Yankee deserters GO HOME |
Most people have respect, grudging or otherwise, for conscientious objectors.
So how would you define conscientious objector?
Wikipedia's definition is as good as any: "An individual following the religious, moral or ethical dictates of his conscience that are incompatible with being a combatant in military service, or being part of the armed forces as a combatant organization."
How many of the 300 or so deserters from the U.S. military who seek permanent refuge in Canada (and so far have been rejected by both the federal government and the Supreme Court of Canada) fit this definition of "conscientious objector?"
Damn few, I'd say.
During the Vietnam war, up to 50,000 Americans are estimated to have fled to Canada. Most of them were guys dodging the draft -- eager to stay out of the army. Bill Clinton was one of these, pulling strings and taking refuge in Britain as a Rhodes Scholar. So was George W. Bush, who joined the National Guard as a pilot, but clearly had no wish to go to Vietnam.
There are no draft dodgers coming to Canada today. There is no draft in the U.S., where military service now is voluntary. What we have in Canada are deserters -- guys who joined the military, volunteered to fight for their country, proclaimed their patriotism -- then changed their minds. There's a qualitative difference between someone who doesn't want to go in the army, and someone who runs away once he's in it.
- Paul Russell: Giving deserters their 15 minutes
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Desertion is a serious crime in the military, punishable by death in some circumstances. It’s also a serious topic for our readers, as evidenced by the reaction to a letter last Wednesday, titled “U.S. Army deserters should be welcomed.” While Parliament endorsed that position in a (non-binding) vote the same day, dozens of readers let us know that they held the exact opposite view. A handful also commented on the Post’s decision to even print this letter.
6.09.2008
kevin brooker of calgary herald: do the canadian thing, let them stay
From Calgary Herald columnist Kevin Brooker:
"Bittersweet" was how many news accounts described last week's parliamentary vote on whether or not Canada should offer asylum to Americans who deserted their military service rather than fight in Iraq.
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