The Man without a Country

The blurb on the internet regarding Harry Belafonte's visit with Hugo Chavez in Venezuela made me think of a story that my dad told me when I was very young. It impressed me, and now that the internet makes it so easy, I found it again. The story is true and well documented. You can find it at: www.bartleby.com/310/6/1.html

In a nutshell, it is about a young naval officer, Paul Nolen, who in a court martial trial damns the United States and says that he wishes that he never hears the name again. The judge gives him just that as a sentence. Until his death, he never set foot on the USA, nor heard its name. He lived under that sentence for 56 years, always aboard a naval ship at sea, transferred at sea to other ships, so that he never saw his country again, with naval personel who always treated him with respect but were forbidden to mention the USA.

Here is a quote from Edward Everett Hale's story about Phillip Nolen.

“WASHINGTON (with a date which must have been late in 1807).
	“SIR—You will receive from Lieutenant Neale the person of Philip Nolan, late a lieutenant in the United States Army.
	“This person on his trial by court-martial expressed, with an oath, the wish that he might ‘never hear of the United States again.’
	“The Court sentenced him to have his wish fulfilled.
	“For the present, the execution of the order is intrusted by the President to this Department.
	“You will take the prisoner on board your ship, and keep him there with such precautions as shall prevent his escape.
	“You will provide him with such quarters, rations, and clothing as would be proper for an officer of his late rank, if he were a passenger on your vessel on the business of his Government.
	“The gentlemen on board will make any arrangements agreeable to themselves regarding his society. He is to be exposed to no indignity of any kind, nor is he ever unnecessarily to be reminded that he is a prisoner.
	“But under no circumstances is he ever to hear of his country or to see any information regarding it; and you will especially caution all the officers under your command to take care, that, in the various indulgences which may be granted, this rule, in which his punishment is involved, shall not be broken.
	“It is the intention of the Government that he shall never again see the country which he has disowned. Before the end of your cruise you will receive orders which will give effect to this intention.
	“Respectfully yours,
	“W. SOUTHARD, for the
	“Secretary of the Navy.”

Now, this is quintessential "cruel and unusual" punishment, and by no means do I think Mr. Belafonte deserves this. I do think that if he wants to criticize our leaders, that he should do it on home soil and not give aid and comfort to those who oppose us. Phillip Nolen's story is far more complicated than just these few words, and I encourage all to read it.