will be taken back; I hope it wasn't a large sum of money like 15k to 20k?

There are a lot of was to serve your country with out being in a combat situation:

Active Duty Air Force
Air Force Reserves
Air National Guard
Active Duty Navy
Naval Reserves
Active Duty Coast Guard
Coast Guard Reserves

They all need good people and have plenty of jobs that don't involve long deployments in combat. It really depends on your job and unit, but the ARNG during these times is asking for a tour.

I did six years active duty Air Force as an aircraft Mec. and now I'm in the Air National Guard while I go to school. Never been deployed once, didn't even try to avoid it, just never happen. In fact it seems like the only way you could get deployed in my career field is to volunteer for a three month rotation if it was available.

Just because you're in the military doesn't mean you support any specific cause. You do whats needed when America calls you, regardless of the political and social direction. If we where to be "fair weather" members of the military, then the United States would have a track record like the Italians and the French during war time. We all swore to protect the US, and if combat isn't for you, there is absolutely no shame in that what so ever, you can finish your time in a better suited career field.

80% of the military is a support function; they need more people in those jobs then in a combat related career field. I will give credit to the people who step up and are apart of the small percentage of combat related jobs, not just anyone can do that. I was going to join the active duty Army in the summer of 01, but my father and step father were in combat related career fields during their time in the Army, and pointed me towards the Air Force. Best choice I've ever made, and that has nothing to do with the current war in Iraq.

I honestly don't care if you support the Iraq war or not, just think long and hard about what you are about to do. It might not be worth it in the end.

I appreciate your concern, I really do. Unfortunately, I've simply found that my path in this life does not lie with the military and I have chosen to walk a different road, not a better one, or worse, just a different way to the same light

OffHeGoes29

Shadowflame05 wrote:

I appreciate your concern, I really do. Unfortunately, I've simply found that my path in this life does not lie with the military and I have chosen to walk a different road, not a better one, or worse, just a different way to the same light

Ok, fair enough. Good luck with everything, hope its and easy process.