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D Block Civics Honors Mike Napolitano Mr. Muran 9/3/2010
 U.S. Soldier, Citing His Muslim Religion, Seeks Conscientious Objector Status A U.S. Solider from Texas just filled for Conscientious Objector status, which means that he his morally, due to religious or personal convictions, against fighting in a war. This is the only way to prevent being jailed for refusing to deploy. If you can convince a board to acknowledge you as a Conscientious Objector, you do not have to fight, and you won’t be jailed. This soldier, Naser Abdo, is sighting his Muslim religion for not wanting to fight. He says that he would be faced with things that could make him go to hell and that Islam is a religion of peace not terror. His ability to be accepted as a Conscientious Objector depends on if the board finds that he is morally opposed to ALL wars, not just the current one. I believe that the soldier should not be granted Conscientious Objector status. As much as I respect his believes and convictions, he has been a Muslim all of his life, if he had any real moral conviction against being deployed, he would have not signed up for the Military! My guess is that he grew tired of military service/life and wanted to get out altogether, but his Army contract prevents him from just quitting. He most likely needed to find a way to get excused, and the easiest way was a Conscientious Objector. I do not think they should grant it to him, because that would open up a door for hundreds of people who are “Conscientious Objectors” all of a sudden who don’t want to serve anymore. In a draft time situation, I understand the need, but I don’t think a soldier can say his against fighting ONCE he’s already IN the military!