Hello fellow Zspacers,

Like many of you, I am fed up with the lack of justice on planet Earth. I'm an American and serving in the U.S. Navy. Currently I am seeking separation from the military on grounds of conscientious objection to war. I joined the Navy just trying to survive economically, and learned on deployment in the Persian gulf that many of the bombs dropped from jets attached to my ship were killing innocent people. I can't stomach this.

A lot of the literature I read that changed my views on American foreign policy was written by members of this community. Thank you Noam Chomsky, Edward Herman and Howard Zinn, RIP. Since joining the Navy I have researched the hidden history and obscured past of America politics. Reading new literature was like an epiphany for me. The most substantial and important work I read was Slaughter House Five. Before I did not have passionate views, but now I have gone to protests against the g20 and protests for LGBT rights. I have also found the courage to seek military separation.

I wish that we all find what we need. And that we have the compassion to help one another. I look for peace, and a view from the mountains.

In solidarity with all who struggle for peace, justice and equality. In the hope for a better life,

Jared Hall