Only 74 hours left before court martial begins...(conscientious objector)

[auntAgonist]

Pablo Paredes faces Court Martial on May 11th.

On December 6, 2004 Pablo Paredes reported to the 32nd Street Naval Station in San Diego and refused to board the ship in protest of the current US war. He reported to the pier wearing civilian clothing and a T-shirt that read: "Like a cabinet member, I resign." "I just want people to know how many Americans feel about the war" Pablo explained "...it's not just a few crazy liberals trying to get the attention of the media." While the Navy officers on hand did try to persuade him to board the ship and cease protest; Pablo maintained his position and did not board the ship. He went on to give several short interviews for local media while at the Pier.

http://www.npowebsite.net/dp/dp.asp?mode=home

for the online petition ..

http://www.npowebsite.net/dp/dp.asp?mode=OnlinePetition

quote:
"We urge the Department of the Navy to discharge FC3 Pablo Paredes as a conscientious objector on the basis of his beliefs, and further ask that the charges against him be set aside because his public statements and actions show that he is conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form. They demonstrate that the acts with which he is charged arose entirely from sincere and deeply held beliefs."

[Bluzmann57]

1. Not to rain on anyone's parade

but he volunteered to join the military and there is always a chance that a person will see combat when they voluntarily enlist. I wish the man luck, but it seems simple. Voluntary enlistment, follow orders and report where they tell you to. It's the military. Thats the way it is.

[noamnety]

2. I see your point, but I'm signing the petition

Yes, he volunteered for the job. However, the job is to protect and defend our country, not to invade countries that did nothing to us. In my mind, this falls under refusing to obey an illegal order - which they are supposed to refuse.

There's not much point in forcing a soldier to go on a mission that is against his conscience. As a veteran, I'd much rather have soldiers protest through peaceful civil disobedience than have them shoot their fellow soldiers in a moment of rage and frustration, or come home and deal with the mental strain of having done something they couldn't live with.

[auntAgonist]

6. thank you for your well thought out response.

I agree wholeheartedly with you. I wish him well in his endeavour to be free of the charges.

[Massacure]

14. Bush gave a declaration of war 24 hours in advance though.

That soldier is toast no matter how you look at it.

Hell, even if he refused one of the illegal Abu Ghraib orders he would be in hot water. I'm not saying it is right, but it is true.

[auntAgonist]

4. I understand what you're saying ... but ..

Are you also saying that a person cannot or should not be allowed to change his belief system?
It's a tough one.

[ClassWarrior]

7. Curses!! Progressives foiled again!!

<LOL>

Either take a stand against the war and support the guy... or don't. Quit making excuses to do nothing.

NGU.

[The Gunslinger]

13. A little harsh

Thats a liittle too cut and dry to me. Is ip possible that he was recruited with lies and BS, and then realized what he got into. I support anyone who opposes the war, even if they made a bad descision.

[Steel City Slim]

3. I Agree With Bluzmann

If he was truly a C.O. he would never had joined in the first place.

[auntAgonist]

5. Can a person never change his belief system then?

[Bluzmann57]

8. You make a good point

about a person changing his or her belief system. I signed the petition. In my previous post, I was more or less playing Devil's advocate. As I said, I certainly wish this man good luck, but in this case, he may not have much to go on.

[Catrina]

9. I will sign the petition

because I believe a soldier can change his mind, especially if he is asked to follow illegal orders.

Another CO, is Sergeant Kevin Benderman, who is also facing Court Martial this week. I have read his reasons for seeking CO status. He was in Iraq and refused to follow illegal orders which would have involved the killing of innocent children. He refused to return to Iraq when ordered to do so.

He is opposed to all wars, and has been speaking out against this one which I believe takes a lot of courage.

I am glad soldiers especially, are seeing the futility of war, and I think they should be supported when they come to that realization.

Just my opinion ~

[Steel City Slim]

10. Do You REALLY Think That Is What Happened?

And even if it was, why did he wait until the morning of his deployment? There are internal steps within the military he could and should have taken.

[Catrina]

11. Hi Steel City Slim

I haven't followed Pablo Peredes case, but I have followed Sergeant Benderman's ~

To answer your question, if it was in reference to Sgt Benderman (not sure, so forgive me if I misunderstood the question) he did not wait until the morning of his deployment. He was given a run around by the military and was ordered to deploy while his case was under consideration. He refused to go at that point ~

[Steel City Slim]

12. Hi Catrina

Welcome to DU.

There is only one reason for a country to have a military, and that is to go to war. Sure the military might help flood victims, hurricane victims, etc., but the reason it is there is for war. Anyone who joins the military should expect, and be prepared, to go to war. I am skeptical of Peredes' and Benderman's new found conscience. When I found out I was going to Vietnam I almost threw up, I was on the verge of panic for several days, and I was scared shitless. I would imagine everyone would feel the same way to one degree or another. Now maybe what auntAgonist suggests, that their belief systems changed, is what happened, but I suspect what it really is, is that they began to feel the same way I did and started to look for a way out.