Posted on 03/31/2005 11:13:47 AM PST by doug from upland
There was a thread yesterday that caused quite a controversy -- Should a photo of an armed Marine be posted at a school?
Well, it seems that there is a happy ending. I spoke with principal Cynthia Robinson a short time ago. She was gracious enough to speak with me even though she was on lunch duty.
A sister brought in a picture that was displayed, which showed her Marine brother with a weapon. A controversy erupted because people were led to believe that the picture was removed because of the showing of a weapon. That is not the case.
Ms. Robinson told me that she had no problem with the weapon. The problem was that the picture had a guy with no shirt and tatoos. She objected because it was not a dignified picture. She had considered putting a frame around it so only the girl's Marine brother was shown.
The girl brought in another picture of her brother, with his weapon, and it is on display.
Ms. Robinson is proud of our military. Her father was in the Army, and her husband served in the Navy.
End of controversy.
"The problem was that the picture had a guy with no shirt and tatoos."
That's really just about as ridiculous.
He's a MARINE for heaven's sake! Have you EVER seen a Marine WITHOUT tatoos?!
The point is that it was not about the weapon. That was the controversy. If she thought it better to have a dignified picture, that is just fine. The picture is now proudly displayed. Give her some credit. You know that there are many schools that would not allow the picture because of the weapon.
:o)
You got me with that one! :-)
Imagine if the Marine had been smoking...
I'm not suggesting that it's worth fighting over, I just think it's another ridiculous issue.
Especially if they had been "smoking" a few terrorist or liberals.
The issue is no longer rediculous and is worth fighting over when society takes a rediculous stand and takes rediculous action over something that is not rediculous.
Would that make it better or worse than Marlboros..?
LOL, my Marine son has no tattoos but both of his brothers in the Army do. Go figure.
At least they are showing good discipline with the trigger fingers outside the guards. Can you imagine the amount of work the Marines have to do to eliminate all the bad habits people pick up from watching TV and movies?
Well. That settles it, then. Newspapers don't get such important details wrong, eh? < /sarcasm >
Well, a picture is now proudly displayed with a weapon. I guess they'll have to update the story.
Much more useful.
OHHHHH NOOOOO, guess you better disregard my post 10.
On a good note. Maybe the only one out of the lot to remember moms warnings about age and tattoo stuck with the Marine. I worked in the OR for years. Some of those cool tattoos look pretty sad when you get to be 80.
An assinine comment.
These Marines appear to be in their hooch over in Iraq enjoying some down time and taking some pictures for their friends and family back home, NOT to be posted in a public place.
It is doubtful that they thought a "classy" picture was necessary for this purpose, dumb-ass.
Go easy on EOD, he was just getting in a jab(although a weak one)in our friendly interservice rivalry. Damn I never thought I would stand up for an army puke.
Thanks Doug! Semper Fidelis and AMEN!
What is with all this PC crap? War is war; life is life; death is death. It was taught to me when I was little, in school, church and at home. My Uncle was in the Korean War, my hubby was in the Vietnam War, people carry guns, loaded guns at that, thats war!!!
Life is when you are born, you go to school, learn, and then have kids, grandkids and reflect over what you have done, and what you have become and what did you leave as your legacy?
Death is death, we believe we go to Heaven, if we are worthy, and its a sure thing, your NOT going to get out of this LIFE ALIVE!!!
This PC crowd needs to 'get over it!' So the Marine doesn't have a shirt on and is hold a 'GUN' My gosh, WHAT A SIN!!! He happens to be giving these PC idiots the RIGHT for their STUPIDITY!!!!
Ms. Robinson : Ms = abbreviation for misery.
Ahem...me, for one.
I think she's lying to make the controversy go away.
From the original article:
"We understand the girl's concerns, but our policy prohibits any display of weapons. This photo just isn't right for a classroom," Boucek said.
.......................
