University of Virginia Library

Colloquium

Return Your Card

By Michael Russell

In the rent lottery my number
was 113, which didn't disturb me
much since I no longer have a draft
rd.

Having applied for the classification
of 1-O; as a Conscientious
Objector, who, by reason of beliefs,
will not participate in war or
military training in any from; I
declared publicly that as an
individual, free citizen of the
United States of America, participation
in an activity which leads to
the destruction of human life, or
the debasement of human dignity,
is beyond the limits of my personal
conscience.

That is to say, my conscience
prohibits me from taking part in
military or military related efforts;
efforts which often mean the loss
of human life, or the maintenance
of a state of warfare. For a long
time, I have been satisfied with this
system of classification and the
prospect of doing alternate service.

My beliefs have changed. More
citizens with me are beginning to
believe that the definition of
conscientious objection is not
within the constitutional domain of
the government; that a man's
beliefs must be respected regardless
of their source, so long as they are
his convictions. Further, men of
conscience are beginning to feel
debased by having to prove their
sincerity to a tribunal selected by,
and guardian of the military's well
being. These men are repulsed by
the thought of having their beliefs
Mr. Russell is a coordinator of the
University Draft Counseling Group.
challenged by a group of men and
women who, when they make their
decision, usually are unfamiliar
with the objector's history.

The disgust at the system is
more pervasive. As a conscientious
objector I have awakened to the
reality that the Selective System
itself is a part of the military
establishment; it sustains the military
machine with the blood of my
brothers. By participating in this
system, I was tacitly approving of
the military and its operations.

Belief Structure

As conscientious objector I
take issue with the system on these
matters:

First, as an individual human
being I am not obligated to
structure my beliefs within a
government-approved pattern;

Second, that as a sincere human
being I believe that the government
has no domain in reviewing the
nature or authenticity of my
conscience.

Finally, that participation in a
system of military conscription
or military channeling for the
national interests is a violation of
my belief that we cannot support
the military in any way. By silently
participating in the processes of
Selective Service I believe now that
I was condoning the most questionable
aspect of the military's
machine.

Therefore I can no longer, in
good conscience while maintaining
my belief that military efforts are
opposed to human dignity and the
positive valuation of life, support or
participate, silently or openly, with
the Selective Service System. I
further feel it to be my duty to
discuss my feelings with others who
claim conscientious objection and
support those who feel in their own
consciences that they cannot participate
in this system.

I feel that now is the time for an
affirmation of the value of human
life. Even though such a demonstration
may violate civil laws, I
nevertheless feel it to be necessary
for maintaining consistency in our
convictions. I will no longer comply
with the Selective Service System

One month ago I returned my
selective service registration and
classification cards. This act, done
under the old system of selection,
was, at that time, the limit which
my position would allow me to
take. I felt then that while I could
discuss the nature of my action and
its relevance to decisions of other
conscientious objectors, I could not
impose my decision to refuse
compliance on others.

Non-Compliance

I feel now, however, less restrained
in publicizing my act as a
standard which I feel others would
be wise to follow. With the
inception of the Fair and Impartial
Random selection system (The
FAIR system) I feel it incumbent
upon me to be one of the voices
calling for non-compliance.

In its maintenance of a military
system, the government has now
gone to the crassest extreme to
demonstrate to its citizens its
meagre estimation of the value of
their lives. Any government which
calls itself a democracy and yet
raises its armed forces through
conscription is dubious enough. But
when the government fills its armed
forces by gambling with the lives of
the disenfranchised it is no democracy,
in a general sense, and no
republic by definition of our own
constitution.

Non-Registration

I believe that we must make it
clear to those who govern this nation
that we will no longer comply with
the abomination that they call
FAIR. The time is at hand when
individually or en masse the citizens
of this country (especially those
without a franchise) refuse compliance
with this system of involuntary
servitude. I advise all those
who presently have cards to return
them and all those who will be
expected to apply for the privilege
to die to refuse to register.

Resistance Meeting

If this government insists on
fighting wars then let them supply
their armed forces with volunteers.
If the silent majority is indeed a
majority then it most certainly will
be able to fill the military's needs
with volunteers. Force them into
the open, refuse to co-operate with
this insane and debased system.

Return your card to your local
board. If individual action still
seems threatening meet tonight in
Room 4B Newcomb Hall at 8:30
with the Charlottesville Draft
Resistance. If enough of us refuse,
they can't supply their army with
innocent bodies. This is only the
first step in organizing Resistance
on a state and regional level.