February 15, 2006
Marine Ace Who Downed 28 Enemy Planes Is Downed Himself by Snot-Nosed College Student
It's so typical. University students get infected with academic liberalism and take great pride and glee at attacking and destroying the memory, reputation, and heroic deeds of our military. The latest victim at the hands of the left was a military hero for whom a memorial was proposed by the student senate at the University of Washington. Here are the credentials of this hero. Can you guess his name before I reach the end? ...Medal of Honor winner, Navy Cross recipient, Purple Heart recipient (won honestly, John Kerry), World War II Marine combat pilot hero, destroyed twenty-eight Japanese aircraft, survived Japanese POW camp, and a graduate of the university snubbing him. Who is he? Colonel Gregory "Pappy" Boyington of the famed Blacksheep Squadron
Neal Boortz had an excellent entry on this matter, which was covered by the WorldNetDaily. The complete discussion by the students is documented by a copy of the 02/07/2006 minutes of the Washington student senate meeting. Here is part of Boortz's article.
Under old business there was a discussion of a resolution calling for a tribute to Pappy Boyington. Student senate member Jill Edwards immediately moved to table the resolution. She wanted other issues to be considered. Another member said that the issue was at the top of the agenda and should be dealt with. Jill's motion failed, but she wasn't through. There was then some discussion on why Andrew Everett, another student senate member, wanted the memorial. Everett responded that Colonel Boyington "had many of the qualities the University of Washington hoped to produce in its students." Well, I guess that might be true, if leadership and courage are considered to be good qualities. Anyway ... that's when Jill Edwards spoke up and showed her true colors. She questioned whether it was appropriate to honor a person who killed other people. Then the lovely Jill Edwards said that a member of the Marine Corps was not an example of the sort of person the University of Washington wanted to produce. By the way .. there's at least one more moonbat on the U of W student senate. Her name is Ashley Miller. Ashley says that there are already enough monuments at UW commemorating "rich white men." Well .. I guess you have to get that wealth-envy stuff in there somewhere.
(Note: Boyington was not rich and, in addition, he was part Sioux, according to the discussion at Paradosis, of which the writer personally knew the man.)
How pathetic of the student representatives at the University of Washington. How pathetic and typical of the arrogant and unappreciative attitudes of those in college academics. Maybe the next time that they want protection from our enemies or terrorists, they can find someone who can stop the attackers without killing them. Maybe one day they will learn that war is fought with bullets and not college text books.
Posted by Woody at February 15, 2006 09:50 AM | TrackBack"She questioned whether it was appropriate to honor a person who killed other people."
"... a member of the Marine Corps was not an example of the sort of person the University of Washington wanted to produce."
"Ashley says that there are already enough monuments at UW commemorating "rich white men""
Oh, my God, this makes me FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!!
My friend, this is NOT "liberalism", this is "anti Americanism" rearing its ugly head. Call them what you will... "anti Americans", "leftists", "far leftists", "radical leftists extremists", "socialists", "dumbasses", etc.,
But PLEASE do not call these punks "liberals", because until Webster changes their definition of the term, they fall way shy of meeting it.
I would just be happy to call them "stupid kids" if they weren't so dangerous.
Blog ON, friend...
Posted by Gun Toting Liberal at February 15, 2006 12:03 PM
My bad,
I forgot to say...
May the Colonel rest in peace, and thank you, "Pappy", from the bottom of my heart, for your unselfish service to the United States of America!!!
Posted by Gun Toting Liberal at February 15, 2006 12:06 PM
Gun, your point is well taken. The term liberal as it should be used has been hijacked by the extreme left, which likes to portray itself as being more moderate by using more moderate terms. They also use "progressive," although I don't know what is progressive about attitudes that hold back our economy and our nation. In any event, this is not untypical of attitudes you find on college campuses these days.
Posted by Woody at February 15, 2006 01:14 PM
As one who served in the Marine Corps for 32 years, AND who is employed as a college instructor, I can tell all where most of these "kids" get their political cant (WAIT FOR IT...IT WILL BE A BIG SURPRISE):
college instructors.
OK, it wasn't a big surprise. Are all college instructors left-leaning and anti-military? No. Are there alot who are? Yes. And while you're considering it, how about K-12? Many "kids" arrive at college already indoctrinated. Note: I tell my students NOT to necessarily believe what I say. I encourage them to read widely and surf the many news sources. However, most do not. Sadly, most are easily led and he who screams the loudest and longest (the BIG LIE deal) garners followers.
Note: How is it that nearly everything Liberals once stood for is now opposed by most of those claiming to be Liberal? Since when was Castro, Hugo Chavez, Arafat (and those who followed), Mao, Che...and the list goes one...considered Liberals? Just asking.
Well, I will cease and desist.
Semper Fidelis...and Regards to Pappy Boyington and Ira Hayes...among many, many, many others who guarded the "ivy halls."