The image of Shea's brother does not necessarily convey military service, said Simona Boucek, Salem-Keizer's communications coordinator, and the automatic weapons are the most prominent feature in the photo. The soldiers are pictured casually in a nondescript room.
..................
Well, I'm glad the principal cleared this up, but either the communications coordinator was way off base, or the principal is lying to deflect criticism of her school, or possibly both.
The article was clearly about banning the picture because of the guns, everyone quoted thought so too.
So I admit we overreact without full information sometimes. But we do have ample precedent of PC gone wild to support our reactions.
Actually, my first thought when I saw the picture was that I wouldn't have posted it, either, precisely because of the guy w/o the shirt. He looks like something from the 'hood and I'm a retired officer, so I want children to see soldiers who look more professional.
Who ya callin' an Army puke? I think it's time for a little intra-service cyber-fight. :^)
-- anti (Gulf War, 2AD)
Nipples and guns could be a distraction to some.
It is understandable. These people have been pulling PC crap for decades. It has to come to a stop.
I can't complain too much about Army pukes, 'cause my dad was in the Army many years ago (BEFORE it became the "Army of One"... whatever-the-hell that is).
Then again, soldiers ARE the reason they came up with the little PM magazines (for mechanics, armorers, and probably EOD techs, etc.) in COMIC STRIP form.
By the way, although I didn't have to often, I always laughed when I could get after some young Marine for having his hands in his pockets, by saying, "How about taking off your f'ing 'Army gloves' Marine?".
Soldiers diddy-bopping and hanging around with their hands in their pockets - 'Army gloves', now that brings up a picture of real CLASS (and discipline, pride in appearance, etc.), doesn't it EOD?
All in the spirit of interservice rivalry...
Ooh-rah.
Looks like their weapons need some serious cleaning too.
HIV+
Yeah, that thought crossed my mind as well. It's a fine picture of a Marine and his buddies, but I am sure that there are better shots.
And an even more assinine comment. Chill out Doc. In EOD we all go to a joint service school and work together. I paid my dues to kid around with the other services so why don't you just shove it.
Thanks. Sometimes we will even accept support from sailors and jarheads. And in extreme cases from the Airforce and other civilians. In EOD the uniform doesn't matter, we all go to the same school and work together.
You are dead right. In war you kill people and break things. That is a fact of life and death and the way war is. I've seen my share.
Its hard to put hands your pockets when you sit in your unit bar in your sweat pants or bathing suit. So watch out what you say about EOD.
By the way, I've worked on a few items, up close, that didn't have a comic book or manual to tell me how to do it. One thing in EOD school that is taught that other schools don't have is just pure logic.
Also I had a good friend who was forced out of the Army because he never could get promoted. He almost starved to death as a civilian since he was use to three square meals a day at the mess hall and enjoyed watching The Three Stooges in the dayroom when they didn't have training.
He tried to get in the Navy but almost drowned whey they threw him in a swimming pool. He immediately thought of the Air Force since they live the best. He jumped off a big rock and flapped his arms and immediately fell to the ground so he didn't even go talk to the Air Force.
His last choice was the Marine Corp who were glad to have him. Therefore his transition from the Army to the Marine Corp just happened to raise the average IQ of both services.
Apparently you have never been around many Army EOD units.
They don't sound much like the "old hands" in the Corp I used to work with.
The principal does not seem to be backing down, she never had a problem with it - except the district had a stupid zero-tolerance policy. You know, the type that calls the cops to take out a 6-year-old in handcuffs for drawing a stick figure of Dad with his weapon. Yes, it has happened.
Seems the District bowed to public opinion and told the principal to go ahead and post the picture.
"end of controversy"?
Doug? I'd go 20-1 that that woman lied about the guy with no shirt deal. If that's what it was, then why did she consider "revisit[ing]" the school mascot's sword?
I'm not buying it.
I think you are right, now she has got herself backed into a corner and she will make any excuse to get out of it without her looking like a total moron.
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