Conscientious objection
Name(s):
Conscientious objectors
Refusing military service
Nature
A person may be compelled by force, if need be, against his will, against his pecuniary interests, and even against his religious and political convictions, to take his place in the ranks of the army of his country and risk the chance of being killed in its defence.
Counter-claim
1. The pioneers of a warless world are the youth who refuse military service. (Albert Einstein).
2. The volunteer system is not suitable for a poor country which cannot afford to pay the army well enough to attract well-qualified able-bodied young men to the service. The volunteer system involves the objectionable feature of entrusting the sacred mission of defending the country to men lacking in capacity who have proved failures in other fields of activity. The volunteer system is undemocratic, because the cannon fodder, with very few exceptions, consists of proletarians. The sons of the wealth can evade this duty though it is they who enjoy the advantages obtained through the services rendered by the blood spilled by those to whom fortune has been less kind. A high morale is very necessary in an army. With mercenaries fighting for a pittance, such a morale cannot be attained.
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Type
(D) Detailed problems