Point of Clarity, through PointOfClarity.org, is for draft-age
people and others,with or without religious affiliation:
All of the above activities will contribute to building a draft-age
person's personal record a Conscientious Objector, as well as
create the support they will need to face and implement this difficult
choice.
Statement from the President of Point
of Clarity
Thank you for taking time to check out PointOfClarity.org.
I am a Vietnam-era veteran. I grew up in a poor, rural family
in upstate New York. My number in the draft lottery was “76,”
so I knew that when I couldn’t afford college anymore
I’d be called to serve. I didn’t know about going
to Canada or any other options of avoiding conscription. My
family knew no lawyers or doctors or wealthy people who, as
friends, could’ve helped me out. I received my draft notice,
went for my physical, and was ordered to appear to join the
military.
Somehow I had the insight that as a strong country boy I would
certainly become cannon fodder. I quickly enlisted in the Navy
to try to avoid going into combat. I fortunately did avoid combat,
but endured four years of what I felt was forced servitude in
the Navy. I left with an Honorable Discharge.
Subsequently, as a clinical social worker I have worked therapeutically
with many combat Vietnam vets over the years. This experience,
along with my compulsory Navy service, has lead me to my own
"point of clarity".
I strongly believe that the mandatory conscription of our youth
to fight in combat is immoral, illegal and unethical. In Oregon
during World War II there was a special prison camp for Conscientious
Objectors (COs) – that’s what faced those who didn’t
believe in their heart of hearts that fighting in combat was
an option for themselves. COs faced, and still do face, federal
penalties with possible imprisonment – unless they can
prove their beliefs.
I had a Vietnam vet look me in the eye and say, “What
I hate most about the federal government is that they made me
kill people!” He described his experience as ten times
worse than any Vietnam Hollywood movie. It’s shameful
that our government forces our young people to bear the horrors
of war.
In the ancient Greek legend of Lysistrata, the women joined
together in refusing their men sexual intimacy until they brought
peace to their warring land. I say we need to collectively proclaim
to the governments of the world that our young people will not
fight their wars for them. Imagine if war was declared and no
one showed up!
I urge you to register as a Conscientious Objector, and create
a paper trail proving your convictions against combat. Join
and be united as peaceful people to state that war is not a
viable option to peace. Stand up to insist that forcing our
young people to kill or be killed and face emotional and/or
physical scarring in war is not acceptable!
Steven Merwin, MSW, LCSW
President, Point of Clarity
