There were many other conscientious objectors other than JWs, who weren't even allowed alternative service due to GB dictates, rather than what a trained Christian conscience would allow.
Personally, I pity the Vietnam vets more because they seem to have been the most trashed and taken a lot of flak. Very few honor them, it seems, yet they made the more difficult choice. I respect them for that choice, and God knows how difficult that was.
You, Mr. Friday, underestimate the exent of God's understanding and forgiveness, in national and religious matters, and speak like a typical JW apologist when posting to Dakota Red. Your dichotomous black and white thinking is NOT godly, and reflects a narrow view. You belong to an organization that said
*** yb 1934 Page 136 ***and then tried to cover it up later. Your organization is no better, and lacks credibility, and was as much a Nazi-lover as the next, so your righteous foundation to make such statements is removed.
Instead of being against the principles advocated by the government of Germany, we stand squarely for such principles, and point out that Jehovah God through Christ Jesus will bring about the full realization of these principles and will give to the people peace and prosperity and the greatest desire of every honest heart.
As I have stated before, it's NATIONALISM that's the problem; but patriotism is beneficial for citizens to treat their heritage with respect and others similarly. Insofar as to remember that they belong to only one nation in a world with many. When other nations attack or pose threats, however, the issues become much more complex, and self-defense enters the picture. Hence there's a fine line between Nationalism and self-defense, which is proper.
Each one carries his/her own load when making their own personal decisions, using their God-given brain, rather than letting a "mother" organization decide their fate.