Author Topic: A monument for ........ deserters? (Read 1128 times)

StarOfAfrica2 · « **on:** February 15, 2006, 11:08:47 AM »

These people must send their kids to college in Washington.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11355863/

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Peace activists have revived plans for a sculpture to commemorate Vietnam War draft resisters who fled to Canada, a proposal that had drawn the ire of U.S. veterans groups and conservatives.

The activists, who are also organizing a reunion for “draft dodgers” in July, said on Tuesday the proposed monument is still needed to warn Americans and Canadians about the dangers of militarism.

“It is very important educationally that we have specific peace monuments,” said Isaac Romano, an American who immigrated to Canada and now lives in British Columbia’s Kootenay region where many U.S. war resisters settled.

The plan for a monument in Nelson, B.C., was originally announced in 2004, but quickly dropped after it was denounced by the U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars and conservative media commentators.

Nelson city officials withdrew support for the sculpture to avoid a threatened U.S. boycott of the area’s important tourism industry.

Romano said the activists have not decided on a location for the planned sculpture, and welcomed proposals from both Canadian and U.S. communities.

“It could be that there is a group in the States that sees it as an opportunity to remind Americans that they are not locked into the militarism. That there is an escape valve,” Romano said.

125,000 Americans made flight to Canada
The proposal calls for a sculpture of two Americans, a male and a female, crossing an imaginary border where a Canadian figure is waiting to welcome them.

It has been estimated that 125,000 draft-age Americans fled to Canada to avoid Vietnam and prosecution under U.S. law, although about half returned home after President Jimmy Carter granted amnesty in 1977.

Organizers of the Our Way Home reunion planned for Castlegar, B.C., in July say the event and sculpture are to honor both the Americans who resisted the war and the Canadians who helped them build lives in a new country.

Speakers at the four-day event are expected to include former U.S. Sen. George McGovern, who campaigned to get the United States out of Vietnam in his unsuccessful 1972 bid for the White House.

Romano said the event will also provide an opportunity for draft dodgers and Vietnam War veterans to discuss their differences on the decision to go to war.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2006, 11:12:06 AM »

Not only is that an insult to american veterans, it's an insult to canadian veterans.

Hangtime · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2006, 11:14:49 AM »

Insane. The whole thing disgusts me.

Chairboy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2006, 11:18:27 AM »

They're trying to figure out where best to put it. Some ideas:

*At about 150 feet down somewhere in a convenient ocean.
*Next to the statue commemorating the brave battle of that woman who sued McDonalds after she spilled coffee on herself.
*In Red Square, Moscow.

Casper1 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2006, 11:19:10 AM »

holy crap. what a bunch of bull.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2006, 11:19:20 AM »

I like how the city only caved on supporting them after they were threatened with losing US tourism money.

Even better the fact that this group has the gall to offer their little memorial to a US city. As if anyone would put up such an abomination on this side of the border.

Sandman · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2006, 11:37:29 AM »

It's easy to be smug when there's no fear of a draft.

detch01 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 15, 2006, 11:42:49 AM »

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Originally posted by lasersailor184
Not only is that an insult to american veterans, it's an insult to canadian veterans.

It is that. It disgusts me that this is happening up here - but it doesn't surprise me.

Hangtime · « **Reply #8 on:** February 15, 2006, 11:49:37 AM »

Has nothing to do with being smug Sandy. Or fear of a Draft. Has to do with respect for those that served.

It should be pointed out that those of us that did serve learned as our fathers did that we serve not a Nation but each other. Those that did not serve saw a very different reality and by their perfidity, they killed Americans far more worthy of the blessings of peace than they..

Ripsnort · « **Reply #9 on:** February 15, 2006, 12:05:11 PM »

Sandy, what about all those liberals that served and died, don't you think this is a lack of respect for them?

midnight Target · « **Reply #10 on:** February 15, 2006, 12:06:12 PM »

Some people just don't realize that a "War Memorial" is actually a "Peace Memorial".

The darn things don't get built until there is a peace.

Airscrew · « **Reply #11 on:** February 15, 2006, 12:06:52 PM »

Monument for Deserters, No.
No explaination necessary, but Hangtime's is pretty good.

Sandman · « **Reply #12 on:** February 15, 2006, 12:49:06 PM »

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Originally posted by Hangtime
Has nothing to do with being smug Sandy. Or fear of a Draft. Has to do with respect for those that served.

It should be pointed out that those of us that did serve learned as our fathers did that we serve not a Nation but each other. Those that did not serve saw a very different reality and by their perfidity, they killed Americans far more worthy of the blessings of peace than they..

Rather than blame the government for wasting 58,000 american lives in the wrong war at the wrong place, let's blame the people who chose to avoid it.

I don't think so.

Here's what I think. The people that chose to answer the call from their government did an honorable thing. They demonstrated trust in their government and a willingness to sacrifice their lives for the good of the nation. The people that chose not to, brought no honor upon themselves, but they also brought no dishonor either. The government acted in bad faith.

Do I think they deserve a monument in Canada? Not particularly. Do I think a monument in Canada would be disrepectful of veterans? Not particularly.

Oh... and draft evasion and desertion aren't the same thing.

Stringer · « **Reply #13 on:** February 15, 2006, 01:26:31 PM »

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Originally posted by Ripsnort
Sandy, what about all those liberals that served and died, don't you think this is a lack of respect for them?

I'm sorry Rip, could you remind us of your service time again?

Normally I wouldn't ask, since I didn't volunteer to serve either, but then again, I'm not casting aspersions on folks who haven't served OR on folks who have but don't have the same political lemming....errr leaning as I might have.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2006, 01:29:18 PM »

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Oh... and draft evasion and desertion aren't the same thing.

Maybe not to you. I was brought up differently. Its fine to disagree. Its fine to voice your disapproval and work to have things changed. There are ways to do that. But when the country calls and says they need you, you dont run away and hide. Those men may not have deserted the armed forces, but they deserted their country. Every one of them committed Treason. They made their choice and left, and thats fine. Exile is good enough. If they wanted to protest then they should have just refused to fight and been arrested. I can respect that. I cant respect running away. I sure wont support building a monument to their cowardice.