Local soldier who refused redeployment speaks in Auburn
Brittany Whitley | Opelika-Auburn News
Matthis Chiroux, pictured here Sunday outside the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, says he will continue his fight to be heard.
Staff Writer
Published: July 5, 2009
Updated: December 28, 2009
Matthis Chiroux, the Auburn native who refused redeployment to Iraq last year citing moral objections, took the podium at Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Sunday morning to speak about his trials and tribulations during his service and since he refused redeployment.
Chiroux said he refused deployment to Iraq because he believes it is an illegal occupation and that the Army fosters a culture of abuse and torture.
Now, after obtaining a general discharge, Chiroux is still speaking out against the Iraq War.
He told the congregation Sunday there’s “a Fourth Reich movement right here on our shining society on the hill.”
Before receiving redeployment papers, Chiroux served for four years as an Army journalist in Japan, Germany, the Philippines and Afghanistan. He said his job was to disseminate propaganda.
“I did very high-level propaganda,” he said. “We were targeting members of Congress … The military is maybe one of the greatest public relations hoaxes ever in this country.”
On Sunday morning, Chiroux admitted to mistakes in the past, including run-ins with the law as a juvenile. He said those run-ins landed him in court and, subsequently, in the Army. Once in the Army, he said he was taught how to punch someone in a way that it would kill that person and how to stab someone to do the same.
“I was taught how to kill people like everyone else,” he said. He said racism and sexism were encouraged.
Chiroux said the Army told him, “These aren’t people. They’re Haji. Hajis killing and mutilating your buddies.”
He said the Army used religious fears against detainees in interrogations.
Chiroux also said that while deployed, he and other Army members solicited prostitutes in the Philippines and Japan.
In June 2008, Chiroux did not show up for redeployment.
“They never came for me,” he said.
He received a letter giving him two options — a dishonorable discharge or a hearing to defend himself against the dishonorable discharge.
“I went to this hearing. I sat before this board and I defended myself,” he said.
Chiroux said he told the board that he was not a coward. He said he told them that the Iraq War was a criminal occupation. He said soldiers in Iraq were being forced to commit war crimes.
He received an honorable discharge.
“I haven’t so much as lost my G.I. Bill,” he said. Chiroux still receives G.I. benefits, including funds to attend college.
The Auburn native said he would continue to fight until the “criminal occupation” is concluded.
“I never stopped standing and I never stopped fighting,” he said. “The struggle will be eternal, but I have a fighting chance now. It’s on our children’s backs that these occupations will be waged. I consider the truth to be divine and consider human life to be the same.”
Reader Reactions
First,this guy is a COWARD! He deserves to be locked up in a military prison at hard labor! Second, he is part of a religious CULT,this probably explains his mental brainwashing. Next, he sounds like a propagandist who is an expert at twisting the truth.
There have been too many men and women who have died for this Idiot to have this freedom of speech and abuse the freedom, so many have paid the ultimate price so he can blabber all this crap.
My friends son did not die in vain in Afganistan, he died for a right cause.
This guy needs to shut up his bull crap! Maybe he’ll p-off the right young veteran and get shut up on a permanant basis!
The truth is the extremist towel heads HATE Israel/Zionist and the people of the United States. They are taught from childhood to hate us and to kill us! Thanks to all who serve honorably to keep the extremist in the middle east!
War, ugly as it is, has been a part of this world since the beginning of time, and will be long after we’re gone.
All the hopey, changey, psyco-babble in the world will not change that fact of life.
Matthis was wrong, is wrong, and he has taken hypocrisy to levels rarely seen in someone so young.
I pray he gets just what he deserves.
God bless America!
All the opposing views to the initial article show highlight the deeper struggle of our times which Chiroux is talking about. While he is promoting the Art of Peace, most opposing views are proudly believing in the Art of War. Pride is a very negative emotion which already caused and will continue to cause a lot of suffering in the world. According to Chiroux, the system is ‘wrong’. Still it is pride in ‘loved ones’ (who are people in the system) that makes - for example - Janine Babbitt speak up.
This disconnect is apparent. It is not true to confuse love to other people with pride in a system - especially knowing that propaganda is influencing us.
Truly believing that war creates freedom only proves how far we human beings are removed from the truth.
Chiroux speaks about changing for good - just to hear opposing views say that it is already good.
The world needs us to wake up.
Thanks,
Markus
It looks like Matthis’ father is posting to a milblog and dishing on him. This might get entertaining.
http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=12418
props to matthis… to chopperdave: are you THE chopper dave? from the buffalo days? if so an old friend says hello.
Truth to Power never came without lumps, folks. But it’s alright. I can take it. I ‘knew what I signed up for.‘ 8)
But I’m thrilled to see so much reaction. Got ya thinkin’, didn’t it? Maybe this works like homophobia…ha! You’ll be alright. I was shocked and offended when I heard it, too. But the truth has a way of wearing on you. My faith is in peoples’ ability to change. Thanks to all my supporters. Keep the faith! Full video of my service to Auburn coming soon on matthisresists.us! Peace and Solidarity (p.s. I got my cast off!!! Hooray!!!)
“Once in the Army, he said he was taught how to punch someone in a way that it would kill that person and how to stab someone to do the same.“
Wow, you mean a soldier in the Army was trained how to kill? Now THERE’S a novel concept…
Sort of like all those dopes who enlisted in the military and then quit when they were expected to fight a war. If you didn’t want to fight, why didn’t you get a job at Dairy Queen? What do you think the Army does?
Oh, and his complaints of “racism” are a load. ALL countries at war are racist - it heps to kill people when you dehumanize them. I dare anyone to find an exception. It is a truism of war - deal with it. Political correctness has no place on the battlefield - or anywhere else for that matter.
Wake-up,
I too wear a tin foil hat according to some folks, but this is not the place to discuss those issues. This is about one misguided, ignorant, self-serving young man who wants more than his 15 minutes of fame.
Again, you cannot make folks understand your viewpoint by ranting incoherently as you have done here about something that has nothing to do with this issue.
Have you actually done anything to advance your cause besides intrude in the comments section of posts such as this that have no bearing on the issues you wish to discuss?
My suggestion to you would be to comment on the issue at hand or go to another site.
God bless America!
i don’t see the public stating reasons. all i see is the public stating ignorant opinions and mindless insults.
“Speak where they ask you to speak,and leave it there.“
so only speak when i’m spoken to?
got it!
you guys have convinced me. i give.
the north american union is a great idea. who needs sovereignty?
NAFTA super highways are really gonna help boost the economy.
boy i sure can’t wait to get my brand new chipped “real i.d.“ nor can i wait for my swine flu vaccine.
why do we need guns? lets turn em in to our local sherrifs department in exchange for some gift cards to best buy. 911 was carried out by 19 dimwit, arab, cave-dwellers. (most of which have turned up alive, but i still believe it because its what big brother says happened)
i love the federal reserve.
i am also on board with the climate change bill taxing all carbon because i believe we dont pay nearly enough taxes.
oh and seeing as how we’re all citizens of the world why not have one world government? bahhh- bahhhh- bahhh
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
One thing I do not fully understand. Last year in Strasburg, France, without a job, Mr Chiroux found the time and the money to protest the G20 Summit.
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