So goes the title of an article in News Tribune, by Scott Fontaine, published: 10/03/09
The Army’s decision to discharge famed war resister Lt. Ehren Watada on Friday won praise from anti-war activists throughout the South Sound and nationwide.
“We’re very happy for Ehren,” said Seth Manzel, an Iraq veteran who runs the antiwar Coffee Strong café in Lakewood. “We think this is proof that people can follow their conscience and not be punished for it.”
Actually this is proof that people can follow their conscience and not be punished for it because the judge and prosecution made some mistakes. I’m not convinced that political objectors similar to 1Lt Watada or the Soldiers in Texas should be sanguine that they will always walk. The enlisted objectors in Texas went to jail, Watada got lucky. Watada’s luck becomes clearer reading the rest of the article.