I just finished watching the LINK TV Spotlight program entitled 'On the Objection Front' by Israeli film maker Shiri Tsur. (LINKTV.ORG) The subject matter was something I had read about in 2002. I will deliver my thoughts about the program tomorrow. Today I would like to share a letter I sent to my local newspaper on February 8, 2002. They chose not to publish it....

To: Editor of the Charleston Post and Courier

Would you please print my letter in your newspaper? (I am a subscriber.)

'New Middle East Heroes'

Did anyone notice the article in the February 4th Post & Courier about the 52 Israeli reserve soldiers and officers who refused to serve against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip?

They had their concerns printed in Israeli newspapers as well as posted on their own Internet Website. Since that time an additional 58 soldiers have signed their petition. The substance of the petition was their being greatly troubled by orders given to them to be carried out against Palestinians.

The article went on to say that the action of these men has set off the most intense debate yet about the militarys actions against the Palestinian people over these past 16 months.

One of my questions is why have I not seen, heard, or read anything else about this subject. Surely, in this modern day and age, any news about people who are willing to risk court martial, imprisonment and who knows what else for the sake of their conscience should be news and comment worthy.

While growing up I was inspired by sayings such as: 'Evil exists because good people do nothing' and 'What makes cowards of people is that they sit and say nothing when they should stand and protest'.

I always admired men like Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr. and Sir Thomas Moore who chose to obey their conscience regardless of the risks. What may be the saddest part of this story is that, due to the powers that be, we may never hear of future incidents like this one.

Today I salute these 110 Israeli soldiers as 'heroes' who serve as examples to the rest of us of what we can be if we will just replace our fear of men with our fear of not obeying our conscience.

they have my backing too. takes a stronger person to take the harder quieter road. Ghandi did it too . and so many others unsung heros!