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War will exist untilthat distant day whenthe CO enjoys thesame reputation andprestige that thewarrior does today.— John F. KennedyRedefining courageThere is an imbalance in the language used to talk about war and peace. Men whobecame soldiers are held to be “heroes for freedom” while conscientious objectorswere dubbed “conchies,” a derisive term reflecting that their choice not to fightwas not valued. Soldiers are revered with commemorations and monuments. Forconchies, it has even been difficult to compile a list of names of those who servedin this capacity.E.J. Swalm was one of the church leaders who advocated for CO status and supported theyoung men who did alternative service. Having experienced prison himself, he had nodoubt as to their courage. He dedicates his 1949 book entitled Nonresistance Under Testto:that noble and courageous group of young men and women who, during WWII,served in the Civilian Public Service and Alternate Service programs in the UnitedStates and Canada and at great sacrifice worked in mental hospitals, researchinstitutions, served as guinea pigs, smoke jumpers, etc., all for the privilege ofbearing a testimony, not only to a personal knowledge of Christ, but for the greatBiblical doctrine of peace.World War II was a very popular war, and it was very difficult to oppose it and beridiculed by society. While the current wars may be easier to oppose on a political basis, itstill requires courage to articulate opposition that is based on a deep commitment to JesusChrist’s way of peace. It takes courage to choose a different way of being in the world.Teaching peace in the churchWhat happened to people in WWII who chose not to be CO’s? Many did end up choosingmilitary service. This caused huge divisions and anguish in churches and families. In manyways the church had failed these men by not explaining non-resistance convincingly tothem, and then excommunicating them, or not following up and pastoring them even asthey were soldiers. Of course it’s important to remember people who chose not to killothers. It’s a long and courageous tradition in our history. But it’s also important toremember that our conflict in the church resulted in the departure of thousands of youngmen.A Mennonite pastor recently saw a young man from his congregation join the army andhead to Iraq. What does one do with people like this? Excommunicate them? Hope theystay away and don’t bother us? Hope they join another church that isn’t pacifist? In thiscase the minister decided to pray for the person who enlisted; there was a public prayer tosend him off, “That he would do no harm and come to no harm.”What does it mean to be a peace church in how we teach our children? If they decide to goagainst our peace teaching, what then? Can we still love them? —Carol Penner, Vineland,Ont.The myth of redemptive violenceTheologian Walter Wink has called attention to what the myth of redemptive violence, thedominant religion in our society today. It enshrines the belief that violence makes thingsturn out right, that war brings peace, that might makes right.“The belief that violence ‘saves’ is so successful because it doesn’t seem to be mythic in theleast. Violence simply appears to be the nature of things. It’s what works. It seems27 Digging Deeper