The Selective Service System and my Conscientious Opposition to War

The Selective Service System and why I am opposed to it

    It has unfortunately come to my attention that America still has Selective Service. Now I thought this was done away with in the Vietnam war. In order to showcase why I am personally opposed to combat and being drafted I will take you through a step-by-step reason why I hold a Conscientious and Moral opposition to all war. 

The violation of the right to pursuit life, liberty and happiness

It is my right according to the founding fathers more specifically Thomas Jefferson the author of the declaration of independence that by throwing my life into combat in any war is against my individual freedom. I am no better than a slave if my freedom is violated in this way. If we as Americans are to hold to the values of the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we should not violate other sovereign nations right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If my right to live life as an American Citizen is violated by taking me to any war, then my right to life is being taken away by the very government that is supposed to protect that right.

Moral Obligation against the Military-Industrial Complex

    This statement should be pretty self-explanatory. However, it seems we live in a world where the obvious is not too obvious. For elaboration, the state of the United States in regard to foreign affairs regarding war since World War 2 has followed what is called the Truman Doctrine. Serving the interests of the politicians to seek friends in nations that do not want to be our friends. If we are to truly believe in the right of freedom and liberty of all people, then we should not need to enforce it on those that find freedom and liberty in their own interpretations rather than ours. I think Woodrow Wilsons doctrine of allowing cultural and ethnic groups to assert self-reliance and independence should be evident of this with nations such as Yugoslavia which was in fact a monarchy and system of governance Woodrow Wilson was adamantly opposed to the point that Germany had undergone a revolution in order for them to surrender to the allied powers of WW1. Therefore, I can infer that any violation of the sovereignty of another nation is the violation of their right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness that is guaranteed to all men according to natural law.

Religious Oppositions to War

    As a devout Catholic I have been taught the differences between just and unjust war. It seems that all war and military conflicts/interventions conducted by the government of The United States of America has been unjust and only a war deemed just by the Pope (as of writing this Pope Leo XIV) I am well aware the in a moral/conscientious opposition to war that includes all wars. However, there has not been a single just war in my lifetime that I have seen. All war in my lifetime that has occurred has been unjust war. Therefore, I can go in with the prepositions that I am opposed to any war. This is because, all the war I know has been unjust and considering modern history and events I do not forsee any just war happening. So with these conclusions I am opposed to all war.   

Thou shall not serve two masters

    As much as I do love this country that God has gifted me the life to live in. I do not serve it. When it comes between serving the Lord and the nation. I will always choose God above this nation. This nation did not give me life. Nor did it baptize me into his church. Why should I die for it when it wishes to throw me on the frontlines with disregard for my wellbeing. Why should I be burdened in taking arms against men and women who have families that I have never met. They never personally wronged me. I have no right to take their life unless I am defending mine. Truly am I defending the nation if I am sent overseas? Am I defending the nation or the money of the congressman? If the congressman wants war he should personally fight it. Not I a simple civilian and most of all children of God. Why should I be forced in cold blooded murder. To murder men, I never met? Men that we could be friends with? Even if they had personally wronged me in some way the Lord calls us to forgive our brothers and to turn the other cheek. My beliefs are held that war is murder on the basis you are violating the other persons right to live and therefore taking their life away.

How it guides my life

    There are many things in regards to philosophy, theology and history that guide my life this is just one of them. I use this belief in the way I conduct myself with others just as I use it to conduct myself with anyone who reads this. I respect their individual sovereignty and freedom. As a Catholic, God granted me the choice to choose his will or my own will. If my will was to serve another master that is adamantly opposed to all the things that God has taught us through His word then I would be a sinner for choosing against him. I would be condemning myself to hell if I chose anything but God. Even through the countless hardships I have faced in my life God has been there. The government of The United States of America will never be my god. My God gave his only Son born of our Lady the Blessed Virgin Mother Mary to die for us on a cross shedding all of his blood for us so that we might be forgiven of our countless sins and offenses against him. I do not wish to add to these burdens in means of active combat or being on the frontlines. The only war I fight is God's war against evil and even then I can only do it with his help not on my own freewill. In my war I only fight with work and prayer not gunpoint and bloodshed.