Canada’s New Leaf

PS: If the draft were reinstated for a war like this one or Vietnam, I'd send my kids out of this country, much as I love it and them. When are we going to stop "romanticizing" these so-called wars to our young people. Look how we've treated our Vets since WWII...For shame!
For kids today I say there are better ways to serve your country and your countrymen.

I think forfeiting US citizenship for life is punishment enough. The military hires Madison Avenue to hype-up the glory of patiotism , joining up and war to naiive, fairly uneducated and marginalised young people...it's wrong. Also wrong to desert but as I said, leaving here forever is enough. Apparently Canada doen't want her either so she may be on the run and looking for a haven for some time. Don't put her in a US prison, just tell her she's not welcome home again.

Very interesting article. I am with the peacniks, but that's not the point. War is hell and we never should have invaded Iraq, IMO. Oh, kawenu you wrote: It would be great if we could simply apply the law as written. Desertion in time of war carries the death penalty and every service member knows that when they volunteer. I ACTUALLY AGREE, but I think it's Scooter Libby that should have been shot for outing a CIA agent during time of war...

It would be great if we could simply apply the law as written.
Desertion in time of war carries the death penalty and every service member knows that when they volunteer.

As a Canadian, I side with the argument of if you volunteered to be in the armed forces then you should damn well be prepared to go to war. Especially if you volunteered for a combat role. It is a disgrace to abandon your fellow troops that way.
I think my government is on the right track. I dont agree with the Iraq war but you should honor your commitment.

The embarrassment to this country is that this "war" (read: destruction junket) has been allowed to continue for so long, with no end in sight.

It is amazing to me that people listen to the incessant whining of someone like her. The military was good enough to get her out of the circumstances she put herself in. Nobody forced her to join the military. There were other options like serving in a support area other than just abandoning those that do their duty with honors. Canada can have people like that, because she doesn't deserve her citizenship. She is a coward and chose the easy way out. What about the other soldiers there with kids?? Are we all killers or should we all desert like her. She is just another person that believes she can avoid the hard responsibilities that come with being a productive citizen. It is shameful that she uses her kids as an excuse. She is an embarassment to this country and to the miliitary.

If you volunteer now you have a choice to choose which service and given a choice of what you want to do. She choose to join the Army which was stupid. If she was in it just for the pay and benefits why not choose the Navy or the Air Force, and then avoid the positions that will get you in harms way like Navy Corpsmen or FAC. Even in WW2 many people tried to co-opt by signing up instead of being drafted, the had a higher chance of getting the job they want.

While I don't feel sorry for those that desert without ever having seen combat, but I do have empathy for those who desert after 2-3 combat tours. There is only so much people can take/ The military should allow people who served more than 2 combat tours to be given a choice.of assignments.

While I do not agree with the Iraq war, the evidence for war was pretty weak to put it slightly, I have to disagree with the deserters. As many people have pointed out, the military in this country is voluntary. When Riviera signed up during a time of war and new with pretty good certainty that she would indeed be deployed to Iraq then she took a legal obligation to serve. If she had conscientious objection to going into battle then she should not have signed on. Her reasons for signing on seemed to be pretty self-centered, to make better money than she was at Wal-Mart, similarly her views of the Iraqis was primal to say the least. She pretty much admitted that she decided to desert because she and her husband couldn't handle to seperation and the constant fighting on the phone. Therefore, let her face the consequences. If it was a moral choice to desert than she should be happy to pay the penalty of desertion knowing that her conscience is now clear.

How much was she making in the army?

I have. This is my fourth tour.

The point here is not whether the war is right or wrong. Take that up with our politicians.
The point is that these people---and others like them---joined the military for the benefits, only to skip out on their responsibilities. Resposibilities to their fellow soldiers, their units and their country. It is illegal. It is ethically and morally wrong.

Actually, desertion in a time of war is punishible by firing squad. Look it up. But no one wants or is even suggesting that.
Personally, I don't even want to seem them incarcerated. I want to see them stripped of their civic rights, just as they stripped themselves of their civic responsibilities. -Don't try to hide behind pacifistic or political excuses.

They made their decisions, and now they can face the consequences.

I have no sympathy for these human parasites whatsoever. I have and continue to "walk in their boots". They volunteered. They took an oath. These were not pacifists or draftees forced into service. They made the decision and swore an oath during a time of war.
Every one of them should receive a Dishonorable Discharge, convicted on Federal charges of Desertion, with their jail sentences suspended. They do not need time in prison, but they do need their citizenship privileges of voting and holding certain certificates/certifications revoked. These people turned their backs on the United States during a time of war. They should not enjoy the privileges that others are sacrificing for.
And as far as Ms. Rivera's heartwrenching worries about being seperated from her Canadian-born child, she and all other illegal immigrants can rest assured that they are always free to be together with their "anchor babies" SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

Empathy.

Whenever you have two or more people existing in the same place (hopefully at least amicably) you will have disagreements and perhaps to a certain extent fighting. It is inevitable. Countries are no different. Their arguments are just escalated into embargoes and wars affecting millions of people (most of whom are innocent). No matter how ???justified??? or ???unjustified??? a war may be it is still one of the most heinous outward manifestations of the human condition I know of. It is very impersonal yet affects everybody in a very personal way. It doesn???t matter if you???re a soldier on the front lines or live in a country that???s not involved in the war. It will affect you.

With all that said, to join any military, in time of peace or war, and then expect not to be placed in a combat situation is just plain bone-headed stupid. That is what the military does, wage war. This woman gets whatever she deserves and so does any other deserter. It???s not as if they were drafted like Viet Nam. Without exception they all volunteered. They left their right to object outside of the recruiter???s office when they voluntarily signed on that dotted line even knowing that it was a time of war. You sign, you serve. You deal with the consequences of your decisions. It???s one of those things in life where there are no do-overs. This is not some video game. This is not some pretend childhood make believe fantasy game.

I served in the Army. Even though it was during the ???Cold War??? era, because of my job, I???ve seen things and done things that most only dream about or have nightmares over. But I did them. I live with the consequences. Do I regret my actions? No. But my actions did affect lives at the time and probably do to this day. My son is 15 he wants to join. His mom has said no. But I realize when he is 18 I can???t do anything to stop him. The only thing I can do is prepare him for that decision. He knows when he signs on that dotted line that???s it. There is no running away, no matter what comes.

She signed up WHILE the war was in progress, not just plain stupid, world class or olympic gold medal stupid!
The least she should get is to be forced to pay back the expense of all the training and the legal expenses plus a high interest rate!

She signed up with bloodlust (quote: "bomb them all to hell"), so this is what she deserves.