This blog is devoted to sharing recources and reflections related to the promotion of personal and global peace.

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

The Conscience of Camilo Mejia...
...tells him not to "fight war any more." Camilo is a strong and articulate young man. He went to Iraq as a Staff Sargent with this Army National Guard unit last year. What he saw and experienced there convinced him that war was wrong... on moral and spiritual grounds. [It also convinced him that we were all mislead by the lies about weapons of mass destruction in the rush to the war.]

The proceedings at the Peace Abbey yesterday were something to behold. A Catholic bishop came from Detroit to conduct a Eucharistic service in the morning. 100+ peace supporters attended this. At the end of the service Camilo signed his statement of Conscientious Objection to War which was witnessed by signatures of many of his supporters. This was followed by speeches by the "Unknown Civilians Killed in War" memorial on the Abbey grounds. Veterans for Peace and Military Families Against the War were well represented. The TV media, both English and Spanish, were there with about 12 cameras and more reporters. After a bus ride to Hanscom AFB with dozens of supporters Camilo turned himself in.

Camilo is a Nicaraguan citizen who carries a U.S. green card. He joined the Army Reserve at 19 as a way to "become a part of America." He speaks both Spanish and English fluently. His father, Carlo, is also a very impressive and good man. Carlo was educated as a Cistercian priest and then joined and fought with the Sandinestas for Nicaraguan independence. One of his heroes is Archbishop Romero. Carlo also plays the accordion very well. Now, at 60, he considers it his "work" to support his son's efforts to become "an instrument of peace."

So what is the role of conscience in our lives? Perhaps it is to look deeply within ourselves and ask what will truly supports all life: our individual life, certainly, but, clearly, the much greater importance of all of life, not only human life, but the life of all sentient beings and the Life Force, itself. If and when we do that it may mean that we oppose war, as it does for Camilo, but it will also mean other things that we may not be able to predict with our present, cloudy vision.