[Peace] Soldiers of Conscience DVD available at libraries

[Charlotte Green]

The film, “Soldiers of Conscience”, is now available for check out at the Champaign Public Library, the Urbana Free Library, and the Lincoln Trails Library System.  The film will also soon be available at the Urbana High School Library.  “Soldiers of Conscience” is a documentary exploring the moral dilemma soldiers in combat face when given the choice to kill.  The film profiles eight American soldiers: four who decide not to kill and become conscientious objectors and four who believe in their duty to kill if necessary.  The film was shown on POV on public television in October 2008.  According to a recent review in Video Librarian, “’Soldiers of Conscience’ does not denigrate the work of the U.S. military or the sacrifices made by soldiers in harm's way, but instead presents a balanced and mature acknowledgement that some people will follow the dictates of their own consciences over the commands of a temporary 'superior.'"

“Soldiers of Conscience” is an excellent resource for use in high school or college classes, including U.S. history, civics, current events, English, and religion.  Lesson plans are available on the Soldiers of Conscience Website:  www.soldiers-themovie.com/AboutDownloads.html.   The DVDs at the Urbana Free Library and Urbana High School are probably the most appropriate for classroom use.  These DVDs are 54 minutes in length with seven different excerpts, which can be used for discussion.  The DVD at the Champaign Library is 87 minutes and is the original version shown on POV last fall.

The purchase of the three DVDs was made possible through donations from several individuals and groups, including the Peace and Service Committee (Friends Meeting), Peace and Justice Initiative (Mennonites), AWARE Films, and Viet Nam Veterans Against the War.  A special thanks goes to Channing-Murray Foundation, who hosted a screening of “Soldiers of Conscience” on March 15, 2009, at which time the fundraising efforts began.  Thanks also to the other co-sponsors of the event, including Iraq Veterans Against the War and The Interfaith Alliance.