The petition wanting to deport Justin Bieber has enough signatures to pressure the White House to react. I have felt a similar pressure to write about the legal troubles of the pop star. And like the White House, I feel like I have better things to do.
Bieber is definitely Canadian, and even though he hasn't been convicted of any of these charges, more than 225,000 Americans want to deport Bieber back to Canada. The White House is required to respond to any petition over 100,000 signatures.
Interestingly, a DUI conviction would be an issue for a U.S. resident to get into Canada. Bieber would have an easier time getting into the United States than if the roles were reversed.
Bieber has had an odd streak of allegations, from egg throwing to drag racing to assaulting a limo driver. The drinking would have been legal in Canada for the 19-year-old, but drinking and driving is a whole different concern.
If you thought things were bad enough for the Canadian pop star, now we've seen U.S. media outlets lump Bieber in with Rob Ford. Yes, they are apparently the "Bad Boys" of Canada.
The latest accusation against Ford stems from a lawsuit from his sister's ex-boyfriend who alleges the mayor conspired to have him beat up while in jail.
When Ford was asked about Bieber, Ford said, "He's a young guy, 19 years old. I wish I was as successful as he was."
Then again, these days, Ford is a little too successful. Ford latest allegations include jaywalking and public intoxication in Vancouver. Well, actually, this was in Coquitlam, a suburb east of the city.
The ticket for jaywalking in Coquitlam is $109 Canadian. Ouch.
Still, I will actually agree with Rob Ford on one thing: jaywalking is a ticketable offense?
I could see jaywalking as tied to a concern over public intoxication from a public safety angle, but not as an offense by itself.
These allegations against Bieber and Ford are just that, allegations. Innocent until proven guilty works in both countries. This doesn't mean you shouldn't be concerned for their behavior.
The petition against Bieber shows what American justice is, rather than what Americans think it is. Those in the United States preach about innocent until proven guilty, when really justice is often shoot first and ask questions later. Bieber is learning this and other things as he sits through a ever longer list of charges.
What Justin Bieber and Rob Ford need is treatment, reflection, and a lot of rest. We'll see if they get that in the United States or Canada.
The only advantage to living next door to the US is that we have somewhere to dump the 'trailer park trash'. Bieber is all yours. Still working on the plans to send you Ford and Harper.
Posted by: veronica | February 04, 2014 at 08:02 AM
Nice. Bieber has been in the States for some time. If convicted, he'll be more likely to stay south. I can definitely see Harper "retiring" to the States once he's out of office. If he's out in 2015, maybe he can try to help some U.S. right-wing guy get elected in the States in 2016.
Posted by: Chad | February 04, 2014 at 08:28 AM