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En Garde, whole no. 4, Winter 1942
Page 9
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page 9. STRAIGHT FROM THE CANNON'S MOUTH By Pfc Weaver Wright I understand a couple of fans who knew something about me personally gave a third fan the impression I'd been a pacifist who backed down on his principles when the show-down came. I resent that! And the adage that "silence gives consent", when I didn't get around to writing and denying the charge. Sometimes I think some folks tell untruths about me just to keep me busy refuting same so I'll have no time for constructive and original work! You who received the misinfo are a mem of FAPA, so I'll answer here, and kill about 47 other birds with one stone, excepting Morojo and myself, who already know better. *** Til 1941 AD (Advent of Duration) I was passively pacifistic in thot. I had always sposed that if invited to be inducted, the CO stand would be the one I chose. Charlie Hornig was the opposite. I guess Charlie had no idea of his inner conviction til the warclouds began to gather; then, when he examined himself -- as I know he did, lengthily, searchingly -- he found he could not be in accord with human killing. Me, I found to my surprise, that rather'n having the hard row to hoe of the CO, I'd go along docilely with the draft if and when it ever caught up with me, because I had no objection to killing anybody who had intentions of bothering me. Reducing it to its simplest terms, I'd have no moral qualms about injuring anyone attempting to steal my property, or kill anyone with death in mind for me. The same principle is contained on a magnified scale, is it not, in the invasion of a country, the subjugation of a nation, the murder of a people? So I've gone to war in the capacity the local authorities seem to think I'm best fitted for; but I'm not proud of engaging in what Dr. Stapledon described as "the most shattering and degrading of all human experiences". I just feel I've a dirty job to do, and I'm anxious the whole sickening affair should get a Widnerian "wiggle" on. I didn't want to "go to war" because I felt morally certain I could be of more use to humanity as a civilian, if left to my own devices; but I didn't feel like raising a fuss about it. Being in the army is a nuisance to me; that's all. I didn't fall back on any avowed principles. I hope I've made myself clear. I thot, through the generosity of EN GARDE, I'd quote some of the correspondence I've received since entering the farmed 'orses -- I mean, armed forces. These excerpts will be given anonymously as I've had no time to contact their authors for permission to print, but I think I know my fan friends well enuf that they'd have no objections for publication in this form. #1: "X tels me you don't like the Army. After a few week of it I see your point. I rid myself of all tender sensibilities before coming in. You have to live with a lot of jerks you may hate, and go through a lot of grief; if you are sensitive you might get hurt. I'm not sensitive anymore." Comment: Maybe I've been lucky, I dunno, or maybe I'm just not so sensitive either, but I haven't had near the noisome experiences I'd anticipated. Come to think of it, there's an explanation: The Permanent Parties with whom I associate all have to have an Army Intelligence of at least 120, I believe the figure is. So those I companionate with are not completely morons, altho most of these big grown men seem to have
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page 9. STRAIGHT FROM THE CANNON'S MOUTH By Pfc Weaver Wright I understand a couple of fans who knew something about me personally gave a third fan the impression I'd been a pacifist who backed down on his principles when the show-down came. I resent that! And the adage that "silence gives consent", when I didn't get around to writing and denying the charge. Sometimes I think some folks tell untruths about me just to keep me busy refuting same so I'll have no time for constructive and original work! You who received the misinfo are a mem of FAPA, so I'll answer here, and kill about 47 other birds with one stone, excepting Morojo and myself, who already know better. *** Til 1941 AD (Advent of Duration) I was passively pacifistic in thot. I had always sposed that if invited to be inducted, the CO stand would be the one I chose. Charlie Hornig was the opposite. I guess Charlie had no idea of his inner conviction til the warclouds began to gather; then, when he examined himself -- as I know he did, lengthily, searchingly -- he found he could not be in accord with human killing. Me, I found to my surprise, that rather'n having the hard row to hoe of the CO, I'd go along docilely with the draft if and when it ever caught up with me, because I had no objection to killing anybody who had intentions of bothering me. Reducing it to its simplest terms, I'd have no moral qualms about injuring anyone attempting to steal my property, or kill anyone with death in mind for me. The same principle is contained on a magnified scale, is it not, in the invasion of a country, the subjugation of a nation, the murder of a people? So I've gone to war in the capacity the local authorities seem to think I'm best fitted for; but I'm not proud of engaging in what Dr. Stapledon described as "the most shattering and degrading of all human experiences". I just feel I've a dirty job to do, and I'm anxious the whole sickening affair should get a Widnerian "wiggle" on. I didn't want to "go to war" because I felt morally certain I could be of more use to humanity as a civilian, if left to my own devices; but I didn't feel like raising a fuss about it. Being in the army is a nuisance to me; that's all. I didn't fall back on any avowed principles. I hope I've made myself clear. I thot, through the generosity of EN GARDE, I'd quote some of the correspondence I've received since entering the farmed 'orses -- I mean, armed forces. These excerpts will be given anonymously as I've had no time to contact their authors for permission to print, but I think I know my fan friends well enuf that they'd have no objections for publication in this form. #1: "X tels me you don't like the Army. After a few week of it I see your point. I rid myself of all tender sensibilities before coming in. You have to live with a lot of jerks you may hate, and go through a lot of grief; if you are sensitive you might get hurt. I'm not sensitive anymore." Comment: Maybe I've been lucky, I dunno, or maybe I'm just not so sensitive either, but I haven't had near the noisome experiences I'd anticipated. Come to think of it, there's an explanation: The Permanent Parties with whom I associate all have to have an Army Intelligence of at least 120, I believe the figure is. So those I companionate with are not completely morons, altho most of these big grown men seem to have
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