perhaps a monument to poor white men is needed...
Posted on 02/17/2006 3:29:00 AM PST by beaversmom
UW students got a lesson in democracy, free speech and the burdens of both in the last week.
The student government of the University of Washington has come under attack from talk radio and the Internet after recently deciding not to support the creation of a campus memorial to alumnus and World War II veteran Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington.
Some students say they have received scores of angry e-mails and phone calls -- some from as far away as Texas, Georgia and New York. What drew the wrath were such comments from students questioning why the university should honor a person who killed others or honor a Marine. One student leader questioned why another rich white man should be honored on campus.
The students say their comments in last week's student senate meeting were taken out of context and that the minutes posted online -- and passed on through e-mails and blogs -- did not reflect the nature of the meeting.
The backlash has prompted at least one student to remove her personal contact information from the university's online directory. The students say they have been called racist and ignorant, threatened with beatings and urged to commit suicide.
"These comments have been really degrading," said UW student body President Lee Dunbar. "It's really gotten out of hand. ... I think a lot of it was seized on by a political opportunity to blow things out of context."
Andrew Everett, a UW senior and former Air Force weather forecaster, wanted to recognize UW alumni who had received the Medal of Honor and thought he would start with the most famous, Boyington, whose time as a pilot was portrayed in the TV series "Baa Baa Black Sheep."
He sponsored a resolution at the student senate meeting Feb. 7 to create a memorial for Boyington, who also was imprisoned in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.
Students debated the resolution, according to the minutes posted on the Internet. The resolution, which received support from 45 students, failed by one vote.
The next day, KVI morning radio talk-show host Kirby Wilbur broadcast the news based on an e-mail from a member of the UW College Republicans.
"Our phones were slammed for a full hour with our audience," producer Matt Haver said. "They were literally incensed with it."
It has since spread to the Internet with bloggers sharing their views.
One such post: "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?"
Two students whose comments have been much criticized said that the minutes posted on the Internet didn't accurately reflect what happened.
UW sophomore Jill Edwards, who in the minutes questioned if a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the type of person the UW would want to produce, said she did not mean to offend anyone with her comments, but instead was trying to start a discussion among students who might be afraid to question a World War II vet.
"Obviously he is a great man, and I'm very proud he's an alumnus," she said. "I don't want to feel like we're trying to impose an ideal of achievement on the UW."
UW senior Ashley Miller has also been derided for her comment, according to the minutes, that the university already has monuments that commemorate rich white men. She said her comments were made as part of a general discussion about memorials on campus, not about Boyington specifically.
Now, the UW student government plans to consider supporting the creation of a memorial that would honor all of the university's Medal of Honor winners.
At least three other men with ties to the UW have received the Medal of Honor, according to the UW alumni magazine.
Related Threads:
Students reject honor to WWII hero (Political Corruption)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1578080/posts
HE FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY ... BUT HE'S NOT WORTHY.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1579183/posts
HE FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY ... BUT HE'S NOT WORTHY.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1578960/posts
Students Reject Honor to 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' Hero (Col. Greg "Pappy" Boyington)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1578343/posts
UW student senate rejects memorial for former student & WW2 Medal of Honor recipient
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1576156/posts
WA: Pappy Boyington Memorial Blocked at U-Dub
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1576150/posts
The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington - Mar. 22nd, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/871944/posts
ping
Ah, the standard "remarks taken out of context" defense. Well, the explanations by the students offered here seem to make clear that the remarks were indeed just as we thought them to be.
Now this scared little lib is trying to backpedal away from her comments. I think her original comments were quite clear. She wasn't trying to "start a discussion", although (hee hee) it would seen that she did just that...just on a biggeer scale than she imagined.
Curse the mindless collage masses who seem to be flocking to the left in an attempt to recreate the cursed hippy movenmnet of the 60s!! Hippies are dead now you fools!!! Get over yourselfs!
Heaven forbid anyone in this academic ant hill should be inspired to step up and pursue greatness.
I sure hope one of these kids comes to me wanting a job someday!
It's only been ten years or so since I was in school and frankly what do you expect from a bunch of self-absorbed college students?
What I find breathtaking about this whole episode is that student Senators Jill and Ashley spoke out against Col. Boyington without having any idea who he was. If they had reservations about the memorial and they wanted time to research his career, they could have spared themselves a lot of vitriol by asking that the measure be tabled until they could do sume research.
Instead, they shot their mouths off about someone they know nothing about and brought down the fires of h*ll on themselves. As the article notes (rather surprisingly balanced from the Seattle P-I), they learned that democracy and free speech have consequences. That may be one of the best lessons they take away from UW when they graduate.
perhaps a monument to poor white men is needed...
You might flock off to college for some basic spelling, grammar and English composition and a bit of history. Baby-boomers are hippies and not dead.
True, I don't see any difference in meaning between the original "taken out of context" comments and the comments in their entirety.
Like these, Lee?
UW sophomore Jill Edwards, who in the minutes questioned if a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the type of person the UW would want to produce...
UW senior Ashley Miller has also been derided for her comment, according to the minutes, that the university already has monuments that commemorate rich white men.
They've learned that efforts to sieze a political opportunity can bite them on the butt, eh?
Well, these TWO were named, and rightfully, they are taking the heat for their stupidity and prejudices.
BUT the vote failed because the WHOLE STUDENT SENATE failed to pass the resolution: MANY OTHERS are equally to blame.
Simple observation: Without rich white men there would be no University.
I am not aware of any endowments created by poor people.
The public school system many of these students graduated from is guided by the Department of Education, which is funded and run by Republicans. Write your congressman a thank you note today.
If there was an Olympic sport in Backpedalling, they would be Gold Medalists.
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