Solidarity With Stephen Funk

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Sunday August 17, 2003 17:19 by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker

U.S. Military C.O. on Trial Sept 4th.

Solidarity with U.S. C.O.

Dear Friend,
Conscientious objector Stephen Funk's trial is now on 4 September.
See our letter of protest below. We invite you to support him - all details at www.paydaynet.org
Thank you.

PAYDAY
PO Box 287 London NW6 5QU England Tel: 020 7209 4751 Fax 020 7209 4761
PO Box 11795, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101, US. Tel: (215) 848 1120 Fax: (215) 848 1130

Email payday@paydaynet.org Web www.paydaynet.org



8 August 2003



Commanding Officer,

Headquarters, 4th FSSG

4400 Dauphine Street,

New Orleans,

LA 70146-5400



Commandant of the Marine Corps,

Headquarters, US Marine Corps

Washington

DC 20380-1775



Re: Stephen Funk, conscientious objector, awaiting military trial for Desertion・on 4 September 2003



In the face of this unjust war based on deception by our leaders, I could not remain silent. In my mind that would have been true cowardice.・o:p>

Stephen Funk, June 26th, 2003



We write from Payday, an international and multiracial network of men working with the Global Women's Strike, in support of US Marine Corps reservist Stephen Funk who faces trial for Desertion・ We support Mr Funk痴 demand to be immediately discharged as a conscientious objector, as is his right.

We believe that the only reasons for putting Mr Funk on trial are political ones, designed to prevent him from saying what many of us, in and out of uniform, know in our bones ・that the current US war against, and military occupation of, Iraq is unjust and illegal. Mr Funk said, 的 am being punished simply for practicing my First Amendment rights, and they are seeking an unfit punishment to dissuade others from becoming conscientious objectors・

As Mr Funk goes on to say, the purpose of the military is to churn out non-thinking killing machines. All humans have a natural aversion to killing, and being forced to shout out "Kill, Kill, Kill" everyday is a major stress on the mind, body, and soul. One must go through a transformation in order to accommodate the unnatural way of life that the military teaches.・That is exactly our view in Payday ・and that of many others, as witnessed in great variety and detail on our Refusing To Kill website (www.paydaynet.org) -- and a major reason why we write in his support. Having come to such a conclusion, how could Mr Funk do other than apply for conscientious objector status?

And the Marines trumping up charges of desertion against a person who has been so straightforward and principled in his dealings with them underlines the witch-hunting nature of the whole process.

Mr Funk believes as we do that he is fulfilling his duty as a soldier to refuse illegal orders, a principle of the Uniform Code of Military Justice 809.ART.90 (20), 892.ART.92 (1), and 892.ART.92 (2). This principle, which came out of the Nuremberg Tribunals, has been part of the official policy of the US Department of Defense since 1953.



The Bush administration's doctrine of pre-emptive war violates many international laws that the US has ratified under the Constitution, including the Nuremberg Principles which define as a crime against peace, the "planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements, or assurances, or participation in a common plan or conspiracy for accomplishment of any of the foregoing."



Mr Funk says,he spoke out so that others in the military would realize that they also have a choice and a duty to resist immoral and illegitimate orders. Is this why he is being put on trial?



One of the 45% of the military's rank and file who are people of color in the United States (way out of proportion to numbers among the general population), Mr Funk, who is gay and of Filipino and Native American origin, says he has always considered myself an activist and stood with the oppressed peoples of the world. Since high school I have worked with several campaigns for the disadvantaged, political prisoners, and for peace and justice in our communities ・In February my San Jose-based unit was called up to support the attack on Iraq. I could no longer obey. He refused to become a killer and an instrument of oppression of people of color in another part of the globe.



Mr Funk stands in the best tradition of some of the United States・most famous international figures. Speaking of another war, Dr Martin Luther King recommended that, as we counsel young men concerning military service we must clarify for them our nation's role in Vietnam and challenge them with the alternative of conscientious objection.・/SPAN>



He went on to say, "I knew that America would never invest the necessary funds or energies in rehabilitation of its poor so long as adventures like Vietnam continued to draw men and skills and money like some demonic destructive suction tube. So I was increasingly compelled to see the war as an enemy of the poor and to attack it as such."1] This is still true today. For Vietnam read Iraq, or Afghanistan, or . . . as $900 billions are spent yearly on military budgets worldwide, half by the United States alone. Yet 10% of this would provide the essentials of life for all: water, basic sanitation, health, nutrition, literacy . . .



Indeed it is Mr Funk's view, and Payday's, that war is an attack on people with least access to resources, and therefore primarily an attack on women, children and people of color, everywhere. We draw your attention to protests by the Iraqi Women痴 League who have described how the war and ongoing military occupation of Iraq have left women and children particularly vulnerable to the worst living conditions, including lack of protection against sexual and other violence. They demand that food, water, medical supplies, electricity, phone and other welfare facilities destroyed by the war be immediately made available. At the time of writing these basic essentials are still not accessible to millions of people in Iraq.



Many millions of people, including millions in the United States, have demonstrated, in a variety of ways, their hostility to what they have identified as a US war against the rest of the world. We believe that, whether we are inside or outside the military, we must take a stand with this international movement, since it is the only way to stop this US war against the world, the only way to stop the devastating waste of human life ・stopping the occupying soldiers from occupying and killing, and bringing them home alive.



For all of these reasons we urge you to immediately drop the charge of desertion・and discharge Mr Funk as a conscientious objector.



Yours sincerely,





Eric Gjertsen

Payday US



Ben Martin

Payday UK



1. Speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on April 4, 1967, at a meeting of Clergy and Concerned Laity at Riverside Church in New York City.