Filed under: PEACE, Quaker | Tags: ACLU, conscientious objection, Washington Post
My cousin Toby just filed suit today against the Selective Service System petitioning them to provide a space on the draft registration form for Conscientious Objectors to indicate their moral opposition to war. He is supported by the ACLU in this case and we are interested in spreading the word as much as possible to sympathetic people. Strategically speaking, the best possible outcome at this point is making this lawsuit as public and embarrassing for the SSS as possible, thereby drawing attention to the issue of opposition to war on religious grounds. So spread the word, my cousin is hoping that his action inspires folks to rethink this issue and make it their own.
Here is his statement about it in the context of an article posted today in the Washington Post. Check out his site, post your thoughts or support, let folks know!
Dear friend,
I filed a suit today at the DC federal court house, declaring that I should be allowed to register for the draft only if I can do so as a recognized conscientious objector to all war.
And I can prove it, here’s my article in the post along with a short but fascinating video of yours truly and my lawyer, Art.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/29/AR2009072902625.html
If you have the time, please forward this link on to anyone who you think would be interested. I’ve only sent it out to a handful of my friends, but it’s really an important part of this whole legal venture that word get spread– and especially to young people who’ll be facing draft registration in the near future.
Also perhaps relevant, my website, www.registerforpeace.org
Thank you so much for your time!
Best,
Toby
While I feel slightly guilty for considering a trip to Turkey old hat, I console myself in the adventure and curiosity I saw in Federica as she met it for the first time. Once she left and I got over the swine flu 
I had an opportunity to reconnect with my family there in a way I have been missing. Bickering over the morning olives, baking soda and vinegar rockets in the driveway, tea and cigarettes with Lütfiye, and even a rare bachelor night with Melih.
My girls are getting so big!
Lest I forget, we also had Mr.WW along too
So as I left my now-familiar family, biological and non, behind in the Republic I was ready for a new adventure. And it came, in the form of beautiful European countryside and a beautiful tour guide to match. I’ll post more about it as I’m inspired, but here she is in meadow of alpine flowers near the Faggioli family’s little house in the Parco Nazionale Foreste Casentinesi….. yeah. 
It even has a name (the house), Ca Mandrioli. Everything has a name; whether it appears to be much different than the cheese before it is insignificant. Chances are good the name’s been around long before the US of A was a suppressed twinkle in a Puritan eye. Hot.
Filed under: Frivolity
I’m about two weeks into another journey here, using a day with the flu as a good excuse to catch up. The last 24 hours aside, I’ve had a great time.
Most importantly, I’ve had a chance to share time with an absolutely excellent woman who graciously suffered through long bus rides, my snips at my mother and other inconveniences for the last 10 days. Federica is a beautiful fascinating woman and I love her. I’ll be leaving here in a few days to visit her farm in Italy briefly before returning to the US.
When the sun's not been in my eyes I've been smiling costantly
