Rodriguez, Martin

Rodriguez, Martin

Martin Rodriguez

1 June 2002Feature

Colombian conscientious objector Martin Rodriguez shares his experience of life in a heavily militarised society.

It is complicated enough discussing what it means to be an antimilitarist in a country like Colombia, but even worse because although antimilitarism is something that I share and promote, I'm not really sure how much of an antimilitarist I am. In a diverse range of situations, my actions and language are loaded with militarist symbolism that has become inherent in the cultural practices of Colombian society.

I remember when I was a boy, before entering class, the director of the “…