Smart As You, Johnny

New York Sun ^ | 11/2/06 | Larry Schweikart (LS)

[LS]

Senator Kerry's comments about uneducated people being "stuck" in Iraq — essentially calling the men and women of the American military stupid — is one of the political blunders of the age. Seldom does a candidate single-handedly sink his party once, let alone twice, though William Jennings Bryan came close. Mr. Kerry may have done so.

Worse, it's simply not right to promote the idea that soldiers are dumb or even undereducated. New York Times reporter Chris Hedges asserted, "poor kids from Mississippi … who could not get a decent job … joined the Army because it was all we offered them." In reality, however, the American military — yes, even the foot soldiers — is the most educated in history and better educated than the American public on average. Annually, thousands of top honor students take the military entrance exams. The recruitment test, which all inductees must pass, includes questions that many Ph.D.s would miss, and I would gladly hold a contest pitting any 10 American Army soldiers, randomly selected, against any 10 public school teachers on a standardized test.

(Read the remainder of the article at the Sun)

[LS]

Yep. The media is fond of telling Pat Tillman's tragic story, without really appreciating the significance of what an educated, deep-thinker he was.

[maine-iac7]

The University of Dayton gives considerable autonomy (that's both good and bad) to its faculty. No one has ever interfered with what I teach, and I always get pretty high student evals, so I think they know to leave me alone.

"Good on you!"

It seems there's a slight light at the end of the tunnel re colleges - more conservative students holding their ground?

[swmobuffalo]

"Care to conduct the test?"

Sure why not. You find 6 average "grunts" and I'll stack their intelligence on a standard test up against my college grad, self read, life experienced husband any day!

[swmobuffalo]

Oh and I forgot, he's a Navy vet himself.

[rmlew]

Professor Schweikart, I hope you have tenure and a thick hide.

Personally, I put the comment right up there with the "Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion" quip. (Of course "Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion" defined 3 of the 6 elements of the Democrat Party in the post civil War era.)

[LS]

Lol. I have a thick hide and am tenured. I tell my students that UD can't fire me unless I get "caught doing strange things to small animals with a fork."

[Watery Tart]

Great editorial, Mr. LS!

I'd only change one thing: I'd put the questions to any service -man or -woman vs. the low-GPA Jon Carry himself.
</presumptuous> ;o)

Now, my mother -- who was only allowed to complete the 8th grade, but it was the Depression -- who is one of the smartest people I know -- would call this idjit "Book smart and world dumb." That is being generous, but I digress...

After his election loss in 1972

[Watery Tart]

Thanks for the ping, Bahbah!

Justified!