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Damn Thing, v. 1, issue 5, May 1941

Page 7

THE DAMN THING                               PAGE SEVEN
__________________________________________

The Quakers, have faced greater danger unarmed and done greater service than you will or would ever do as a potential murderer. Your own narrow view-point marks you assintrinsicly undemocratic.

   Perhaps you do not understand the view-point of the Conscientious Objector. It is a view-point which is an integeral part of his entire nervous and mental character. To the Conscientious Objector, your viewpoint towards millitary service is just as incomprehensible as yours is towards ours. I shall try to ellucidate you as to my own attitude, though I fear it will do no good.

   First of all I am a human being. Second, I am a citizen of the United States Being a human being, and inseperably related to those on the four continents of the globe, I have no wish to participate in any way with anything that does not further their welfare during their own short and usually unhappy lives. Being of a certain nature, I cannot bring myself to kill, assist in killing, or assist directly in preparations for killing. I cannot do this not only because I cannot bring myself to the point of performing the necessary physical corporation, but also because in the ultimate sense, neither "side" wins, and the individuals whom I might cause the demise of would doubtlessly be as innocent victims of circumstance as I would be.

   So, the nation is attacked. Firstly I am a human being and my own personal reaction is to take no part in the carnage. However, my own emotional make up is such that I am not going to sit idly by and watch misery and death inflicted upon those I know and love. They are hapless victims of circumstance. And the government is sensible enough to understand my attitude, (which is more than Mr. Miske seems to be) and I am immeditaly available for such services as: manufacturing medical supplies; doing first aid work under civilian  direction during air-raids; being a watcher to warn civilians of the approach of hostile forces that might  cause them sufferings; being a part of a civilian rescue squad; assisting in the preparation of non-millitary equipement for soldiers to make their own conditions more bearable. In short, I am only too willing to help those about me in any way possible that does not assist them in wreaking their mutual destruction.

   This is an attitude which Mr. Miske cannot understand. It is doubtlessly the attitude of J.M. Rosenblum and Walter Gillings. They, as I, cannot be in peace with their conscience if they were to follow the path of least resistance, join armed forces, and assist in the carrying out of all those things for which they have dedicated their futile lives to abolish. 

   If we can go to war, and at the same time maintain on the "home front" the principals for which we will alledgedly be fighting for, that war will not be an automatic negation. But, if to combat certain principals which we hate, it is necessary to adopt the same manner of control on the "home front" as our "enemy" then all is lost and futile.

   We are all American citizens, Mr. Miske, and I am thankfull that the majority of us do not entertain the same hatreds towards each other that you entertain towrads some British fans, and therefore a large number of their counterparts in the United States.

   If the fateful M-Day comes, I will be as ready as you are. My work will be towards the ultimate betterment of your environment and mine. But you will only be engaged in futile folly, which is the curse of our species and may eventually exterminate it.

Saving...

THE DAMN THING PAGE SEVEN __________________________________________ The Quakers, have faced greater danger unarmed and done greater service than you will or would ever do as a potential murderer. Your own narrow view-point marks you assintrinsicly undemocratic. Perhaps you do not understand the view-point of the Conscientious Objector. It is a view-point which is an integeral part of his entire nervous and mental character. To the Conscientious Objector, your viewpoint towards millitary service is just as incomprehensible as yours is towards ours. I shall try to ellucidate you as to my own attitude, though I fear it will do no good. First of all I am a human being. Second, I am a citizen of the United States Being a human being, and inseperably related to those on the four continents of the globe, I have no wish to participate in any way with anything that does not further their welfare during their own short and usually unhappy lives. Being of a certain nature, I cannot bring myself to kill, assist in killing, or assist directly in preparations for killing. I cannot do this not only because I cannot bring myself to the point of performing the necessary physical corporation, but also because in the ultimate sense, neither "side" wins, and the individuals whom I might cause the demise of would doubtlessly be as innocent victims of circumstance as I would be. So, the nation is attacked. Firstly I am a human being and my own personal reaction is to take no part in the carnage. However, my own emotional make up is such that I am not going to sit idly by and watch misery and death inflicted upon those I know and love. They are hapless victims of circumstance. And the government is sensible enough to understand my attitude, (which is more than Mr. Miske seems to be) and I am immeditaly available for such services as: manufacturing medical supplies; doing first aid work under civilian direction during air-raids; being a watcher to warn civilians of the approach of hostile forces that might cause them sufferings; being a part of a civilian rescue squad; assisting in the preparation of non-millitary equipement for soldiers to make their own conditions more bearable. In short, I am only too willing to help those about me in any way possible that does not assist them in wreaking their mutual destruction. This is an attitude which Mr. Miske cannot understand. It is doubtlessly the attitude of J.M. Rosenblum and Walter Gillings. They, as I, cannot be in peace with their conscience if they were to follow the path of least resistance, join armed forces, and assist in the carrying out of all those things for which they have dedicated their futile lives to abolish. If we can go to war, and at the same time maintain on the "home front" the principals for which we will alledgedly be fighting for, that war will not be an automatic negation. But, if to combat certain principals which we hate, it is necessary to adopt the same manner of control on the "home front" as our "enemy" then all is lost and futile. We are all American citizens, Mr. Miske, and I am thankfull that the majority of us do not entertain the same hatreds towards each other that you entertain towrads some British fans, and therefore a large number of their counterparts in the United States. If the fateful M-Day comes, I will be as ready as you are. My work will be towards the ultimate betterment of your environment and mine. But you will only be engaged in futile folly, which is the curse of our species and may eventually exterminate it.