Conscientious Objection: Is this for you?

A two-part online workshop for young Friends ages 15-25                                                                                             Offered by Baltimore Yearly Meeting

PART ONE: Tuesday, 2/28/23 at 5:30 pm eastern time (US/Can)

We will invite realistic consideration of a) what the U.S. military’s ultimate function and command systems are, b) how the U.S. Selective Service System seeks to quickly transform ordinary young people into lethal fighters, and c) how one can seek conscientious objector (CO) status and alternate service. Young Friends also will hear two adult Friends tell briefly about their own experiences seeking conscientious objector status during prior U.S. wars.

PART TWO: Tuesday, 3/7/23 at 5:30 pm eastern time (US/Can)

We will invite participants: a) to write down (in advance) and share your thoughts about the three requirements for CO status. The three criteria basically are:

• “I cannot participate personally in any or all wars, because…”

• “This conviction is based upon my moral, ethical, and/or religious training and belief such as…”

• “This statement is sincere, because…”

1. Young Friends will practice orally responding to questions about your beliefs such as an S.S. Draft Board might ask; and
2. Consider best ways to document your Peace Testimony beliefs over time.

A note about young women and the draft: Many years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a male-only military draft was Constitutional because women never were permitted to have U.S. military combat roles. But, in recent years, some (voluntarily-recruited) women are placed in combat roles. A proposal to include women was NOT approved in 2022, but it could return.

Each session will have time for questions and answers. If more information is needed, we will follow-up with young Friends after the sessions. Before and after each session, we also will send some resource links for young Friends briefly to review.

Upon completion of the workshop, young Friends will be encouraged to put their thoughts on CO status in the form of a letter to the Clerk(s) of their local Meeting(s) for recording and to invite other documentation from the Meeting(s) in support.

Please forward this email to young Friends and local Meetings who you think might be interested! For more information,  please email pcaroom@gmail.com .

Phil Caroom, BYM & Annapolis Friends Meeting Peace & Social Concerns Committee