Excellent. I think this is very important. Most people don’t realize that we soldiers are people too, and that we can think and feel. I think it’s important to reach out to soldiers, discuss the situation, and convey how easy it is to not be a part of evil. I had joined the Canadian reserves with the single purpose of going to Afghanistan — though I opposed the war on terror (as terrorists pose no threat to the sovereignty of our country and so are the jurisdiction of the police not the armed forces), I had reasoned that now that we were there it would be worse to leave, and that I should try to do my part to make our mission of reconstruction succeed (I had all this military training from Finland and I wanted to do some good with it) —but then as I did research about the mission and about Afghanistan (in order to be an effective soldier) my enthusiasm began to wax. Our tactics made little to no sense and it seemed very likely would simply cause the Afghanis to hate us, thus causing more deaths on all sides.

The change of government, from the liberals to the conservatives, and thus a further change of tactics, from trying somewhat to keep the peace and reconstruct (though with stupendously insufficient reconstruction funds) to search and destroy missions against mostly ordinary Afghans uprising against corrupt local governments we support, plunged the Canadians from not really accomplishing anything to making things worse. A lot worse. Many Afghans hate us more now than they do the Americans, which is somewhat of a feat.

So I went awol. I just stopped showing up. So far they haven’t tried to contact me and have not tried to kick me out or try to get me to quit. If they ever do I will tell them I took an oath to defend the Canadian people from threat and uphold the law (including but not limited to the Geneva convention), that I must follow no order that jeopardizes these laws. That is exactly what I am doing.

The law I am bound to specifically states that I am not to support or be in anyway a part of any war crime whatsoever. When torture is institutionalized (even by one of our allies, though to say we are not complicit is vain ignorance), simply being in the forces is a war crime (when torture is not institutionalized, then being in the forces is the place to be to try to stop anyone in the force from employing it).

Furthermore, terrorism is not a military threat.

What is a threat to Canadians is the propaganda they are subjected to by the Canadian and American government and military structure. Even bigger threats are pollution and ecological collapse. Not having representation by population, rather than first past the post, is another big threat. Doing what I can to defend Canada against these threats is exactly what I am doing.

If you are a soldier, do the research, and if you conclude what you are involved in is either pointless or evil: just stop going. It is your sworn duty. Let them come an arrest if they insist, and then outline your case in a court of law. What profiteth a soldier if he gains all the hazard pay in the world but loseth his soul?

War Resister Considers Himself a Soldier as He Builds New Life: ‘‘I knew I was at a turning point,’‘ 33-year-old Patrick Hart said of the wrenching ride toward the border, where he would leave his country behind. From Buffalo, Hart would cross into Canada. His parents, who were in on his secret, drove him across the Peace Bridge and delivered him to a network of Canadian supporters who welcome disillusioned US soldiers with open arms, a place to stay, and legal advice.