First U.S. Woman Conscientious Objector

Katharine Jashinski

Statement made at Ft. Benning, GA on November 17, 2005 by SPC Katherine
Jashinski, first woman in the military to publicly declare resistance to
participation in the war:

My name is Katherine Jashinski. I am a SPC in the Texas Army National
Guard. I was born in Milwaukee, WI and I am 22 years old. When I
graduated high school I moved to Austin, TX to attend college. At age 19
I enlisted in the Guard as a cook because I wanted to experience military
life. When I enlisted I believed that killing was immoral, but also that
war was an inevitable part of life and therefore, an exception to the
rule.After enlisting I began the slow transformation into adulthood. Like many
teenagers who leave their home for the first time, I went through a period
of growth and soul searching. I encountered many new people and ideas
that broadly expanded my narrow experiences. After reading essays by
Bertrand Russel and traveling to the South Pacific and talking to people
from all over the world, my beliefs about humanity and its relation to war
changed. I began to see a bigger picture of the world and I started to
reevaluate everything that I had been taught about war as a child. I
developed the belief that taking human life was wrong and war was no
exception. I was then able to clarify who I am and what it is that I
stand for.

The thing that I revere most in this world is life, and I will never take
another person's life.

Just as others have faith in God, I have faith in humanity

I have a deeply held belief that people must solve all conflicts through
peaceful diplomacy and without the use of violence. Violence only begets
more violence.

Because I believe so strongly in non-violence, I cannot perform any role
in the military. Any person doing any job in the Army, contributes in
some way to the planning, preparation or implementation of war.

For eighteen months, while my CO status was pending, I have honored my
commitment to the Army and done everything that they asked of me.
However, I was ordered to Ft. Benning last Sunday to complete weapons
training in preparation to deploy for war.

Now I have come to the point where I am forced to choose between my legal
obligation to the Army and my deepest moral values. I want to make it
clear that I will not compromise my beliefs for any reason. I have a moral
obligation not only to myself but to the world as a whole, and this is
more important than any contract.

I have come to my beliefs through personal, intense, reflection and study.
They are everything that I am and all that I stand for. After much
thought and contemplation about the effect my decision will have on my
future, my family, the possibility of prison, and the inevitable scorn and
ridicule that I will face, I am completely resolute.

I will exercise my every legal right not pick up a weapon, and to
participate in war effort. I am determined to be discharged as a CO, and
while undergoing the appeals process; I will continue to follow orders
that do not conflict with my conscience until my status has been resolved.
I am prepared to accept the consequences of adhering to my beliefs.

What characterizes a conscientious objector is their willingness to face
adversity and uphold their values at any cost. We do this not because it
is easy or popular, but because we are unable to do otherwise. Thank you.