[Marxism] Wiki on Sun Ra

[sabocat59@xxxxxxx]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Ra



Draft and wartime experiences 

In October 1942 Blount received a selective service notification that he had 
been drafted into the Military of the United States. He quickly declared 
himself a conscientious objector, citing religious objections to war and 
killing, his financial support of his great-aunt Ida, and his chronic hernia. 
His case was rejected by the local draft board, and in his appeal to the 
national draft board, Blount wrote that the lack of black men on the draft 
appeal board "smacks of Hitlerism".[12] His family was deeply embarrassed by 
Sonny's refusal to join the military, and he was effectively ostracized by many 
of his relatives. Blount was eventually approved for alternate service at 
Civilian Public Service camp in Pennsylvania. However, Blount didn't appear at 
the camp as scheduled on December 8, 1942, and shortly thereafter, he was 
arrested in Alabama. In court, Blount declared that even alternate service was 
unacceptable to him, and he debated the judge on points of law and Biblical 
interpretation. Though sympathetic to Blount, the judge also declared that he 
was clearly in violation of the law, and was risking forcible induction into 
the U.S. Military. Blount declared that if he were inducted, he would use his 
military weapons and training to kill the first high-ranking military officer 
he could. The judge sentenced Blount to jail (pending draft board and CPS 
rulings), and then declared "I've never seen a nigger like you before;" Blount 
replied, "No, and you never will again."[13] 
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