Marine who said no to killing on his conscience
Arther Miller
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,926965,00.html
Fighting not to fight
Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles
Tuesday April 1, 2003
The Guardian
The first American conscientious objector from the Iraq war will give
himself up at a marine base in California this morning. He said he
believed the war was "immoral because of the deception involved by our
leaders".
Stephen Eagle Funk, 20, a marine reserve who was due to be sent for
combat duty, is currently on "unauthorised absence" from his unit. He
faces a possible court martial and time in military prison for his
action.
"I know I have to be punished for going UA," Mr Funk told the Guardian
in an interview before surrendering to authorities, "but I would
rather take my punishment now than live with what I would have to do
[in Iraq] for the rest of my life. I would be going in knowing that it
was wrong and that would be hypocritical."
Mr Funk, who is originally from Seattle and is half Filipino, was
approached by a recruiting officer last year. At the time, he said, he
was depressed after dropping out of a biology course at the University
of Southern California in Los Angeles. He was working part-time for a
vet and in a pet shop.
His family and friends were surprised by his decision, he said,
because they had known him to have liberal political views and not to
have been interested in the military.
"I wanted to belong and I wanted another direction in my life, and
this seemed to offer it," said Mr Funk. "They told me I would be able
to go back to school [university]." Recruits have their college fees
paid once they complete their service.
"The ads make the armed forces look so cool - 'Call this number and
we'll send you a free pair of boxer shorts' - and a lot of kids don't
realise what's involved," he said. Although he graduated from the
famously tough marine boot camp in San Diego and excelled as a
rifleman during the 12-week induction period, Mr Funk said he had
started to have doubts about military service during his training.
"Every day in combat training you had to yell out 'Kill! Kill!' and we
would get into trouble if you didn't shout it out, so often I would
just mouth it so I didn't get into trouble." The recruits were also
encouraged to hurt each other during hand-to- hand combat training. "I
couldn't do that so they would pair me up with someone who was very
violent or aggressive."
Mr Funk said many recruits were envious of those who were being sent
to the Gulf. "They would say things like, 'Kill a raghead for me - I'm
so jealous.'"
As a Catholic who attended mass most Sundays during training, he
eventually decided to take his concerns to the chaplain. "He said,
'It's a lot easier if you just give in and don't question authority.'
He quoted the Bible at me and said, 'Jesus says to carry a sword.'
"But I don't think Jesus was a violent man - in fact, the opposite -
and I don't think God takes sides in war _ Everyone told me it was
futile to try to get out."
At shooting practice, although he scored well, the instructor told him
he had an attitude problem: "I was a little pissed off and I said, 'I
think killing people is wrong.' That was the crystallising moment
because I had never said it out loud before. It was such a relief."
He became concerned about the reasons for the conflict in Iraq. "This
war is very immoral because of the deception involved by our leaders.
It is very hypocritical." He is opposed to the use of war as a way of
solving problems.
"War is about destruction and violence and death. It is young men
fighting old men's wars. It is not the answer, it just ravages the
land of the battleground. I know it's wrong but other people in the
military have been programmed to think it is OK."
Mr Funk, who is being counselled by conscientious objectors from the
1991 Gulf war, said he had gone public to try to dissuade other young
people who had not thought through their reasons for joining the
forces. "All they [the military] want is numbers. What I'm doing is
really trying to educate people to weigh their options - there are so
many more ways to get money for school."
He added: "My mum had a gut feeling it wouldn't work out." Although he
does not know what punishment awaits, "it's a risk I'm willing to
take".
This morning, accompanied by his lawyer and former conscientious
objectors from previous wars, he will arrive at his home base in San
Jose, change into his uniform and give himself up.
postman
vindacated and can live his life knowing he had the guts to say no. It would
be hard to live your life knowing you had killed people who had done you no
harm.
"Arther Miller" <freethem...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1451cd92.03040...@posting.google.com...
mudpuppy
He *volunteered* for the *Marine Corps*, for Christ's sake. And you know why
he volunteered? He tells you right in the story: "They told me I would be
able to go back to school [university]." He was there for the bennies.
There is nothing noble about this cowardly piece of shit. He's a user who
gambled and lost. Whaaa.
"postman" <post...@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:b6eaq6$4gb5q$1...@ID-77687.news.dfncis.de...
Ron
> You dumbfucks act like this waste of body fluids was drafted or something.
