The Good War &Those

 Who Refused to Fight It

60 minutes, 2000

Rick Tejada-Flores

& Judy Ehrlich

Producers/Directors

Aired on PBS

 This 1-hour documentary is a compelling and thoughtful portrait of American conscientious objectors who refused to fight in WW II., THE GOOD WAR tackles the always-controversial and explosive issue of what to do about those whose moral and/or religious scruples make them incapable of taking up arms against another man.

Considered cowards and unpatriotic, the conchies were offered alternative service during WW II. Many were sent to government work camps, where they did backbreaking labor for no pay or benefits (including the GI Bill). To prove their courage, many of them volunteered for highly dangerous duty, such as fire-fighting or serving as medical guinea pigs. Others became orderlies in Federal mental institutions where patients were routinely starved, beaten and humiliated.