European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 16, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Former go explains his conversion Byro Jensen staff writer Germany a there seemed no doubt that pfc. Jonathan Bruce was destined to be a top notch Soldier. During training at fort Binning Ahe was his Pla Toons Best Pugil stick fighter. His physical training score was also the platoons highest. It seemed for All intents and purposes As if the son of a Navy chaplain was destined to be an army poster boy turning his tall lean Frame into All of the fighter it could possibly be t joined because i Felt that there was an honesty and a Lack of mediocrity in the military a said the 23-year old Oregon native who joined the army in april 1989. "a1 honesty about the facts of life a the ultimate destructive tendencies of Mankind and the need to have Force to maintain order in the world. �?o1 Felt like i was disaffected with civilian society. I Felt the military was a necessary evil. A i just had a really cynical View of Mankind s spirit in the world which really meshed with my being in the is equally articulate when explaining the reason he filed for status is a conscientious objector a 1 move that was approved in november and returned him to the civilian life and the United states he was interviewed by the stars and stripes before the final hearing. A i underwent a personal spiritual Renaissance that showed me that to be committed to any religious path or Creed which holds peace As an Ideal that the military is totally incompatible with that a he said. A external peace is born from internal peace. Quot in the infantry in particular internal peace is not an option. It s hammered out of you. What it gives in its place is absolute submission and Bruce was a combat infantryman with the 1st inf div fwd in Goppinger when his change of heart and mind occurred a gradual evolution that began last Spring when he fell in love a step he says opened him to life a other possibilities. Quot the experience of love a of real selflessness of giving a was like a Light revealing a falseness in the military facade the Underbelly of the propaganda a he said a i began to read the gospels a those four books of the Bible a with a scrutinizing Eye. 1 fell this urge to take them seriously to read them As objectively As possible As openly As those lessons from Christ taught him that War a or the preparation for War a was wrong. A if you feel this Way you be got to act on it a he said. Bruce did a few Days before Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait Bruce s application for conscientious Oto Jector status landed on his commander desk. He s pleased with his timing. Nut because it allows him to refute doubters who could say he s few Ruff now t hat War is possible. But because it convinces him even More that he is motivated by principle not by current events. There is a Cost for his conviction. His father the former Navy chaplain does not understand or approve of his songs actions. Also because Bruce left she sen ice before completing his original three year our he forfeited his right to the army a College fund. Those things have lobe second to his ideals however. He cannot and will not participate in War or the training for War. �?o1 joined out of a kind of Macho he said. �?�1 admit it. I l but he has grown up in the army la has Given him that at least. And his need lobe Mieho no longer exists. He was tired of the marching cadences Wilh words that promote sexism and killing and tired of waking every Day to serve an idea he can not abide. He wishes too that All of those who shared his feelings could Tollow his Lead. Quot Many people feel this commitment but for understandable circumstances they arc unable to act on them Quot he said some need the military us feed their families. Some share Niarie of his feelings hut do not believe they have to leave the military. Others he said Are is imply afraid to take the action he look. "1 Don t want to criticize people for that mentality he cause i had it too Quot he said. A when you Are in the system it eat be a scary thing to raise your head above it Quot by t Bruce iras no regrets. A if everybody held nov violence As an Ideal War would be greatly minimized or would t happen a he said. A a that a kind of an absurd thing to wish for Given the history of the world a continued from Page 1 to evolve last Spring. He informed his commander of his intentions on april 11 and was Given the Job in the dorm. A a in a still waiting for a hearing a he said. The process can take As Long As six months Stoner said from the initial filing to separation from the service with go status. An application for co status he added does not exempt someone from being sent to saudi Arabia which is a popular misconception. People who apply Stoner said Are often peppered by Peers with stupid questions such As a would you defend your Mother if she was attacked a and a would you have let Hitler Rule the world a a this Isnit about self defense on the Street Quot he said. Nor