Kalman Hartig presented his assertion to the draft board that he was a conscientious objector. In communist Yugoslavia in the 1950s, that meant he was immediately handcuffed and thrown in a prison cell, even when he was willing and requested to serve his country by receiving training to become a medic. Countries around the world still retain and deploy similar scenarios whenever anyone claims a reason to object to military training and service.
When someone objects to being drafted into the military, several countries around the world enact punishment and/or imprisonment. In many countries, all men must succumb to military training and service to prepare for wartime.
A judge in communist Yugoslavia sentenced Kalman to two years of hard labor, mostly in mining camps. He was also forced to perform other tasks that were so unrealistic and deplorable that it’s difficult to comprehend the severity. Political and religious prisoners were also slowly starved to death. Many didn’t make it out of these camps.
Some objectors take the Bible’s words “Thou shalt not kill” as truth and absolute fact. Others justify killing only in times of war. Most objectors try to get out of serving based on religious beliefs.
Others object because they just plain oppose war. Humanists value human life. Objection doesn’t always have to be based on religious beliefs. Many have moral objections not connected to any religion.
The United States requires all men over age 18 to register. They may claim their conscientious objector position later should the draft be enforced again.
Our readers have been astounded at how Kalman beat the odds.
“We must never forget the evils that men must endure for their beliefs.”
It is a story about “the past that is still relevant as a lesson to those living today.”
Although people are still punished and imprisoned and even tortured today for objecting to military service the human spirit continues “to endure terrible and unjust things.”
“It’s happening again! Everyone should read this book and speak up! The fact that we are allowing it to happen again is disgraceful.”
“I had to keep reminding myself that this story is real, not fiction.”