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مشاهدة النسخة كاملة : American War Resisters Should Be Embraced By Canada And Not Sent Away



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05-06-2006, 01:51 PM
American War Resisters Should Be Embraced By Canada And Not Sent Away

We as Canadians should be honoured that they have chosen Canada as a place to live and carry out their message of peace.

Yahya Abdul Rahman

Ottawa May 5, 2006 (MMN): During her speech last night at Carleton University in Ottawa, American peace activist Cindy Sheehan asked her audience a simple yet interesting set of questions.

"How many of you have ever volunteered for an organization?" she asked. Almost everyone in the audience raised their hands. She then queried, "how many of you have ever stopped volunteering for an organization?" Again, almost everyone raised their hands. She continued, "how many of you went to jail for ceasing your volunteering activities?" This time, however, no one raised their hands.

But this is exactly the dilemma of those American military men who left their posts and have come to Canada because they no longer wish to be involved in their country's military exploits in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Under normal circumstances, a person's decision to not want to take another person's life or harm them in any way would be applauded. But how has our government responded to those coming here seeking asylum? Last month, the Federal Court of Canada ruled against two American ex-military war resisters, Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey, who had appealed for refugee status in Canada on the grounds that they might be jailed if they return to the United States. The court ruled that prosecution in U.S. courts does not amount to persecution. In addition, Immigration and Refugee Board decisions had earlier rejected requests for political asylum for the two men.

There are about 20 known Americans currently residing in Canada who have left their military posts on conscientious grounds. The first war resisters to come to Canada because of their opposition to the war on Iraq were Hinzman (Army) and his family, who arrived in January 2004. In March 2004, Hughey (Army) also came to Canada. Since then, a steady trickle of individuals and families have crossed the border. Later arrivals include Patrick Hart and his family in September 2005 and Christian Kjar(Marines) about month later. There have also been Navy personnel who have come to Canada, but according to War Resisters organizer Michelle Robidoux, there may be several hundred more who are currently living clandestinely here.

Kjar also spoke at last night's Carleton event. Prior to coming to Canada, he was in the US Marines for 11 months serving as a military policeman. He was then told that he would be deployed to Iraq within two months. He refused and now he is on Canadian soil.

"I never want to touch another rifle in my life," he stated.

Seeing what his fellow soldiers had to go through and the recent death of a close friend further convinced him that he had no desire to take part in America's military exploits.

"I cannot look down the barrel of a rifle and take another person's life," said Kjar.

Kjar also stated that "it is difficult to talk about non-violence in a violent environment."

He also stated that in the military "I became desensitized to things I would rather remain sensitized to."

He stated that he simply wanted to live a peaceful life and was convinced that the people of Iraq and Afghanistan want the same thing.

But Kjar noted that the complacency of Canadians would land him and his fellow war resisters in the brig and urged those in attendance to continue speaking out against this war.

"People in the U.S. get sent to jail for killing someone, and I don't think it is right to go to jail for not wanting to kill another human being," he stated.

During the Vietnam War, over 50,000 U.S. war resisters came to this country because they did not want to participate in a bloody and brutal war against the Vietnamese people. We embraced them and provided them asylum and they went on to become model and productive citizens.

Once again, conscientious Americans are looking north because they do not want to participate in their country's military exploits which they are convinced is illegal and based upon a mountain of lies and distortions. But sadly these war resisters are being denied asylum by Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board and are being threatened with deportation. We as Canadians should be honoured that they have chosen Canada as a place to live and carry out their message of peace.

In a press release yesterday, Victoria Gibb-Carsley, director of campaigns and communications at the Council of Canadians, is quoted as saying that, "More than ever before, the federal government is bowing to U.S. pressure to play a more aggressive role in the war on terror."

"Canada's failure to grant sanctuary to U.S. war resisters reveals our government's unwillingness to maintain our independence from U.S. military and foreign policy objectives," she further stated.

In her speech, Sheehan mentioned that she met with members of the Bloc Quebecois who informed her that the party did not support the war on Iraq because it was illegal and immoral. She responded by telling them that they should then be supporting the American war resisters because they fled to Canada for the exact same reasons.

If these war resisters are going to be granted the right to stay in Canada, people of conscience must increase their efforts in speaking out against Canada's involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti and our country's increasing alignment with American foreign policy objectives. Let us show our commitment to peace by supporting those who resist war so that Canada and its people can become a beacon of light to the world where those who choose peace can find a place which they can call home.

Cindy Sheehan's son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, was killed in Baghdad on April 4th 2004. His younger sister Carly wrote the following poem about her brothers death 3 weeks after his death. Cindy read it last night at the beginning of her speech and I want to include it here as its message resonates with Canadians also:


A Nation Rocked to Sleep

by Carly Sheehan

Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?
The torrential rains of a mother's weeping will never be done
They call him a hero, you should be glad that he's one, but
Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?

Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?
He must be brave because his boy died for another man's lies
The only grief he allows himself are long, deep sighs
Have you ever heard the sound of a father holding back his cries?

Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?
They say that he died so that the flag will continue to wave
But I believe he died because they had oil to save
Have you ever heard the sound of taps played at your brother's grave?

Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?
The leaders want to keep you numb so the pain won't be so deep
But if we the people let them continue another mother will weep
Have you ever heard the sound of a nation being rocked to sleep?

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Yahya Abdul Rahman is the editor of Montreal Muslim News. He can be reached at: [email protected]