http://sake-shinigami.livejournal.com/ (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
sake-shinigami.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2011-03-22 10:02 am
sake-shinigami.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2011-03-22 10:02 am
Entry tags:
The Art of Pacifism; Tuesday, Fifth Period [ 03/22 ].
"Salutations, my intrepid little ducklings ♥," Shunsui smiled from the discussion circle with his hot cocoa contentedly, lifting up his own little mug and having a sip. "All this talk about passive-ism and self-defense and things of the like have gotten me to think we're overdue for a discussion on the conscientious objector ♥. A conscientious objector is an individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion ♥. Some countries will allow a conscientious objector serve through civilian services; some countries will allow them not at all...As far as this world goes, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights have roundly agreed that an individual has the right to be a conscientious objector to military service if it goes against his or her beliefs ♥.
"I, myself, it should be noted, am a conscientious objector ♥. There is a war brewing where I am from that I do not agree with and do not care to participate in; that is what brought me here, my own sort of...civilian service ♥. Many say that, especially since I hold the title of Captain and I am a leader of a division of service, I am neglecting my duties by conscientiously objecting...I, naturally, say that if I do not believe in the fight, that I should not fight, that a person who does not believe in the cause has no business fighting for it anyway...There are many perspectives, all of them valid, all of them opinions ♥.
"I am considered lucky, that I should be able to find a nice little school to teach in while the strongest brunt of my conscientious objection comes from the glares of my beautiful Lieutenant ♥. Historically, others have not been so lucky: imprisonment, legal penalization, execution. If you are not with us, you are against us. Other who profess the inability to serve on the battlefield can find themselves incredibly helpful in other arenas: the medical and mental fields, helping with supplies and services for victims and general grunt work. So though one does not wish to fight, there are still many ways in which a conscientious objector can support the cause.
"But is that good enough? And what if one does not support the cause at all? Should they still be expected to provide substantial services that help it along, or should they be allowed to conscientiously object to all aspects of the situation? Is punishment for complete objectors in fair order? Does this make them cowardly, unpatriotic, or troublesome? Naturally, as I mentioned, I have a bias in this, which is why your opinions on the matter are especially important ♥.
"I am now going to pass around a form for what is required to declare oneself as a conscientious objector in the United States Selective Services. Have a look and give it some thought. Do you feel it's too open and forgiving? Or is it a good guide? If you were to set criteria for conscientious objectors, how would you do it?
"I shall finish out my introduction with a poem from Edna St. Vincent Millay, with the same title as our topic, Conscientious Objector ♥:
"I shall die, but that is all that I shall do for Death.
I hear him leading his horse out of the stall; I hear the clatter on the barn-floor.
He is in haste; he has business in Cuba, business in the Balkans, many calls to make this morning.
But I will not hold the bridle while he clinches the girth.
And he may mount by himself: I will not give him a leg up.
Though he flick my shoulders with his whip, I will not tell him which way the fox ran.
With his hoof on my breast, I will not tell him where the black boy hides in the swamp.
I shall die, but that is all that I shall do for Death; I am not on his pay-roll.
I will not tell him the whereabout of my friends nor of my enemies either.
Though he promise me much, I will not map him the route to any man's door.
Am I a spy in the land of the living, that I should deliver men to Death?
Brother, the password and the plans of our city are safe with me; never through me
Shall you be overcome."
"And so ♥," said Shunsui, finishing with a smile, "let's hear your own thoughts on the matter ♥. Or, of course, you can always conscientiously object and keep your thoughts to yourself ♥."
[[ OCDon the way is up! ]]
"I, myself, it should be noted, am a conscientious objector ♥. There is a war brewing where I am from that I do not agree with and do not care to participate in; that is what brought me here, my own sort of...civilian service ♥. Many say that, especially since I hold the title of Captain and I am a leader of a division of service, I am neglecting my duties by conscientiously objecting...I, naturally, say that if I do not believe in the fight, that I should not fight, that a person who does not believe in the cause has no business fighting for it anyway...There are many perspectives, all of them valid, all of them opinions ♥.
"I am considered lucky, that I should be able to find a nice little school to teach in while the strongest brunt of my conscientious objection comes from the glares of my beautiful Lieutenant ♥. Historically, others have not been so lucky: imprisonment, legal penalization, execution. If you are not with us, you are against us. Other who profess the inability to serve on the battlefield can find themselves incredibly helpful in other arenas: the medical and mental fields, helping with supplies and services for victims and general grunt work. So though one does not wish to fight, there are still many ways in which a conscientious objector can support the cause.
"But is that good enough? And what if one does not support the cause at all? Should they still be expected to provide substantial services that help it along, or should they be allowed to conscientiously object to all aspects of the situation? Is punishment for complete objectors in fair order? Does this make them cowardly, unpatriotic, or troublesome? Naturally, as I mentioned, I have a bias in this, which is why your opinions on the matter are especially important ♥.
"I am now going to pass around a form for what is required to declare oneself as a conscientious objector in the United States Selective Services. Have a look and give it some thought. Do you feel it's too open and forgiving? Or is it a good guide? If you were to set criteria for conscientious objectors, how would you do it?
"I shall finish out my introduction with a poem from Edna St. Vincent Millay, with the same title as our topic, Conscientious Objector ♥:
"I shall die, but that is all that I shall do for Death.
I hear him leading his horse out of the stall; I hear the clatter on the barn-floor.
He is in haste; he has business in Cuba, business in the Balkans, many calls to make this morning.
But I will not hold the bridle while he clinches the girth.
And he may mount by himself: I will not give him a leg up.
Though he flick my shoulders with his whip, I will not tell him which way the fox ran.
With his hoof on my breast, I will not tell him where the black boy hides in the swamp.
I shall die, but that is all that I shall do for Death; I am not on his pay-roll.
I will not tell him the whereabout of my friends nor of my enemies either.
Though he promise me much, I will not map him the route to any man's door.
Am I a spy in the land of the living, that I should deliver men to Death?
Brother, the password and the plans of our city are safe with me; never through me
Shall you be overcome."
"And so ♥," said Shunsui, finishing with a smile, "let's hear your own thoughts on the matter ♥. Or, of course, you can always conscientiously object and keep your thoughts to yourself ♥."
[[ OCD
Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Sign In - AoP, 03/22.
Listen to the Lecture - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Listen to the Lecture - AoP, 03/22.
Chuck was definitely on the side of conscientious objection rather than war.
... He really didn't much like guns.
Discussion - AoP, 03/22.
Or any other questions or thoughts you may have! Discuss amongst yourselves or with the big, flowery robed conscientious objector in front of you.
Re: Discussion - AoP, 03/22.
Re: Discussion - AoP, 03/22.
Talk to Shunsui - AoP, 03/22.
OOC - AoP, 03/22