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Democratic National Convention Staples Center in Los Angeles August 14-17, 2000 |
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Posted on 04/08/2010 6:25:22 AM PDT by jaydubya2
PORTAGE -- Two much-anticipated meetings on whether Portage High School Marine Junior ROTC cadets can post the U.S. flag at a tea party rally next week in Valparaiso didn't happen Wednesday.
The doors of Portage High School West, to where the meeting was moved in expectation of a large crowd, were lined with signs saying the meeting was canceled, after Superintendent Michael Berta received an e-mail from National Marine Corps JROTC Director William McHenry that read, "The Portage JROTC program is directed not to participate in the (Northwest Indiana) Patriot event."
"This is the best decision. It was made for the students," said School Board member Cheryl Oprisko, who called the Patriot group "political" and "extremist" last week. She said she will seek changes in school policy to address any kind of participation in political events by the JROTC and other school groups when they are identified as Portage High School students.
Berta was unavailable for comment, but board president Terry Hufford had said the objection by Oprisko to the cadets' presence at the rally was the only topic on the agenda.
Calls to national JROTC operations manager Delaney Williams, with whom Oprisko had exchanged e-mails, were not returned by late afternoon.
McHenry's order also went to senior Marine instructor Maj. John Johnston, who said he deferred to Berta for comment.
"This was just one color guard out of many we do for the community," Johnston said. "The cadets are neutral over the whole matter. The color guard hadn't even been picked." He said the cadets were aware of the controversy, but "are nonpartisan about these things."
About 15 veterans, active duty personnel and Patriots showed up at the administration building around the time of the meeting.
James Reeves, a 12-year member of the U.S. Army, quickly prepared a written request to be put on the agenda of the April 26 board meeting, which he presented to Associate Superintendent E. Ric Frataccia. "We want to address the board regarding the inflammatory language of Cheryl Oprisko," Reeves' request said.
The group then drove to the Portage library, anticipating a face-to-face meeting between Oprisko and Patriots founder Faith Jones, who were scheduled for interviews with Lakeshore Television (Channel 56).
Jones, who had alerted her group, appeared on schedule, but Oprisko did not. The group left after 45 minutes.
In an e-mail just before 5 p.m., Oprisko said she told Channel 56 she "would not go where the Tea Party has car loads." Later, she said Channel 56 interviewed her at another site and aired that interview Wednesday night. She also said National Public Radio called her for an interview that was to air at 5 and 8:30 a.m. today.
A Little leftie fish in a little pond making the point that everything starts at home.
THIS women should be voted OFF the school board.
They don’t have to go as a group representing JROTC. They can go as individuals.
They should encourage other people their age to attend, as well. Use this issue to get twice as many young people to go to the event.
Once there, informally (as in unofficially) recruit for the JROTC group.
Win/win.
Sounds to me like the Tea Party has a target in the next school board elections in Portage, IN.
Vote these commies out at every level of government, from bottom to top.
And as previous poster notes; use the issue to vote the Obot off the board.
Actually not unusual for the military to elect not to participate in a ‘political’ event in uniform.
While her motivation is obvious, don’t get PO’d at the JROTC lead for electing to keep the uniform and the flag out of controversy.
Be better to show up in a colonial uniform with a Gadsden flag.
I'm willing to give that one more chance....and then I will go feed my hogs. <./Henry Bowman>
Occasionally, even “educators” stumble on doing the right thing. The military has always been restricted from being overtly political - such as showing up at a rally in uniform, etc.
The military will have it’s true political dilemma coming up when the civil war starts.
Events hosted by political parties traditionally have partiotic color guards.
Those who are not patriotic apparently don’t want this tradition to continue.
I suggest that the Tea Party group in that area all show up to a high school sports even where the color guard will be, and spontaneously break out into a patriotic rally, singing God Bless America, shouting the pledge of allegiance, giving a thunderous standing ovation to Old Glory and to war veterans and soldiers in uniform who are home on leave.
FUBO (For You Boardmember Oprisko)
Clearly this is coming from their Commander in Chief, and they are bound to respect his orders. Although clearly all orders are coming with a political purpose now.
Democratic National Convention
Staples Center in Los Angeles
August 14-17, 2000
Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000
“Al Gore’s vision for the future”
12:45 p.m. PDT
Presentation of Colors
All City Junior ROTC Color Guard
My first reaction was shock...
but then I recall my nephew, who is a Marine, said they can’t participate in “political events” in uniform. He can participate as long as he is not representing the military/government.
I ultimately don’t have an issue with the orders.
B*** us.
Love,
JROTC
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Democratic National Convention Staples Center in Los Angeles August 14-17, 2000 |
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If a local non-partisan Tea Party event is too partisan for a JROTC color guard, why is the most pratisan event in the nation, the Democratic Nationasl Convention, able to have a JROTC color guard?
If a local non-partisan Tea Party event is too partisan for a JROTC color guard, why is the most partisan event in the nation, the Democratic National Convention, able to have a JROTC color guard?
(spelling correctd, even though DNC folks are mostly “prats”)
I would guess the JROTC commander will use this as a ‘battles and wars’ lesson for his unit.
The outcome makes this woman look ‘small’ (as it should) and galvanizes support for the tea party. Acts like this help define your opposition.
In the end, it’s probably a good thing to allow this termagant to think she ‘won.’
Outstanding point...
One that should be brought up to the idiot who made the “decision”...
Sure, because it would send the wrong message if the (junior) Marine Corps was caught supporting patriots. Do I really need a sarcasm tag?
I wouldn’t volunteer for color guard duty at a DNC convention -
you’re just inviting getting spit on and jeered.
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