"the pioneers of a warless world"

Two letters from the Toronto Star, both answering a disgusting, ignorant letter writer.

I am proud to live in a city full of "bleeding hearts" who support U.S. Iraq war resisters. Thankfully, support is widespread across the country. That is because we all watched in horror as George W. Bush launched an illegal war of aggression based on lies – no weapons of mass destruction were ever found.

Tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis were killed, maimed or sent fleeing as refugees. More than 4,000 U.S. soldiers died in a war that a majority of the world opposed.

For us to deport U.S. soldiers of conscience to jail for speaking out against the Iraq war is an affront to freedom of speech we claim to cherish.

For Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to continue to ignore two majority motions passed in Parliament is a threat to democracy and Gerard Kennedy's bill seeks to remedy this injustice. This bill tells the world that Canada still does not support the illegal and immoral war in Iraq.

Jonathon Hodge
Toronto


Outraged that many Canadians favour offering sanctuary to U.S. military deserters, letter writer Paul A. Philcox likens refugees from America's martial adventures to "pedophiles, rapists, embezzlers and scum of all kinds."

He is surely entitled to his fury, but he should know that his loathing for war resisters puts him at odds with not only his fellow countrymen, but one of the greatest minds of the 20th century.

"The pioneers of a warless world," Albert Einstein said, "are the young men and women who refuse military service."

Perhaps it is right that, as it has in the past, Canada treats more humanely these "pioneers."

Richard van Abbe
Toronto

I'm reading that line over and over, my new favourite quote.

"The pioneers of a warless world are the young men and women who refuse military service."

Lovely, Mr. Einstein. And thank you, Richard van Abbe and Jonathon Hodge.