Posted on 09/19/2004 9:25:02 PM PDT by Mo1
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Tuesday, September 28, 2004 · Last updated 5:42 p.m. PT
Draft dodgers monument in Canada slammed
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
SPOKANE, Wash. -- A small Canadian town best known for its welcoming ski slopes and artsy tourist trade has drawn sharp criticism for a proposed memorial to the Vietnam draft dodgers who fled to the area three decades ago.
After threats of boycotts by people in the Spokane area to the south, and a call by the Veterans of Foreign Wars for President Bush and Congress to pressure Canada to stop the project, civic leaders in the British Columbia town of Nelson have distanced themselves from the idea. Even the man who organized the project said he was reconsidering.
"To honor draft-dodgers, deserters, people who brought grief to the families they left behind and anguish to those American men who took their place, is an abomination," said John Furgess, the national commander of the 2.4-million-member VFW.
The Nelson City Council passed a resolution Monday to buy newspaper advertising saying it was not involved with the proposed memorial, which is a private venture.
An estimated 125,000 Americans fled to Canada to avoid the Vietnam draft. Many settled in British Columbia. About half returned to the United States when President Carter granted them amnesty in 1977.
Mayor Dave Elliott said he has been deluged with e-mails and calls since he attended a Sept. 7 press conference announcing the memorial in his lakeside community about 45 miles north of the Canadian border.
"Most of them were nasty," he said.
Elliott, now the target of a petition calling for his resignation, said Nelson has a diverse and liberal population that welcomed the draft dodgers. He now believes the monument is a questionable idea but said he would not try to block it.
"The Vietnam War is something everybody would like to put behind them," Elliott said. "Let's do a monument to peace or something that will bring people together."
Isaac Romano, who helped organize the project called "Our Way Home," has said the purpose was to honor "the courageous legacy of Vietnam War resisters and the Canadians who helped them resettle in this country." A bronze sculpture, showing a draft dodger being welcomed by two Canadians, was to be unveiled at a celebration in 2006.
But on Monday, Romano issued a statement saying organizers "will be looking broadly for the appropriate setting for the peace monument. It may or may not be located in Nelson." Romano did not return telephone messages.
Council member Ian Mason said the city's involvement "would spell certain economic disaster for members of our local business community that trade with or rely on American tourist dollars."
On Monday, Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, said he understood the feelings of veterans who were offended by the proposal. He said he will wait for direction from the administration.
"I can sympathize very much with the veterans," he said. "They have pretty strong feelings, particularly about people they served with who were killed in action defending our values and our freedoms."
It's you .. It's always you :0)
I'm awake .. just trying to dry out
WOW .. did it pour rain here all day yesterday
How To Clean Your Toilet - The Fun Way
Instructions on how to clean your toilet
1. Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.
2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.
3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids. You may need to stand on the lid.
4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.
5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a "power-wash" and rinse".
6. Have someone open the front door of your home. Be sure that there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.
7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids.
8. The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom, and run outside where he will dry himself off.
9. Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.
Sincerely,
The Dog
Did I ever mention that I love the way your mind works :0)
Thanks for the article; I hadn't heard the follow up about the monument. When I lived in Alaska ten miles from B.C., I couldn't believe how many draft dodgers were up there.
Happy birthday, Westmex!!! Hope it is a beautiful day for you :)
.38w - I concur with driving time and highway. Every once in awhile, there is an accident blocking the highway (my parents drive it often), but usually it's about six hours.
*smootch*
BLUEWELL, West Virgina (AP) - A family meal erupted into a gun battle after a father and son clashed over how to cook chicken.
The two men argued Sunday over the best way to prepare skinless chicken for dinner.
"It started out as a physical confrontation, but it escalated until both of them were shooting at each other," Detective Sgt. A.D. Beasley of the Mercer County Sheriff's Department said Monday.
Beasley said each man fired a .22-caliber handgun at the other. Harley Shrader was struck by a bullet that went through the upper part of his right ear and lodged in the back of his head. He was treated at a hospital and released. The elder Shrader was not injured.
Jackie Lee Shrader, 49, was charged with malicious wounding and wanton endangerment. Harley Lee Shrader, 24, was charged with wanton endangerment.
Just wear a black wig, put a bumper siticker on the car with the Mexican flag, hang some pink foam rubber dice on the rear view mirror and put a plastic statue of the Virgin Mary on the dashboard and they won't bother you. For extra insurance, toss a live goat in the back seat.
We still haven't had any rain, and we desperately need it.
Oh Swervie, it is so complicated. After the last time my BIL's rig was overrun, he was talking to me of international law, as he has to attend school many hours a year for this purpose.
As of now, the rebels were only taking hostages and demanding ransom, which the oil companies paid promptly. The crew were allowed to hose them off the rig while they were trying to climb on. Once, they even greased the legs of the rig, but the rebels still managed to get on. But, they cannot use physical force as that would create an international incident. Also, the crew cannot abandon the rig without shutting it down per orders from the company because of the hazards associated with such. Also, there is no place to go unless you have a helicopter waiting on you.
It's such a mess, Swervie. My BIL's company is still saying everything is under control, but my sister has not heard from him today.
Happy Birthday, you sweetie pie!
How far are you away from Mount St Helens? It looks like she might erupt again in a few days.
Impressive Dust Devil Video
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1230566/posts
I didn't click on your link. But, do you need a video to learn to run your mini vacuum, Erma?
Sure hope you get good news on your SIL soon, Babe. It's awful to hear what you did, and then no news for so long.
I'm around.
Been up to nuttin as usual.
I very nearly sprayed diet coke out my nose upon reading that!
Un oh.
2100!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.