> He *volunteered* for the *Marine Corps*, for Christ's sake. And you know why
> he volunteered? He tells you right in the story: "They told me I would be
> able to go back to school [university]." He was there for the bennies.
>
> There is nothing noble about this cowardly piece of shit. He's a user who
> gambled and lost. Whaaa.
>
Funny the US GOVERNMENT advertises college educations to get people
to join the military. Does it also have advertisements saying "you may
also have the opportunity to invade a nation that will hate your
fuckin' guts and you can kill as many of them as you want to because
the US GOVERNMENT says it's O.K."?
Dan
"postman" <post...@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:b6eaq6$4gb5q$1...@ID-77687.news.dfncis.de...
guess the title "United States ARMED Forces" confused the punk. hope he has
to pay back EVERY CENT of the college money he got, along with going to
prison for fraud.
Dan
"Ron" <ban...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:436a5d81.03040...@posting.google.com...
> "mudpuppy" <id...@think.so> wrote in message
news:<ooGia.347$3X7.21...@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com>...
> > You dumbfucks act like this waste of body fluids was drafted or
something.
> > He *volunteered* for the *Marine Corps*, for Christ's sake. And you know
why
> > he volunteered? He tells you right in the story: "They told me I would
be
> > able to go back to school [university]." He was there for the bennies.
> >
> > There is nothing noble about this cowardly piece of shit. He's a user
who
> > gambled and lost. Whaaa.
> >
>
>
> Funny the US GOVERNMENT advertises college educations to get people
> to join the military. Does it also have advertisements saying "you may
> also have the opportunity to invade a nation that will hate your
> fuckin' guts and you can kill as many of them as you want to because
> the US GOVERNMENT says it's O.K."?
what part of "United States ARMED Forces" do you not understand?
you think that all you have to do is wear a uniform and carry a dummy rifle
and the Government will feed you, clothe you, house you, and educate you?
last time I checked, the military wasn't a welfare system
Roy Basan
> Marine who said no to killing on his conscience
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,926965,00.html
>
> Fighting not to fight
>
> Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles
> Tuesday April 1, 2003
> The Guardian
>
How come this asshole passed the marine training?He does have the guts
of being a soldier in the first place.Goddamitt!!
He is using the military training as an escape for depression.How
come military psychologist were unable to spot an inept character.
He should be court martialled for that as well.
Ron
> freethem...@yahoo.com (Arther Miller) wrote in message news:<1451cd92.03040...@posting.google.com>...
> > Marine who said no to killing on his conscience
> > http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,926965,00.html
> >
> > Fighting not to fight
> >
> > Duncan Campbell in Los Angeles
> > Tuesday April 1, 2003
> > The Guardian
> >
>
> How come this asshole passed the marine training?He does have the guts
> of being a soldier in the first place.Goddamitt!!
> He is using the military training as an escape for depression.How
> come military psychologist were unable to spot an inept character.
> He should be court martialled for that as well.
Um...shouldn't the psychologist be court martialled for being inept
at spotting inept characters?
And their commanding officers for not being able to spot inept
psychologists and maybe the assholes that trained them in psychology
and the assholes that recruited them for the military.
Reaper325
Ron wrote:
> Funny the US GOVERNMENT advertises college educations to get people
> to join the military. Does it also have advertisements saying "you may
> also have the opportunity to invade a nation that will hate your
> fuckin' guts and you can kill as many of them as you want to because
> the US GOVERNMENT says it's O.K."?
Actually yes,
You are required to give an oath to follow the orders of your
superiors and to fight , and die if need be in defense of your country.
Since this P.O.S. took the oath , he also took the responsibility to go
fight as well.
My hope is After he gets out of the brig he loses his college benies and
winds up digging ditches.
But that's just me , that's the way I am.
Reaper
Reaper325
Same old shit, nobody's responsible for anything they do anymore,
blame it on any and everyone else you can, while your at it, play the I
was abused as a child, my parents didn't get the pony I wanted , no one
loves me, my ass is too big, my brain is too small , my mommy didn't
breast feed me , my pecker's too small and curves to left yada yada yada...
Sorry but fact is this asshole's a coward , plain and simple, that and a
liar, he has no honor, and I for one hope they give him the max at his
court marshall.
