The Deserter - Robert Lawrence

http://www.robert-lawrence.com

Song written by John Richards.

Unfortunately, most wars are fought for reasons completely different from the reasons given by the government propaganda machine.

When a government wants to fight a war for political or financial gain, it has to convince the men and women of the armed forces that it is a just a right fight.
Very few in the military will fight and die willingly for what they perceive as an unjust cause.

So, government invents a reason to go to war that will ignite the patriotism of the fighting forces. The Iraq war is a good example of this. President Bush continually tried to link Iraq with the 9-11 attacks. It was well know that Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11, but the lie was repeated often enough that it was, and is even now, believed by many people.

The act of desertion is of course a huge threat to governments for obvious reasons. Therefore the deserter has always been treated in the harshest manner.

In the First World War, deserters were tried by Court Marshal and when found guilty (which they always were); they were sentenced to be shot by firing squad.
Some were shot during the act of desertion without a trial. An example had to made.

In 2006 the British government pardoned all the deserters who were executed in World War One. Im not sure if they will also pardon deserters from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Unless you have been there, its probably best not to condemn a deserter.
It is, in most cases, the desperate final act of a tortured soul. Perhaps we should not judge whether the deserter is right or wrong. Maybe we should look at war and decide if that is right or wrong.

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Copyright Robert Lawrence 2010
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http://www.robert-lawrence.com
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Category:

Music

Tags:

• celtic
• folk

[Somme1916Somme]

Thankyou so much for this .

[Somme1916Somme]

Thankyou so much for this .

[YCV1912UVF]

beautiful tune FGAU <3

[amandahendrics]

Half these views are probably mine...I cannot stop listening to this. I love this!

[celticprincess1000]

I keep coming back and listening to this song. I just purchased the CD "The Journey Home" from CD Baby.

[stuup1975]

This song is awesome!

[Puss2410]

PS forgot to say our facebook page is 'The John Richards Band'

[Puss2410]

Thanks Robert,

Love your version of The Deserter. For the original sung by its writer John Richards please find us on facebook

Kind Regards

Kathie

[bagpiper2010]

Hadn’t heard this song before…great song, very nicely sung.

I would love to get the tabs for this if you have them available.

[MoiraMcDonald1]

Thank you for this wonderful song.  This really touched me deeply.