In general, a civilian is "a person who is not a member of the military or of a police or firefighting force", as defined by Merriam Webster's Dictionary. The term also includes chaplains and medical personnel who are not part of the organizations mentioned in the preceding sentence, as well as those who are not perpetrators, in order to distinguish between those who are law-abiding people and those who are dedicated criminals. From the U.S. Department of Defense perspective, Chapter 18 of Title 10 United States Code refers to non-military law enforcement officers as civilians, since they are employees rather than enlisted personnel, and also in order to distinguish itself from military police.
Under the laws of war (also known as international humanitarian law), a civilian is one not being a member of the armed services and does not take a direct part of hostilities in times of armed conflict. The term "civilian" is slightly different from a non-combatant under the laws of war, because some non-combatants are not civilians (for example, military chaplains attached to the belligerent armed forces or neutral military personnel). Under international law, civilians in the territories of a Party to an armed conflict are entitled to certain privileges under the customary laws of war and international treaties such as the Fourth Geneva Convention. The privileges that they enjoy under international law depends on whether the conflict is an internal one (a civil war) or an international one.
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces.
Civilian may also refer to:
Civilian is the eleventh studio album by British band Gentle Giant, released in 1980. It was recorded in the Los Angeles suburb of Van Nuys with former Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick. Consisting mostly of single-length rock songs, it is closer to an AOR sound than the progressive style for which the band is best known. It was to be the final album of Gentle Giant's career; soon after its release the band played a last tour and then split up.
It also marked the reactivation of Columbia Records in the U.S. and Canada after an eight-year hiatus; the last Columbia album had been Gentle Giant's 1972 release Octopus.
An unreleased track, "Heroes No More", has been included on some CD reissues. Another track from the period, "You Haven't a Chance", appeared on Under Construction 17 years later.
All songs written and composed by :
Side one: Kerry Minnear and Derek Shulman, except where noted.
Side two: Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, and Ray Shulman.
Starlight and wonder
The universe seen through your eyes
The moon is a glorious halo
Hanging high over your head every night
Spinning and spinning
A flick of the wrist and a smile
And in the morning so early
Deep conversations are spoken
In tongues by sunlight
Tonight, you can dream you're a star
You can walk on the clouds
And float to the ground
And I'm with you
We stare out the window
And look to the sky every night
The stars are the beacons of heaven
And maybe one day you'll go up for a ride
Oh, you are the sunshine
You are the face that I dream of
You are your mother's religion
Down on her knees as she
Kisses your heartache away
Tonight, you can dream you're a star
You can walk on the clouds
And float to the ground
And I'm with you
Tonight, you can get very far
The calm and the storm
Are forever yours
And I'm with you
I've thrown coins in the fountain
I've been to the mountain
I've lived through the violence
I've seen what man can do to man
I can't promise you peace
I can't promise you money
But I promise to make you the best man I can
Hold on to something
Cause your life's about to begin
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Ooh, ooh
Aah, hey, aah, ooh, oh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Whoa-hoah, oh
Oh-oh, oh, oh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, aah
Tonight, you can dream you're a star
You can walk on the clouds
And float to the ground
And I'm with you
Tonight, you can dream you're a star
You can walk on the clouds
And float to the ground
And I'm with you