is it about hypothetical journeys through time. It is about reality and applicants better have Good answers to Tough questions. A it does no to have to be religious grounds but it hits to be something parallel to a religious conviction a he said a the first step is a letter to the service members commander explaining an intent to file for co status requesting either non combatant status or a discharge. Afterwards a Servic Craemer fills out a form that asks difficult questions he said. The applicant must explain the nature of his beliefs How they have changed How they Are reflected in his daily life and so Forth. A a these Are the questions you really have to wrestle with a Stoner said after filing that form an applicant will be assigned to a duty that is minimally in conflict with his or her beliefs such As cleaning Barracks that is followed by interviews with a chaplain a psychiatrist and a hearing Board within 90 Days that Board forwards the claim and its recommendation to the co review Board in Washington . About 90 percent of the applications from the army Are approved said capt. Barbara Goodno a spokesman with the army Public affairs office in Washington the review Board looks for a a firm fixed and sincere objection to participation in War on moral ethical or religious beliefs she said. In Calendar year 1987 and 1988, the army approved co status for 82 soldiers in each year. In 1989,74 soldiers were approved. As of nov. 14,74 were approved in this Calendar year. Those figures however do not include people who leave the service for some reason other than a cd discharge after filing an initial claim. Figures supplied by the air Force military personnel Center in san Antonio show 37 requests for co status in fiscal 1987, 28 in fiscal �?T88, 35 in fiscal �?T89 and 19 in fiscal �?T90. In the Navy 65 sailors applied for co status in fiscal �?T90. Four took non combatant status 44 were approved and 17 were disapproved said a spokesman with the Navy military personnel Center near Washington. Conscientious objection was mentioned As Long ago As six centuries before Christ in the teaching of chinese philosopher lao tse. Christ a Sermon on the mount in the new testament provided some basis for conscientious objection in Early Chris amps Sharon Kidsy Tian theology. Many of americans first european settlers were pacifists forced put of their Homeland for i hair beliefs during a time of a a just War philosophy that lasted for centuries and forbade any Type of conscientious objection. The philosophy grew in America largely from the quakers mennonites the Brethren and the Jehovah a witnesses. However it also evolved in the secular population especially in the civil War when cos in the South could buy their Way out of military service in the North anyone inducted into the military could hire a substitute. The conscription act of 1917 included an attempt to recognize conscientious objection however it allowed the privilege Only to those who belonged to a re cognized religious sect or denomination opposed to War. It also made no provisions a for non combatant status Quot sincere cos soon were allowed to perform alternative duty. Those who failed to convince the military of i hair sincerity received harsh penalties for their efforts. Of 500 who faced court martial in the world War i Era 17 Renej cd death , 142 received life prison be rms and others were Given stiff prison sentences. were later lessened. In 1940, Public pressure forced the military to expand its exemption. Nearly 12,000 cos did civilian work As an alternative to military service during world War ii. Others served in non bomb giant roles such As medics and clerks. Anti now the Prospect of bloodshed in saudi Arabia has awakened the philosophy in an Allol Uhter military often touted As t h e b c s t of r cd Ante r Ica h a s e pc r Laflie r de. A there is a whole i network form ing a Saidlo Rik Larsen the Marine reserves who is seeking a co discharge in the states Quot / he said hundreds of Servie members arc filing for co status Many of them not us vocal As he and others. Larsen a parents moved to the United Stales from Denmark in 1958 for better economic opportunities lie. Joined the service he said to pay Back the United Stales for what it did Lor his family. But his dedication stops far Short of a willingness to die for what is to Quot be gained by a War in the persian Gulf. He said it is this particular situation that drives Many people to co claims. Quot its this War we done to want to fight in this War Quot he said. A this War Isnit Worth fighting a. He can imagine he admitted a situation where he would participate in a War if for example the opportunities that awaited his parents were threatened. Such an admission he said May Hurt his cd claim which has not yet been re viewed in Washington. However he said it does not change his feelings about the potential War in the persian Gulf. A a we re not cowards a he said. A a we re doing something that is very honorable. We re trying to save the lives of thousands of people a
