Y&M Magazine - Resource of the Month

Blood Makes the Grass Grow
Conscientious Objectors and the Gulf War

Blood Makes the Grass Grow is a new 48-minute video highlighting the plight of the more than 2,500 US soldiers who attempted to become conscientious objectors during the Gulf War. It focuses on the experiences of four young men and two young women who joined the military for the same reasons that nearly 300,000 recruits sign up each year to get a job or money for college, to fulfill a sense of duty, to "be all you can be."

The stories of the objectors illuminate the striking transformations they underwent, from raw teenage recruits to responsible adults, willing to take a moral stand despite the personal consequences. Their resistance was met with threats ranging from dishonorable discharge to the death penalty.

Some people see the military solely as an advanced vocational training institute, a source of money for college, and a source of discipline for wayward kids. Blood Makes the Grass Grow forces these people to question their assumption that there is no real danger in military service. This video also raises critical questions for those considering enlistment, for service people contemplating conscientious objection, and for anyone concerned with basic issues of militarism in a democratic society.

Objectors: Military Doubts Sincerity

The video was produced by Forward Presence Productions, Ltd. and is available for sale to individuals and grassroots organizations for a special price of $25 (shipping included) from the American Friends Service Committee.

For sales to institutions, including schools and public libraries, contact The Video Project at 1-800-4-PLANET.