David Landowne on conscientious objection

David Landowne, Professor of Physiology, introduces himself as having been politically naïve when he was a graduate student studying physiology. He recalls that the American press had explained that soldiers were sent to Vietnam to defend the Americans who were there at the time and that, in that period, the phrase "credibility gap" began to appear in the media. Landowne had gone to study Quakerism, being "religiously curious," but met two young women who wanted to attend a protest against the war, and he went with them. As a result, he learned more about conscientious objection (CO) and the Quakers. Later, he began to work in an office and travel around New England to advise young potential recruits about CO, about the law, and about their options. Landowne speaks about demonstrating outside of induction centers and draft board offices, and about the various ways in which draft resisters avoided the draft (going to jail, moving abroad, etc.). Speaking on October 15, 2002, Landowne notes that there was a bill being considered in Congress at that time to reinstate the draft.