Toronto Star sanitizes U.S. deserter

CFP ^ | December 10, 2004 | Arthur Weinreb

[MikeEdwards]

While covering the hearing of 26-year-old Jeremy Hinzman, who is seeking refugee status in Canada after deserting from the U.S. army when his unit was scheduled to go to Iraq, the Star’s Tracey Tyler left out any facts that were negative to Hinzman. Her report on the proceedings contained only the facts that Hinzman felt that the Iraq war was not justified because no weapons of mass destruction were found and there were no links to terrorism and therefore, in his opinion, he had no justification for killing people. Tyler also threw in the fact that the poor little trained infantry dear was afraid to go to jail for desertion (for which the maximum penalty is 5 years) because in his words, "I’d be afraid of taking a shower in prison." It seems when it comes to bathing in the big house, this guy is no Martha Stewart.

Tyler left out every fact that came out at the hearing that tended to show Hinzman did not have a well founded fear of persecution. Accounts of Hinzman’s refugee hearing in the other three Toronto papers made reference to some or all of the following facts:

Hinzman joined the army because he wanted to go to university, but could not afford it. If he had served 4 years in the army he would have been eligible for benefits of approximately $40,000 to pay for his education.

He didn’t just join the army and hope never to see combat. He applied for and was accepted in the elite Ranger School. He also requested an airborne regiment and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne, thereby increasing his chances of being involved in combat. . . .

[Ashamed Canadian]

Toronto Star = PRAVDA

[crushelits]

[thag]

He is a coward pure and simple. Since he chose to run, somebody else had to take his place. How can he live with himself if that man dies or is grievously injured?

thag

[AntiGuv]

I really don't understand why he didn't just fabricate some paroxysm of conscientious objection, or whatever. Not that it would make him any less of a cowardly spectacle..

[AntiGuv]

Though, to be clear, I'm not at all suggesting that conscientious objection is cowardly, but only the fabrication thereof..

[odoso]

Why haven't court martial proceedings begun?

[odoso]

Canada = "A Fairy Tale"

[jocko12]

Send him home so we can HANG him.

[MikeEdwards]

This is from 1966 before Bob Seeger was a big rock star:

Ballad Of The Yellow Beret - by Bob Seger

This is a protest against protesters:
Fearless cowards of the U.S.A.
Bravely here at home they stay
They watch their friends get shipped away
The draft dodgers of the Yellow Beret

Yellow streaks up and down their spines
Men who gladly stay behind
They won't fight for the U.S.A.
They fought hard for the yellow beret

Men who faint at the sight of blood
Their high heeled boots weren't meant for mud
The draft board will hear their sob stories today
Only the best the yellow beret

Back at home a young wife waits
Her yellow beret has met his fate
He's been drafted for marching in a protest
Leaving her his last request

Put a yellow streak down my sons back
Make sure that he never ever fights back
At his physical have him say he's gay
Have him win the yellow beret

The yellow beret
Yeah the yellow beret

[atomicpossum]

He could have used the tried-and-true method to combat disqualification:

[Sthitch]

They want him in US hands before starting the court martial proceedings. No need to give some wacky leftest another reason to grant him asylum.

[Chode]

i dare say he'll be wearing that whiny crybaby face alot in the future... he shoulda just told the truth, that he's a cowardly little queer and be done with it.

[Tennessee_Bob]

I'm not at all suggesting that conscientious objection is cowardly, but only the fabrication thereof..

Good - I have a cousin who, during the Vietnam War, went to his draft board and registered as a conscientious objector. Then he went next door to the Army recruiting office and enlisted as a CO, with the understanding that he would be a medic. After that, he volunteered to go to Vietnam, and served two tours as a medic.

[q_an_a]

American Ailines wishes they could have a do over on their business plan. IBM can't figure out how Dell beat them selling an IBM compatable computer. GM and Ford still haven't figured out how Demming helped Toyota, but it did not do much for them. These are a few example of choices in our everyday life that had consquenses that did not end as they thought. You wanted 40K for college - you have to do the work - Including killing the enemy.