thedrifter
02-12-09, 08:28 AM
Canadian Genius: Deserters Discriminated Against in U.S.
[Steve Schippert]
This one will tug at your heartstrings and cry out to your senses of humanity and social justice. Or not.
A Canadian immigration official failed to consider the hardships a high-profile American deserter and his family would face if forced to return to the United States, a federal court judge was told Tuesday.
In arguing Jeremy Hinzman's case in Toronto, lawyer Alyssa Manning told the court that deserters who have spoken out against the U.S. invasion of Iraq have been singled out for prosecution while others have been allowed to quietly leave the military.
As a result, she told Judge James Russell, Hinzman would likely be the victim of "differential treatment" if returned to the U.S., something the immigration officer did not consider properly.
Look, genius, splendid heroes of conscience who objected to the Iraq invasion like Jeremy Hinzman are not being "singled out for prosecution" unfairly because they voiced opposition just like others have. They are being fairly singled out for prosecution—no matter their grievances—because they are deserters. The difference between dissension and desertion is infinitely greater than a few letters.
As for the crocodile tears evoked for Hinzman's family, yes, let's "consider the hardships." Their son chose to become high-profile. He also chose to volunteer for military service and subsequently chose to desert. In short, Jeremy Hinzman chose his family's "hardship," not the U.S. government, which is uniformly applying the law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Man up. No sympathy for deserters, regardless of any empathy we may feel for families who are also enduring the just consequences of their sons' actions.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/02/10/iraq-objector.html
Ellie
[Steve Schippert]
This one will tug at your heartstrings and cry out to your senses of humanity and social justice. Or not.
A Canadian immigration official failed to consider the hardships a high-profile American deserter and his family would face if forced to return to the United States, a federal court judge was told Tuesday.
In arguing Jeremy Hinzman's case in Toronto, lawyer Alyssa Manning told the court that deserters who have spoken out against the U.S. invasion of Iraq have been singled out for prosecution while others have been allowed to quietly leave the military.
As a result, she told Judge James Russell, Hinzman would likely be the victim of "differential treatment" if returned to the U.S., something the immigration officer did not consider properly.
Look, genius, splendid heroes of conscience who objected to the Iraq invasion like Jeremy Hinzman are not being "singled out for prosecution" unfairly because they voiced opposition just like others have. They are being fairly singled out for prosecution—no matter their grievances—because they are deserters. The difference between dissension and desertion is infinitely greater than a few letters.
As for the crocodile tears evoked for Hinzman's family, yes, let's "consider the hardships." Their son chose to become high-profile. He also chose to volunteer for military service and subsequently chose to desert. In short, Jeremy Hinzman chose his family's "hardship," not the U.S. government, which is uniformly applying the law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Man up. No sympathy for deserters, regardless of any empathy we may feel for families who are also enduring the just consequences of their sons' actions.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/02/10/iraq-objector.html
Ellie