home » resources » practical » Letter From Logan

Share |

Letter From Logan

Logan LaituriHey all, my name is Logan Laituri; folks at The Simple Way have asked me to help out with a new branch of the website here. Specifically, I have been asked to share my experience as a conscientious objector to war in all its forms. Many people have written Shane seeking advice and guidance in their own journeys as followers of Jesus who are beginning to question their role in the military industrial complex (a term borrowed from former president Dwight D. Eisenhower; click here or here for more information.)

As one who struggles deeply with my love for country as subservient to my love for God, I am familiar with much of what many other service members are embattled with in our current political and social atmosphere. Language from the religious "right" seems to suggest we have self proclaimed His divine blessing in our conduct of war and that anything less than undivided devotion to America is tantamount to blasphemy. Many leaders of the religious "left," on the other hand, have been known to mirror the aggressive tactics of their counterparts, demanding a complete departure and severance from service to our country.

In my own dealing with Shane and The Simple Way, I have felt neither. I have not felt compelled to adopt blind obedience to country, nor strict adherence to a separatist mentality. As I continue to wrestle with my own complicity and complacency, there has been continuous support from and communion with a body that has been steadfast in displaying the unconditional love that I have come to believe we are called to embody as Christians.

I applied in June 2006 for status as a noncombatant conscientious objector. My unit was preparing to deploy to Iraq, which would have been my second yearlong tour. With departure quickly approaching, I told my commander I wished to return again to Iraq, but that I would not carry a weapon into combat. It was my deep desire to explore alternatives to violence and refuse to be perceived as a tool of intimidation and fear by Arabs, a people we had been told were our enemies.

My path was regrettably filled with uncertainty and doubt; I had little help along the way and often was forced to figure out the process on my own. However, the help I did receive was pivotal in giving me the confidence that allowed me to move forward. I realized quickly that I could continue to obey the ordained authority of the military while not compromising my spiritual convictions, at least for a time.

Before long, my allegiance to the state was trumped by my allegiance to God. My pursuit of going to combat unarmed was essentially deemed fanatical. In my psychiatrist's evaluation, I was diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder (I have joked that I was 'crazy for Jesus'), and made medically non-deployable. Upon hearing this, my commander accused me of conduct unbecoming, trying to get out of a deployment, and of benefiting the enemies of America. After watching my friends deploy without me, I eventually was exempted from the Stop/Loss Program and honorably discharged from the Army.

Within a month of separating, I was in Israel/Palestine with Christian Peacemaker teams shortly after their bombing campaign in Lebanon quieted. Meeting with Palestinian families whose homes had been destroyed or forcefully occupied by Israeli Defense Forces, I was faced with the horror of my own participation in identical practices in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Just as I would storm houses in Samarrah, Mosul, and other cities, these families faced the same fate at the hands of the IDF. I had gained intimate knowledge of the worlds of both the oppressor and the oppressed, and I would never be the same.

I was driven farther into my desire to bring true reconciliation and peace to both the perpetrators and the prey of aggression wherever I found myself. I came to believe that our enemies are often victims of the same systemic violence that their prey face; a consuming cycle of destructive force that relies upon arrogance and fear. It is not force that destroys and drives out fear, but love. As Christians, we are to love the Kingdom of God into our world. We do not wage war as the world does, we do not use the same tactics or weapons.

My purpose is not to encourage you to exit or remain in the military, but to inform you of your inherent rights as a uniformed member of the Armed Forces. I would be a hypocrite if I said that all service men and women must leave the military to be true to the Gospel, but I do feel earnestly that the military industrial complex gives little regard to the inherent value and humanity of an individual, which in my eyes is central to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The way of the slaughtered lamb is known for sacrificial, life-giving obedience to the command to love even our enemies. The way of the sword is scarred by aggression, coercion, and subjugation.

I invite you to explore the Church's rich tradition of peace. The accompanying links have all been an enormous help to me in my journey and the organizations I have listed were all even-handed and considerate. It is my hope that those who feel conflicted about their service are able to have access to the resources that can help them process through such a significant decision, one that should be made knowing you will not be rejected, harassed, or condemned.

Shalom/Salaam/Peace,
- Logan Laituri

Page 1 of 1 pages for this article