a series of monthly talks at Providence Meeting, FREE and open to the public
Jan 24, Feb 28, March 21, April 18, and May 23, 2010
In every war, there have been Conscientious Objectors.
For religious or ethical reasons, they take very seriously the injunction
“Thou shalt not kill.”
Why do some people examine their convictions and then refuse to become soldiers,
despite broad popular support for military engagement?
Come hear the powerful stories of the panel and understand what led each of them to reject a belief in violent combat, whether before, during, or following a war.
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Three conscientious objectors from three different generations and wars (World War II, Vietnam and Iraq) will share their unique and inspiring stories of conscience-led action. Why did they refuse to go to war? In the face of enormous pressure to do otherwise, what led them to do what they did?
Allen Bacon was nurtured by a strong Quaker family. In 1940 he registered with Selective Service and was classified a Conscientious Objector (CO) by his local draft board. Entering the Civilian Public Service (CPS) program (managed by the Mennonites, Brethren and Quakers throughout World War II), he performed his alternative service under Brethren auspices at a mental hospital in Maryland, where his new bride Margaret got a job in the social service department. The CPS services of Allen and many other COs in mental hospitals throughout the country during the war resulted in a constructive revolution in the way mental patients were treated, instituting more nonviolent care and various creative therapies. In his subsequent career, Allen has served as a teacher, organizer, and administrator at numerous social service agencies, including the American Friends Service Committee, the Greater Philadelphia Federation of Settlements, the William Penn Foundation, and Planned Parenthood. He will tell us about a deeply formative experience while a student at Antioch College.
Growing up in Quaker circles, John Braxton was an early opponent of the Vietnam War. After a year of study at Swarthmore College, he joined in a daring sailboat voyage to deliver medical supplies to North and South Vietnam, an act of civil disobedience viewed by the U. S. government as “trading with the enemy.” Returning home, he publicly refused to be inducted or report for alternative service as a CO. These steps ultimately led to a two-and-one-half year prison sentence, of which he served seventeen months at Allenwood penitentiary, followed by parole. Since that time he has carved out a career in the union reform movement, working with the Teamsters. Among other successful actions he pushed the National AFL-CIO to pass a resolution against the Iraq War, the first time ever that this labor federation took a major stance against U. S. foreign policy. John’s day job is teaching biology at the Community College of Philadelphia, where he serves as the co-president of the local branch of the American Federation of Teachers. This year, Swarthmore College will award him an honorary degree for his social justice work, a fitting capstone to his inspiring story.
Upon graduating from high school in 1992, Jose Vasquez enlisted in the U. S. Army. After four years of stateside active duty and receiving an honorable discharge, he re-enlisted in the Army Reserve as a combat medic in 1997 and advanced to a position of practical nurse in 2000. Having been stationed in seven different military bases in the States, Jose was looking toward retirement, but then his life took a sharp new turn. He had been listening to antiwar combat veterans speaking up on Democracy Now! and doing some deep soul-searching. In January 2005 he applied for a discharge as a CO. In February his unit was alerted for deployment. In March he reported for duty for mobilization training as his CO discharge was being processed. In June of that year he courageously joined Iraq Veterans Against the War (where he now serves as Executive Director). Remarkably, his honorable discharge as a CO was approved in May 2007! Jose will share with us his unusual journey, describing the forces that re-shaped his life away from war and toward peace.
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Sponsored by the Peace and Social Action Committee of Providence Meeting.