Turning 18 years old is exciting! It marks a passage into adulthood—the right to vote, to make legal decisions without a parent’s consent or knowledge, to retain private information such as one’s college grades or medical records, and even to attend those NC-17 rated movies. But for the men, it also brings the federal mandate to register with the Selective Service System. Few young men consider this ahead of time, and probably fewer meetings prepare their young Friends for this big step.
The decision whether to participate in the military, or even to cooperate with registration, is an individual and personal choice. While the Quaker peace testimony stands against war, not all young Friends have such a leading, and they should be respected for their individual convictions. In a society that glorifies violence, some see war as a natural course of events. Others oppose war but are reluctant to take a stand out of loyalty to their friends and peers who join and fight in the military. Some feel more comfortable serving in a noncombatant position. Still others feel a sense of leading that prevents them, under any circumstances, from participating in the military in any capacity. And some see this process as walking toward peace, with a different mindset for dealing with world and personal problems. Regardless of a young Friend’s leading, it is hoped that each meeting will support and nurture the decision he or she makes.
While these lessons are intended for use directly with young Friends, the leaders may wish to encourage the wider meeting’s consideration of how (and whether) they can support all young Friends, regardless of the decisions they arrive at about registration. We need to be honest with our young Friends when some positions are not as “acceptable” to other members of the meeting community. At the same time, we need to support their right to make their own informed decisions. Similarly, parental involvement is crucial. This curriculum is for young Friends under 18, who, as minors, are still under the guidance of their parents and guardians. Including parents can take several forms: offering anorientation session, attending a lesson, reviewing drafts of their son or daughter’s statements, co-teaching, arranging individual sessions with a specific family, etc. A sample letter (see handout: Letter to High School Aged Member/Attender of Our Meeting, p. 26) is sent to the young Friends and copied to their parents to introduce the course and welcome comments and feedback.
Conscientious objection is a controversial topic. Some see the CO as antipatriotic and non-supportive of troops risking lives in combat. We don’t. Our lessons plans focus on a specific and individual leading and do not diminish the leadings of others. We are simply asking young Friends to explore how they are led. Also, laws change. We cannot predict future legislation or procedures. So, at the outset of this curriculum, we list some cautions and disclaimers that should be understood fully by facilitators, parents, and young Friends:
- Being a CO comes from a deep, inner leading. It is not a way to get out of the draft or to avoid life-threatening situations. Simply put, a CO refuses to participate in war and/or to kill another human being through the act of war. At the same time, for an 18-year-old, this conviction usually is just blossoming and requires patient nurturing.
- While we shun violence, we hold in the Light those young men and women who serve in our military and are willing to put themselves in harm’s way to protect others and preserve our rights and freedoms. Similarly, some young Friends are not led to be COs and may feel more strongly about this conviction after considering these lessons. Both the meeting in general and the course facilitator specifically should respect, honor and support those individual leadings even if contrary to personal views.
- The information in these lesson plans is based upon prior experience and case law (when the draft was in effect) as well as provisions currently in the Selective Service System code. A new law may change everything, and today’s more conservative U.S. Supreme Court may interpret regulations quite differently. So these lesson plans and handouts, while based upon precedent and some collective wisdom, are merely a conjecture and guide. In any case, attaining a CO status will be neither easy nor guaranteed.
The authors appreciate the contributions of others. Acknowledgment for prior thought goes to Phil Esmonde and Chuck Fager, former and current directors of Quaker House; Arlo Tatum and current staff of Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors (CCCO); J.E. McNeil, director of the Center on Conscience and War (formerly called NISBCO); and David Radcliff and others, the Church of the Brethren. In addition, deep appreciation for skillful editing, support and encouragement of Judy Purvis, David Woods, Suzanne Siverling, Bob Gwyn, Pat Mann, Ed Brown, Bettie L. Flash and Emilie Condon, as well as Friends General Conference staff, the Youth Religious Committee of Chapel Hill Meeting, and, especially, the inspiration from the our meeting’s young friends.
Alice Carlton and Curt Torell, April 2003