The thing I think is the most shameful is that he'll put on his uniform
before turning himself in, he doesn't deserve to wear it IMHO
Reaper
Ron
> Yeah yeah,
> Same old shit, nobody's responsible for anything they do anymore,
> blame it on any and everyone else you can, while your at it, play the I
> was abused as a child, my parents didn't get the pony I wanted , no one
> loves me, my ass is too big, my brain is too small , my mommy didn't
> breast feed me , my pecker's too small and curves to left yada yada yada...
>
> Sorry but fact is this asshole's a coward , plain and simple, that and a
> liar, he has no honor, and I for one hope they give him the max at his
> court marshall.
> The thing I think is the most shameful is that he'll put on his uniform
> before turning himself in, he doesn't deserve to wear it IMHO
>
> Reaper
You are of course speaking as one who is serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq?
Reaper325
As one who served in dessert storm, and coupler of engagement
before, as combat veteran.
Now let me ask you, what service did you do ?
PG
> No,
> As one who served in dessert storm, and coupler of engagement
> before, as combat veteran.
> Now let me ask you, what service did you do ?
>
>
> Reaper
>
Let's get this straight. Bush's oil company slant drills from Kuwait
into Iraq.
The US controlled UN does nothing.
Instead the US tells their rep in Baghdad to tell Saddam that they
(US) don't care if Iraq does something about this.
The US doctors satellite images to pretend that 1,500 tanks and
250,000 Iraqis are ready to invade Saudi Arabia. The US is able
through these subterfuges to get formerly unwilling nations to
cooperate in pushing Iraqi forces back.
The US slaughters retreating Iraqis including civilians on the
HIGHWAY OF DEATH even though orders had been passed down to CEASE fire
all along the front.
Today in Iraq US forces have bombed a MATERNITY hospital for fuck'
sakes and have blown up buses carrying people to Syria.
And you want to brag that your part in all that is some form of
service?
A man who joins his nations army to DEFEND his nation from attack is
honorable and is only doing what is his duty.
This continual AMERICAN aggression against the rest of the world is
not honorable, nor dutiful.
Reaper325
I notice that you haven't offered any information on YOUR contribution
to your nation, possibly due to the fact that you are a lying coward I
don't doubt.
And if all this bullshit you say about Desert Storm is true, show me the
proof.
I WAS on the much touted highway of death, and most, if you'll look , of
the pics are mostly re-shoots from different angles, Not nearly as ,many
people died there as people like you would have others believe.
True, men died when the 1st strikes came in, the rest ( with the
exception of the really stupid ) ran and were spared , to back this up
let me ask you, if you saw aircraft attacking your column and you got by
on the 1st pass, would you stay with your vehicle knowing full well it
was next to be hit ?
If you would then you truly are pathetic.
The Iraq's may not be the brightest people , but you have to give them
credit for running when the running is good when there's no other
choice, or didn't you see all the troops who surrendered ?
As to fake enemy troop strength on the Kuwait border, again I saw it,
your full of shit and what's more you know it.
Now fuck off, your in the kill file asshole.
Reaper , who's tired of suffering idiots
TLW
making such an ass out of yourself.....GO AWAY, FAR AWAY......
btw- sorry for the top post, I just lost it over that gross stupidity I
guess...
"PG" <bc...@canada.com> wrote in message
news:6e2131a9.03040...@posting.google.com...
Roy Basan
> Let's get this straight. Bush's oil company slant drills from Kuwait
> into Iraq.
> The US controlled UN does nothing.
> Instead the US tells their rep in Baghdad to tell Saddam that they
> (US) don't care if Iraq does something about this.
>
> The US doctors satellite images to pretend that 1,500 tanks and
> 250,000 Iraqis are ready to invade Saudi Arabia. The US is able
> through these subterfuges to get formerly unwilling nations to
> cooperate in pushing Iraqi forces back.
>
> The US slaughters retreating Iraqis including civilians on the
> HIGHWAY OF DEATH even though orders had been passed down to CEASE fire
> all along the front.
>
> Today in Iraq US forces have bombed a MATERNITY hospital for fuck'
> sakes and have blown up buses carrying people to Syria.
>
>
> And you want to brag that your part in all that is some form of
> service?
>
>
> A man who joins his nations army to DEFEND his nation from attack is
> honorable and is only doing what is his duty.
>
> This continual AMERICAN aggression against the rest of the world is
> not honorable, nor dutiful.
>
CRYBABY!
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