Pacifists are sometimes taken seriously, but pacifism rarely. I mean pacifism as a coherent intellectual and social-ethical position. The theologians of liberation and revolution, for example, are extremely critical of ethical Realism, yet they continue to accept Realism's rejection of pacifism. The dogmatic assumption that Niebuhr's arguments against pacifism were and are decisive has almost precluded serious intellectual attention to pacifism. Our socialethical reflection and options are the poorer because of this lack. John Howard Yoder, however, has formulated a pacifist position that provides a rationale and form for a Christian social ethic that actively engages the world. Yoder's highly creative work should stimulate a renewed interest in this traditional option.
U.S. PACIFIST ORGANIZATION TODAY ARE LESS THAN CANDID ABOUT THE MUDDLED MARXIST IDEOLOGY THEY HAVE EMBRACED, WHICH THEY CLOTHE IN INNOCENT SOUNDING HUMANITARIAN SLOGANS. IF AMERICAN PACIFICISM IS TO REGAIN THE HIGH MORAL GROUND IT ONCE OCCUPIED IT WOULD HAVE TO RETURN TO THE DEMOCRATIC VALUES THEY ESPOUSED UNTIL THE EARLY 1960'S. THEY WOULD HAVE TO ABANDON BOTH THEIR ROUTINE RESORT TO CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND THEIR OTHER TACTICS OF RESISTANCE TO DEMOCRATICALLY ENACTED LAW WHENEVER THEY FIND THEMSELVES ONTROTED.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's plan to revive nationalism and remilitarize Japan comes in the wake of short-term threats from North Korea and longer-term threats from the People's Republic of China. This plan is certain to incite domestic opposition because of Japan's prior pacifism and to destabilize the region in the long term.
An analysis of 185 poll items, dating from 1936 to the present, involving any kind of internat'l aggressiveness or warlike sentiments on which age information was available, documents that the young have not always been the pacifists of America. The opinions of the youngest adults (21-29 yr-olds) are compared with the oldest (50 & over). The polls have assembled involved questions such as "Should every able-bodied Amer boy 20 yrs old be required to go into the army or navy for one yr?" "If a candidate for Congress in your district advocated sending a great many more men to Vietnam, would you be more inclined, or less inclined to vote for him?" & "Do you think the US was right or wrong in sending Amer troops to stop the Communist invasion of South Korea?" Gallup, CBS, Minnesota, NORC, Roper, & Harris Poll data are used. It is found that military draft att's do not seem highly age-linked. 38 Tables. M. Maxfield.
The problem of conscientious objection to particular wars is considered. In its report to the US President, the Nat'l Advisory Commission on Selective Service unanimously sustained the present system of granting exemptions to absolute pacifists, but overruled proposals to exempt selective conscientious objectors. It is argued that neither in logic nor morality is there a basis for this judgment. Either legal exemption ought to be widened to embrace all who conscientiously oppose killing in a given war, or the legal right ought to be abolished altogether. The Advisory Commission's arguments against legal exemption of selective conscientious objectors is summarized & criticized in detail. Its reasoning is found to be 'extraordinary' & resting on 2 central claims: (a) the assumption that the gov is obligated to decide for at least certain individuals, those in military service or eligible for it, which wars are just & which are unjust; (b) the belief that if people are, perforce, compelled to decide for themselves, or even encouraged to do so, the results could prove militarily disastrous. These arguments are rejected as unacceptable. The following arguments are presented in support of legal recognition of selective conscientious objection: (1) belief in the sacredness of life is generally recognized as valid. (2) Conscientious thought & conduct must be considered among the central values of civilized society. The gov should have the wisdom & courage to give selective conscientious objectors the status in law that they already possess in morality. M. Maxfield.
