Iraq War Resisters: Vive's Next National Campaign?

http://www.peacenews.info/news/article/233 "<i>In December 2001, Canada and the US signed a "smart border declaration," making it more difficult for these young adults to seek refuge in Canada. Signed by Canada's minister of foreign affairs, John Manley, and US Homeland Security director, Tom Ridge, the declaration involves a 30-point plan which implements a "pre-clearance agreement" of people entering and departing each country.</i>" This "agreement" was signed without the knowledge of most Canadians. It runs counter to the feelings of most Canadians, regarding US militarism. It should be branded illegal, and should be one of the first issues brought forth by the NDP in the fall session.<p>---<br>RickW

Proportional Representation should be the first issue, we need that if we are to have a hope of getting out of this morass of right wing deficit thinking.

Send the criminals back. These two boys have a lot of growing up to do, they can live with their mommies until then. Canadian taxpayers shouldn't be forced to provide these guys with services better used for others.

Criminals, you bet the dirty buggers, who do they think they are questioning their government on who gets killed and who doesn't! Growing up to do, yes indeed, cause grown ups know that you have to kill some people if you want to maintain democracy.

Since you are also concerned about the cost to keep this babies, well gee, how much do you think Canada is spending to support the new free Iraq?

Sorry I think you have your grown up ideas a tad shrouded in the movies of youth.

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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?

These guys came to Canada to avoid engaging in criminal activities. I support them. But I really feel that Vive`s natonal campaign should be about saving and strengthening universal public health care, and eliminating all forms of private health care delivery!

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Dave Ruston

Canada, land of welcome ?
Will Canadians be up to the test in the coming years ?
With the Iraq war and the forced prolongation of
American GI's duty, we may expect more Iraqi war
deserters crossing the border.
Will America re-establish the draft in 2005 ? You bet
they will !
If Bush wins (steals) the Presidency this fall, will
Amerika continue it's descent into fascism and a police
state ? America's intelligentsia believe so.
Are Canadians ready to accept war resisters, draft
dodgers and liberal-progressives conscienscious
refugees ?
I surely hope so.

If US war resistors are "criminals" in the eyes of their government, should we then, as a matter of public policy, refuse asylum to <b>ALL</b> who have come to Canada, whose governments have branded them criminals?<p>---<br>RickW

I think government is entirely capable of dealing with all three issues brought up in this thread - asylum for poltical protestors; proportional representation; and health care.

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RickW

Didn't realize this was so soon. I met jeremy in Toronto, he was a
charming boy, somewhat baffled at his sudden global importance, just
wants to go back to living his life with his family. I didn't realize this
case was so soon.

I'd be in favour of doing something, but in 5 days?!?! What could we do?

Anyone who wants to show up at the hearing to show support, I suppose
they should go ahead...

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“Sex, Drugs, Love, Marx...”
Flick Harrison’s new digital feature
MP3, trailer, scenes and stills at:
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I just don't get why these people with a conscience are considered the criminals here; when the war itself is/was illegal? Are we saying that those with a conscience are now the criminals of the world and those without, are the morally right? What a mixed up world!

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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?

So let me get this straight. Two guys guys decided not to fight a war they felt was illegal and in a deriliction of their duty, they fled to Canada, right? Wow, so these two guys boned the US military, and this offends people why? I mean, I know its wierd to think of soldiers making a MORAL decision, but hey, its the 20th century i spose. Imagine if this happened more often. Boy, I shudder to think what the world would be like if soldiers adopted a more humanist mindset, rather than the mob mentality.
"Psst! Capt. Calley! You, uh, don't have to kill these civilians if you don't want to ya know."
*long pause*
"Oh my god really?! Hey guys! Apperently we aren't mindless killing machines, so you can stop shooting those kids, kay."
I shudder.

You miss they are already Canadian taxpayers at some
level and would certainly become such. Maybe
my logic is skewed because most of my high school
history and social studies teachers in the 70s and
some of my family's best friends were draft dodgers. I
would suggest we need all the people we can with
ethics which is what resisting points to. The real
criminals are in Washington and Ottawa.

haha... Anon, that's brilliant!

In my mind, there's no question about it: we need these moralled objectors. The most Canadian Canadians that I know were draft dodgers. Or rather, they left before the draft so that they wouldn't have to dodge it.

Canada, as a nation, avoids war and instead seeks resolution through alterior methods. For example, we even believe that DISCUSSION *gasp* might be beneficial in settling our differences. Rather than blowing someone's head off with a shotgun, we sometimes talk to them instead. What a concept!

If the US had any real reason to invade Iraq, maybe there would be reason to question this, but that didn't happen. They broke international law (which they had signed onto) to unilaterally invade another country. And now some Americans don't want to give their lives in order to kill innocent civilians in the name of profit. Well, they should be welcome here.

In fact, maybe we should create a civil service program so that people in that situation can contribute to our society in exchange for citizenship.

-KY

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Kory Yamashita

"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

KY wrote: <i>In fact, maybe we should create a civil service program so that people in that situation can contribute to our society in exchange for citizenship. </i> <p>Excusez mon anglais but this is <b> "F*cking brilliant !" </b></p>