As a Vietnam era draft resister, the plight of the Shministim is familiar to me.
I can clearly recall resolving to spend the rest of my life in prison, if that would be what it took to make my statement.
I wrote the following in support of the Shministim:
“The individual does not exist to serve the state. It’s life is an end in itself.
This recognition is essential, fundamental and integral to any free society.
A society that cannot defend itself without the involuntary, coerced participation of it’s citizens has already failed; it is no longer viable.
It should be allowed to fall and be replaced by a more just system.”
If all military aged Israelis and their Palistinian counterparts would follow suit, the Israeli-Palistinian conflict that currently dominates the attention of the news media would not be possible.
We cannot know what would result. But it would be the product of peaceful, mutually voluntary cooperation.
What of the current pattern of events?
Only more evidence that violence begets violence.
—The Bikemessenger
P.S.–Please add your voice in support of the Shministim.
I am living proof that with enough popular support behind their courageous leadership they can succeed: