Steve Earle takin' heat for new song

Subject: RE: BS: Steve Earle takin' heat for new song
From: Kim C
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 03:39 PM

From the link I posted above:

"Although a person's enlistment in the armed forces of a foreign country may not constitute a violation of U.S. law, it could subject him or her to Section 349(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1481(a)(3)] which provides for loss of U.S. nationality if an American voluntarily and with the intention of relinquishing U.S. citizenship enters or serves in foreign armed forces engaged in hostilities against the United States or serves in the armed forces of any foreign country as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer."

Subject: RE: BS: Steve Earle takin' heat for new song
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 03:50 PM

So why didn't wasn't that what happened, if that was what he did?

Subject: RE: BS: Steve Earle takin' heat for new song
From: Kim C
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 10:36 AM

That's a good question McGrath, and I don't know enough to give a right answer. It looks to me like the protocol for serving in a foreign army is extremely vague, and no one has been very forthcoming about what it was exactly that Lindh did.

Twenty years does seem a long time - but chances are he won't serve all of it.

Mister allowed that Lindh's story is probably the most intriguing thing so far to arise from this conflict. I can't say as I disagree with him. And That is probably why Steve Earle wrote the song.

Subject: RE: BS: Steve Earle takin' heat for new song
From: SharonA
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 10:46 AM

I haven't been following the Lindh case, but had he ever stated the intention to relinquish his US citizenship?

Subject: RE: BS: Steve Earle takin' heat for new song
From: GUEST,tra
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 11:37 AM

"Is there a link somewhere to a site where we can check out the Earle lyric in question? sb"

Just an American boy Raised on MTV And I've seen all them kids in the soda pop ads None of them look like me. So I started looking around For a light out of the dim. And the first thing I heard That made sense was the word Muhammad peace be upon him.

Chorus: Ash hadu alla Ilaaha illallah, there is no God but God.

If my daddy could see me now Chains around my feet He don't understand sometimes a man Has got to fight for what he believes. And I believe God is great All praise to him And if I should die I'll rise up in the sky Just like Jesus peace be upon him.

Chorus: Ash-hadu alla ilaaha illallah, there is no God but God.

We came to fight the jihad Our hearts were pure and strong. And when death filled the air We all offered up prayers Prepared for our martyrdom. But Allah has some other plan Some secret not revealed Now they're dragging me back With my head in a sack To the land of the infidels.

Chorus: Ash-hadu alla ilaaha illallah, there is no God but God.

Subject: RE: BS: Steve Earle takin' heat for new song
From: Kim C
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 12:39 PM

Well, all right then. I don't see anything wrong with it. Looks like the Folk Process at Work to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Steve Earle takin' heat for new song
From: SlickerBill
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 12:57 PM

Thanks "Tra". Great lyrics. With all those asking "Why?" over the last year, this looks like one artist's attempt at a possible answer. To the Sept. perps, we are morally bankrupt and a corrupting influence on the world. This kind of a song has to be written and heard. sb

Subject: RE: BS: Steve Earle takin' heat for new song
From: PeteBoom
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 02:18 PM

Wonderful thread. Well done, all!

Mick - your first post summed up my own concerns over the "war on terror". The great irony is that in this land where 'free speech' is praised as being all important, somebody like Earle comes along and sets it on its ear. Well Done, Steve!

BTW - a BIT of thread creep - the quote from O. H. Perry was from his dispatch telling of the victory at the Battle of Lake Erie (10 September, 1813 ... or was it '14.. ah well). He started with the "We have met... and they are ours" and proceeded to list the vessels captured... and then said "Please send some soldiers to help guard the prisoners as they are more numerous than ourselves."

Cheers -

Pete