Conscientious Objector (CO)

[Abu3baid]

This is an off shoot thread from the San-moon Bae thread where he is now faced with serving the SK military, but he is exploring his options of staying in the US as a green card holder so that he can play golf instead.

The subject of (CO) was brought up and it might be worth discussing in detail if others feel strongly enough to state their opinions on the subject.  Below is my initial opinion after it was brought up.

what about a conscientious objector?

I've always thought of the conscientious objector as one that has a foundation to stand on when his country is the aggressor, but when you are defending your own country on your own land then that really loses meaning to me anyway, because even if you were not enlisted you would pick up your pitched fork and go fight rather than have your family subject to humiliation if you sit by and object.

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From Wiki

A conscientious objector (CO) is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service"[1] on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion.[2] In general, conscientious objector status is only considered in the context of military conscription and is not applicable to volunteer military forces.

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I did a quick search looking for anything that discusses the difference between being an objector in the case of your country being the "aggressor" vs. "defender" and I haven't found anything.

If I think back to world war I & II for example, I can see how someone from the US can say "Hey I'm not going 1,000's of miles to fight for those English & French" while I find it hard to believe that the French or English government would accept one of their own saying "Let England and France burn, I'm not fighting because I object".

The word pacifist was used, but that is only one of the accepted criteria for being granted CO status, but again in my mind that only works if your country is the aggressor, because if someone walks into your house to harm your family I'm sure that person will not be a pacifist anymore.

Please, this thread is not meant to be who is pro-military and who is not.  The subject of CO has a lot of UN documentation and there are many international agreements on the subject, plus every country deals with things differently.  For example, SK continues to jail anyone who refuses to serve in its military, they do not comply with their own agreement to the international treaty they signed on CO.  go figure!

[Tooz]

When I was in the US Navy, a Conscientious Objector was understood to be that way based on his/her religion. In my eight years, I only knew one guy who left the Navy as a CO - and that was in boot camp. I think the recruiter lied to him about what to expect in the service. I never heard any discussion regarding the aggressor or defendant argument...

There is no way Bae would qualify for CO status in the US - even though many treat golf like a religion, it just wouldn't fly.

[colin007]

conscientious objection can be based on many things - ones religious beliefs, pacifism, neutrality, or just being against war in general regardless of the aggressor.

also, defending ones country and defending ones family/home/self are different things.

[Jeremie Boop]

conscientious objection can be based on many things - ones religious beliefs, pacifism, neutrality, or just being against war in general regardless of the aggressor.

also, defending ones country and defending ones family/home/self are different things.

My thought on this is, if you aren't going to defend your country then you will probably end up having to defend your family. Now, this is in direct relation to the situation of your country being under attack. However, I can see and understand the thought process of staying at home for the purpose of defending you family, but at that point you are not being pacifistic or a CO.

[Abu3baid]

My thought on this is, if you aren't going to defend your country then you will probably end up having to defend your family. Now, this is in direct relation to the situation of your country being under attack. However, I can see and understand the thought process of staying at home for the purpose of defending you family, but at that point you are not being pacifistic or a CO.

+1. I see no way around this argument