Posted by Tad at February 15, 2006 02:07 PM
That was fast - proposed resolution at http://senate.asuw.org/legislation/12/R/R-12-24.html:
**************
WHEREAS Student Senator Jill Edwards offended all members of the United States Marine Corps, past or present, dead or alive; especially those who were, are, or will be students at the University of Washington with her comment that she "didn't believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce." This commented brought shame and dishonor to not only the UW Student Senate, but also the University as a whole, all its members who have served in the Marine Corps and all Marines past and present.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON:
THAT
Student Senator Jill Edwards will submit, in writing, a signed apology letter seeking forgiveness to all students, staff, and alumni who are now or ever have served in the United States Marine Corps. In said letter it will contain a formal apology and a recognition that her very rights and freedoms are guaranteed by such members of the armed services, to include the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, past or present, living or dead. Additionally, said letter will be printed in all its form and substance in that day's edition of the UW Daily newspaper as well as being recited on the UW Radio station. To realize her mistake, she must acquaint herself with the history of the person she is so keen to dismiss, by reading Col. Boyington's book, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. All of these requirements are mandatory, under pain of losing her seat on the Student Senate.
***********
Compare and contrast with http://senate.asuw.org/legislation/12/R/R-12-23.html.
The whole affair just amuses the heck out of me. Remember - they're college students, which means, almost by definition, "young and stupid."
Posted by Tony at February 15, 2006 05:37 PM
Tony, college students aren't necessarily "young and stupid" and I can't excuse offensive actions because of that. Maybe they should "grow up and get smart," and sometimes it takes lessons like this to get them to do that. The young woman who made the comments will either do the right thing or dig in her heels and get worse. I fear that it will be the latter.
Regarding an apology, it's meaningless if demanded and given under pressure versus the person realizing the offense and offering an apology voluntarily.
This episode is similar to that of the recent vote by the San Francisco city government refusing permission for the U.S.S. Iowa to dock at the city as a museum. These are supposedly adults, who are simply "old and stupid." Indoctrination of students by the left can affect those students for their entire lives, and the lives of those they affect, as in this case. That's not amusing.
Posted by Woody at February 15, 2006 06:30 PM
By the way, I couldn't get your links to work.
However, I did go to the student senate site and noted that Jill Edwards holds the senate seat for the "Honors Croquet League." Now, there's something worthy of tribute!
Also, I was going to ask, "Where is the administration and faculty on this?," but I'm afraid that they might be honoring Ms. Edwards at a tea at this moment.
Posted by Woody at February 15, 2006 06:42 PM
It is later and I am more tired. When that happens, I get more cranky.
This member of the Student Senate at UW and ANY that agree with her just flat do not understand the world in which they live. Further, they do not understand that the freedoms they enjoy have been won for them and protected for them by men and women....past and present, that not only value those freedoms, but guard them with their very bodies.
Shame on those at UW that agree with this truly idiotic stance. I wonder who they think will come to their aid when really, really bad folks are at their proverbial door...with evil in their minds?
Posted by Tad at February 15, 2006 11:01 PM
Here's an interesting thread at the ASUW Student Senate web site on this topic. The only legitimate complaint that I found was this:
The problem lies in the fact that we have many professors and alumni who have done outstanding work for the public good in many fields.
*****Snip! *****
So how do we decide who deserves a physical memorial on campus? We simply haven't space to create one for every alum that is deserving, so rather than attempt some sort of hierarchy that will doubtlessly prove imperfect, perhaps the best response is to avoid advocating for memorials, but rather to find other ways of honoring our esteemed alumni.
That sounds reasonable but, granted, it may have just been a convenient excuse. Even though I am an anti-gun and anti-war leftist, I have no qualms about honoring those who fought bravely in the wars that had to be fought. If any war hero deserves a memorial, it's "Pappy" Boyington.
Posted by E. Nonee Moose at February 16, 2006 10:13 AM
I contacted Ashley Miller to see if I could ask her some questions, and here is the response I got:
I will answer any questions as long as they are civil. This whole thing has been taken overboard and all comments have been misquoted or out of context. In anticipation of questions you might be asking:
my statements have been misinterpreted to give the impression that I referred to Greg Boyington as a "rich white guy." In fact, his race was never raised at all in the discussion. Neither did I say that "we already have enough memorials to rich white guys." The senate minutes are not correct (and will be fixed at the steering meeting Friday) The point that I DID try to make was, in a discussion of memorials and buildings on campus, nearly all are named in honor of rich, white, heterosexual men. This is not to say that rich white men do not deserve to be honored, but in our institution (which sits on Duwamish land), leaders of color and women have been overlooked. Pappy's race or economic status was not the reason that this legislation failed, nor the reason that I
personally voted against it. I honor the sacrifices that he and many others have made to enable my freedom of speech that allows me to express my opinions however ridiculous other may find them.
Posted by Jake at February 16, 2006 12:28 PM
Individuals should be honored or not honored based upon their accomplishments and sacrificies--not their gender or color. If this girl can find a black female who shot down 26 Jap planes and won the Congressional Medal of Honor, then put up a memorial to her, too. However, don't pick minor or ridiculous accomplishments to honor someone just to get the "right mix."
Posted by Woody at February 16, 2006 04:49 PM
Not to beat those idiots at UW too much, but Fox News interviewed several students on campus and they appeared even more stew-ped, than I had thought.
I rather guess that we (USA) were really bad to have actually have fought in WW II. I suppose we should have ceded all of the Pacific to the Japanese. If we had, there would be no Muslims in the Southern Philippines nor any in what is Indonesia and those countries all 'round that area.
I'm sorry, I was thinking of facts and not thinking with my more sensative side.
I wonder what the percentage of UW students is that are even considering serving their country...in the middle of this war.....uh....maybe: zero point zero four?
Posted by Tad at February 17, 2006 06:55 PM
