Monday, February 05, 2007
TRY HIM AS A CHILD
The latest free Dave campaign relies on a photograph taken 22 years ago:
A national television advertising campaign showing a close-up of David Hicks as a freckled, nine-year-old schoolboy will try to humanise the Guantanamo Bay detainee after the weekend announcement of serious charges against him.
Nowhere in the Age’s article is Mohammed Dawood’s current age (31) mentioned; nor are the Taliban or al-Qaeda, Mo’s choice of pals as an adult. His father-in-law and wife also don’t rate a mention, but we do get the whole ad script from Terry Hicks:
This is my son, David. He’s been missing for five years – held in Guantanamo Bay. Without trial.
Well, he hasn’t exactly been missing, then, has he?
He was born in Australia, grew up in Australia, is an Australian citizen.
To our everlasting shame.
I love my son, but I’ve always said if he’s done wrong he should have to face the consequences.
He’s been facing the consequences for five years. Got your wish.
I only ever wanted David to be given a fair trial, but I’m sure that the Guantanamo trials have been created by politicians to do one thing: guarantee convictions.
Maybe they’ll cut his head off. No, wait; that would happen under a Taliban court.
Please, let’s bring David home. Thank you – I’m Terry Hicks.
Yeah, let’s bring him home. Should be good for a laugh. Crikey reader Sue Bradford has additional concerns for Gitmo Mo:
Given recent comments on the damage that can be done due to a lack of Vitamin D, has anyone considered how this might be affecting David Hicks if, as has been reported, he’s only seen sunlight a very few times in the last five years? Most people need about 1000IU of Vitamin D a day which comes quickly with sunshine but is much harder to a achieve via diet. For example a glass of milk or orange juice contains about 100IU vitamin D. Can Mr Downer assure us that David has been getting extra doses of multivitamins for all these years?
(Via Paul W. and ilibcc)