Comments:Australian David Hicks is released from Yatala Labour Prison

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Why does the public like rebels?

The situation in Australia is very much like what we have in New Zealand currently too. You have a convicted terrorist that everyone is, to put it bluntly, happy that he has been released from prison.

In New Zealand we have a person who was convicted (but then had convictions squashed because of a "serious miscarriage of justice") of murdering his family. Everyone here thinks that he didn't do it.

But why? Why are people like this seen to be someone who they necessarily may not be. --Nzgabriel | Talk 21:48, 29 December 2007 (UTC)

Many Australians believe that he did not receive a fair trial in a legitimate court. Along the way, the man (probably a terrorist) and the fight for a fair trial became merged. In a way Hicks has become (in Australia at least) a symbol of the injustices of Guantanamo. I agree that David Hicks is no hero, and shouldn't be treated as one. - 61.35.78.116 02:57, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

I completely agree with you in regards to the hero statement. --Nzgabriel | Talk 03:14, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

Are Australians so naive?

In a perfect world, it would seem fair for us Aussies to unite as one and get behind David Hicks and the injustices he endured throughout his lengthy ordeal. However, I cannot help but wonder if in fact we have all been taken for a ride. I say this because in war, there are always two sides and it is apparent that Hicks was 'against'us. Are we so quick to forget who he stood with and what he stood for? A lot of those I have spoken to about Hicks and this issue have the same opinion-So what?? Who cares?? So he bloody well should rot in some little cell somewhere for being a traitor to his country!! And why should we really care about what happens to Hicks?? He clearly didn't care for us and our people and our children when he decided to take up arms against us and the freedom we take for granted in this country-it's apparent now however that after the fact and when his 'rights' as an aussie were taken away, he believed he was entitled to the treatment and 'fair go' we as a nation pride ourselves in. I find it hard to believe that if Hicks had evaded capture he wouldn't still be on the 'other side', killing our Australian service men and women for a cause he put before our country. So why do we really care about him and the so called 'inhumane' way he was treated?? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 144.137.216.65 (talk) 04:31, 9 March 2008 (UTC)