WA: Pappy Boyington Memorial Blocked at U-Dub

Paradosis | 2/10/06

[llevrok]

We don't need to honor any more rich white males

So says one member of the University of Washington Student Senate.

Gregory Pappy Boyington...graduate of the Univeristy of Washington (went to High School in Tacoma), winner of the medal of honor, shot down 28 enemy aircraft, was a prisoner of war for 20 months, and apparently does not - according to the student senate - deserve a memorial on campus. Apparently we are told that he "is not the type of person we want to honor" and some even went so far as to liken his duty in WW2 to murder. One of the biggest antagonists of the proposal was apparently the leader of the student Democratic Party. How sad.

This issue is particularly interesting to me because I personally knew Pappy Boyington, not so much as a friend, but as a regular visitor to the Chino Air Museum and Air Show. I met him on numerous occassions and thoroughly enjoyed his willingness to tell me stories about his experiences - and I must say it was HEAVEN to this young man who'd rather feel his way around a restored Corsair than hang out at the mall with his contemporaries.

Pappy was famous for once saying: "Just name a hero and I'll prove he's a bum." And he knew this from personal experience. Pappy's childhood wasn't easy and he and his mother had to work VERY hard to get him through school - he was no rich boy and neither did he live off government grants...personally I wonder if those students who "shot this memorial down" could remotely say the same? And he was a real human being who did not hide his faults, particularly with alcohol and marital problems. Like all heros, no one is a "super" hero. While Pappy could work hard, he could "play" hard too and landed himself in trouble from time to time. Here is a more detailed story...from the University of Washington oddly enough.

Also, clearly, the student who made the racist statement never met him because I will tell you that you could not mistake the Sioux in him. And while he did write a best-selling book (best selling authors are a dime a dozen), he was never really a rich man...rather he spent most of his last days wandering through Air Shows reliving the glory days, never in any grand luxury that I saw. He seemed a very nice man, who despite his personal problems did some extraordinary things to help defend freedom and defeat tyranny and injustice.

But, have our Washington youth revised history so much as this? To compare Boyington (or for that matter any of our WW2 vets) to murderers? What are these kids being taught today? They don't deserve those 20 months Pappy spent being tortured and beaten in a Japanese prison camp...they don't deserve any of what our grandfathers and grandmothers sacrificed to free Europe and the Pacific. Is it perhaps because those precious people are soon to be gone that we feel free to engage in leftist amnesia? I'm angry about this...how dare these snot nose, hemp-wearing, pot smoking, drum beating, dreadlock wearing, "gee when is the financial aid check going to arrive", brat kids diss Pappy Boyington?

Maybe REAL rich white guys ought to be offended (like Bill Gates and Paul Allen) and stop donating money to the UW and then the Student Senators will find they don't have the time to be in the student senate because they need to get themselves real jobs.

If any WW2 vets read this blog, please accept my apology on behalf of the University of Washington - and particularly thier ignorant student senate. We remember what you all have done. My kids will remember too.

[munin]

Well, you could propose a statue of Mao or Lenin just to see how they like that, likely better I expect

[llevrok]

I had a relevant issue in my class yesterday.

I got you had a "talk" with the snot nose and set him straight.

Reminds me of the time my wife, then an adult college student, was lectured by a Japan-American teen ager in class about the butchering of Native Americans by Europeans. She should apologize.

Calmly, she asked him then to apologize for Pearl Harbor. The punk walked out of class, upset.

[clintonh8r]

No doubt they are aspiring politicians.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

My God. I recently read a book about Philippines POW camps. I hope Omori was even half more civilized. So many brave and strong men were brutalized by the japs in these camps.

My father had many scars from the brutallity. Many POW's were skinned alive or gutted alive. I've had WWII vets share with me the unbelievably gruesome, at times, hard to listen to, treatment of the POW's by the Japanese. Many were decapitated. God bless them all.

[llevrok]

Pls see post 33 and right under the posting for links...

Please wind up my adopted part of the state, the Inland Empire, on this -

llevrok in olympia

[johnny7]

I have it... and it is good.

[Little Bill]

I went out with a woman whose father was on Baatan. Said he was glad he never had any sons. I was in Chelsea Naval at the time, It took me years to realize I was insulted, or he didn't realize he had no class.

[willyd]

I don't think you could ever accurately portray the accomplishments of our "Greatest Generation" with a college memorial, nor can you tarnish their story by denying them one. This was a generation whose actions spoke so loudly for them that the echoes will be heard for generations. UW's actions will speak for them as well.

[llevrok]

Notice how I referred to your dad's captors? Can you tell I grew up in the early 50's? Some habits and grudges don't fade.

Indeed, God Bless them all.

[ExcursionGuy84]

I'm a college student but even academic institutions here in Liberal South Florida rarely gets THIS HIGH on the MARXISM/ANTI-WAR Kool-Aide.

Then again, it's only a matter of time and more Anti-American Liberal teachers/boardmembers.

[Heyworth]

My favorite part of the minutes:

XI. Announcements

Magnus Gordon encouraged senators and their constituents to come to the HUB crawl for go-cart racing and a poetry slam on February the 16 th.

Hala Dillsi noted that GBLTC is having auditions for the drag show this week.

Selma Dillsi said APS is having its annual Human Rights Film Fest on February 15 th-19th.

Jill Edwards noted that Honors Croquet League is holding a match this Saturday.

Ashley Miller said this Thursday during noon passing periods groups would be playing The Privilidge Game in front of the HUB.

It was noted that tickets for the Vagina Monologues are currently available in the HUB ticket office.

Jon Lee said Innocence Project Northwest is having a screening at the Burke Museum regarding the death penalty.

Karl Smith noted the ACLU is having a meeting in Kane Hall this Saturday.

XII. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:03PM

[IGOTMINE]

Ashley is exactly what you picture her as...

http://depts.washington.edu/asuwvote/vp.html

[llevrok]

Well, you could propose a statue of Mao or Lenin

There already is a statue of Lenin in Seattle (honest !)

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Notice how I referred to your dad's captors? Can you tell I grew up in the early 50's?

As did I. I just thought I'd be politically correct. Not that I should have been.

[Radix]

Meanwhile Robert Byrd gets practically an entire state named after him, and Ted Kennedy's mother has an entire stretch of new soon to be built million dollar roadside park named after her.

[Bigh4u2]

I didn't read the whole thing. What I did read was disgusting enough!

[T.Smith]

Ashley Miller: "Many monuments at UW already commemorate rich white men."

http://depts.washington.edu/asuwvote/vp.html#P1

[Bigh4u2]

"As candidate for Vice President of ASUW, I’m committed to creating a more inclusive, informed, and active campus community."

Apparently not!

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Miller - Sheehan: Two peas in a pod.

[Radix]

"I've had WWII vets share with me the unbelievably gruesome, at times, hard to listen to, treatment of the POW's by the Japanese."

 

Oh yes.

 

If you haven't already, you might want to consider reading this book.