Today on the news I saw a report re: the increasing numbers of convicted felons enlisting and serving in the army. (http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/21/military.waivers/) The Pentagon's statistics showed "that Army allowed 106 convicted burglars to enlist in 2007, up from 36 the year before. It also granted waivers to 43 recruits convicted of aggravated assault that year, up from 33 a year before; and to 130 people convicted of possession of drugs other than marijuana, a rise from 71 in 2006." That was interesting - but not surprising. No one can kill a terrorist like someone trained to use a gun - even if that training was in the corner Walgreens store. I mean, the store clerk was from Pakistan...
But more alarming was the Executive Order signed by President Bush on July 3, 2002, that provided for the “expedited naturalization for aliens and noncitizen nationals serving in an active-duty status in the Armed Forces of the United States during the period of the war against terrorists of global reach.” Under this order, any noncitizen in the military can apply for expedited citizenship on his first day of active duty. Not only is this order still in effect, but it has been codified in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2006, that authorizes the enlistment of (1) nationals of the United States; (2) aliens who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (green card); (3) residents of several former U.S. territories; and (4) any other person “if the Secretary of Defense determines that such enlistment is vital to the national interest.”
High School recruiters promise green cards for latino kids and their families...in the current political climate as it is surrounding immigration this seems like a pretty sweet deal. In medical research there are arduous limitations and oversight regarding reimbursement rules offered to potential research participants. The reimbursement can not be considered large enough to seem coercive. If it is, medical ethics views this as disaffection from true, informed consent. This behaviour is prohibited.
Interestingly, the American military doesn't seem to be a member of the community who uses ethics to guide their policies and recruitment actions. I mean, they are just dealing with the dregs of society - the illegal immigrant...these people should be grateful for the chance to die for no reason...oh I mean, for a green card.
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2 comments:
Deja vu, Dana.
My grandpa was picking potatoes as a kid in North Dakota when a big jeep came up to him,a man in uniform told him if he and his brothers joined the army they'd be "real americans."
Who wouldn't want that?
Off to WW2 all five of them went!
I would just like to add that your layouts are much nicer these days, more pleasing to the eye and thus easier to read.
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