I think it's nice that Canada projects itself as a haven for political refugees. Canada loves projecting a reputation as a place where the politically persecuted can run. America does this as well and I commend them for doing so. But there is a class of people who since the Vietnam War, have abused Canada's policy on refugees: US war disserters.
US war refugees to Canada is something that has existed since 1776. In 1776, the first flow of the United Empire Loyalists who would later be the backbone of Canadian confederation fled the infant American nation out of desire to live under the British Crown and the Church of England. Fast forwarding to the recent era, American Vietnam War disserters fled to Canada and the socialist Pierre Trudeau gave them assylum.
This practice started a troubling precedent which thankfully has begun reversing itself. A recent decision by the Canada Refugee Board concluded that Kimberly Rivera, who disserted the US Army out of opposition to the Iraq War, will have to part with her family and return to the States. She will likely face jailtime for disserting army orders, a felony in the States.
Here's a rather biased article about it.
If you don't have time to read, basically Ms. Rivera, her husband and two kids moved to Canada from Texas to the Toronto area and appealed to stay as political refugees.
A few points come to mind:
1. If you join the army, you don't get to pick and choose which war you fight. The war that the Commander-in-Chief sends you to is the war you fight.
2. The army in the States is voluntary. If you didn't want to fight in war, why the hell did you join the army in the first place?
3. When you join the army, you sign a contract. You have to live by that contract. If you desert a mission, you can put your co-soldiers at risk. You swear an oath not only to your country but to your company and your friends. Ms. Rivera let all 3 down.
4. Army desertion is not grounds for refugee status ever. You signed a contract to serve the army and your country in all capacities demanded of you. You weren't forced to do anything. Refugee status is reserved for people who are persecuted for speaking out or on the basis of ethnic background. Breach of contract doesn't fit the bill. Sorry.
Kudos on Canada for not letting this one slide and reversing a long ugly trend.
1 comment:
very good points. From the American perspective, its disgusting that these people have the audacity to blame the United States for going to war when it is an all volunteer army. Not to mention, the price you pay to live in a country as wonderful and the United States is, that if there is a disaster, you might be called to serve. i wish Canada would not allow these people to stay, and i'm glad, that in this case, this coward will be indicted in the states. Those who love freedom dont always understand the price.
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