Not all injuries are "physical." A friend of mine recently raised his concern about potential "moral injuries." He is concerned about the plan to put young men on a Selective Service System list of those who may be drafted (no women will be included, as I understand the plans), and he is thinking ahead to those young men who will, once they are drafted into military service and sent out on military missions, suffer not only potential bodily injury, but also potential "moral injury." My friend has grandchildren. They're on his mind!
Here is a definition of moral injury:
Moral injury is the psychological, social, spiritual, and behavioural distress and impairment an individual experiences after their moral values are violated by themselves or others.
You can click right here for a more extensive definition and discussion of "moral injury." Moral injuries may result in PTSD - "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" - but such injuries can be real even if PTSD does not accompany them.
During the Vietnam War, young men were confronted, as I was, with a decision about what to do if they were drafted. A young man facing the military draft could qualify to be excluded from military service as a "conscientious objector," if that young man could demonstrate that he was "opposed to participation in war, in any form, by reason of his religious training or belief." Those were the "magic words" to qualify for C.O. (conscientious objector) status. Those who qualified as conscientious objectors, if drafted, would be required to do "alternative service," in lieu of "military service," and they would not be inducted into any branch of the military.
I, personally, decided that I was not only opposed to participation in war, in any form, but that I was opposed, in addition, to the entire "draft" system itself. I was, in other words, one of those "Boys Who Said No." My ability to "opt out" from military service, individually, by qualifying to do "alternative service," was not enough to make me comfortable with participating in the system as a whole. I didn't think in terms of the potential "moral injury" I might suffer if I did participate in the draft system, but I think it's fair to say that I might well have ended up with a "moral injury" had I registered with the Selective Service System (I did do that) and then excused myself from military service by establishing my bona fides as a C.O..
Like my friend, I have a couple of male grandsons, plus a granddaughter, too, and I think my friend's concern about "moral injury" is both relevant and timely. Young men who are thinking ahead (always a good thing to do) should consider attending a Quaker Meeting, and asking for some help and advice.
That's what I did - and I am very happy that I did!
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