In Memory: Eddie Slovik
Today is Saturday, 31 January 2009.
Do you know the great 1974 TV movie, the first time Martin Sheen came to my attention (when he was starting out in theater in NYC, he lived a couple of blocks from where Ms. HH and HH would live 1996-7), The Execution of Private Slovik?
Slovik was a troubled young man who couldn't deal with World War 2 combat, but would gladly have served in a support capacity. Not good enough for Ike.
Murdered on the orders of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, on this date in 1945. The only American soldier murdered for "desertion" since the USA/USE conquest of the Philippines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Slovik
Ike, interestingly, never saw a day of combat in his life.
I keep meaning to find this phrase in French; it means shooting some soldiers, "for the encouragement of others".
War, I can understand a bit. But such gratuitous cruelty ... Ike was no different than someone who pours gasoline on dogs and cats and throws a match.
Seven American presidents have been petitioned to pardon Slovik. None have.
Obama, do the right thing.
Do you know the great 1974 TV movie, the first time Martin Sheen came to my attention (when he was starting out in theater in NYC, he lived a couple of blocks from where Ms. HH and HH would live 1996-7), The Execution of Private Slovik?
Slovik was a troubled young man who couldn't deal with World War 2 combat, but would gladly have served in a support capacity. Not good enough for Ike.
Murdered on the orders of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, on this date in 1945. The only American soldier murdered for "desertion" since the USA/USE conquest of the Philippines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Slovik
Ike, interestingly, never saw a day of combat in his life.
I keep meaning to find this phrase in French; it means shooting some soldiers, "for the encouragement of others".
War, I can understand a bit. But such gratuitous cruelty ... Ike was no different than someone who pours gasoline on dogs and cats and throws a match.
Seven American presidents have been petitioned to pardon Slovik. None have.
Obama, do the right thing.
posted by HH at 9:47 PM
8 Comments:
I suggest you contact your Congressman or one of your Senators and request they propose such.
On a day which has been, as of 6.25pm CST, frankly crap, thank you friend, for a real ray of sunshine and mirth.
The only request of mine, that I can imagine my senators and congressjerk, upon with favour looking, would be were I to beg they arrange my immediate passage to Gitmo.
And be lost, like airline baggage, along the way.
: - )
Hum, I take it you and your elected representatives do not see eye to eye . . .
However, that should not let that stop you. Those that do not speak will not be heard.
Trust me: the best course to cause my elected representatives to oppose the pardoning of Eddie Slovik would be for me to advocate a pardon to them. I can advocate here because the thought of Inhofe, Coburn, or Sullivan, or any members of their staffs, so lowering themselves as to read this column is hilarious.
OK. So how about another course of action - such as getting the ear of a respected Republican official or citizen who is sympathetic to your cause?
You'd be hard pressed to find a respected Republican official or citizen who is sympathetic to this cause in the state that suffers with Inhofe, Coburn, and Sullivan! However, now that the new admin's in, Dan Boren might have the cojones to listen and act...
Yes. Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren is a Democrat.
OK, HH, there's your "in." Contact
Congressman Boren.
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