WTF? Principal feels need to "apologize" for Veterans for Peace speech?

[Quill Pen]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Veterans%20Day%20Apology

Heaven forbid some veterans actually think war is awful. Worse, they told a group of high school students that war isn't pretty. Quick, somebody alert the FBI. Traitors!

:grr:

[wtmusic]

1. Maybe he'll demand equal time from some dead heroes

something tells me he never served in the military...

[heatpackinliberal]

2. one sided hell

being in the military and having the commander in thief call the shots is a little too late to pick sides. Kids need to hear the "reality based" versions of military life from someone that has been there and isn't being paid to enlist them.

damn, had to edit my first post for spelling, where is my beer?

[xray s]

3. Now this comment by the principal is a real hoot!

"He said he was not told the speakers belonged to a peace organization, and that he would review the process for arranging assemblies."

They were the Veterans For Peace!. This nimrod principal was obviously translating into Bush Newspeak; Peace is War. You mean peace actually means peace? Time to send those students to the rat cage.

Man, are we a screwed up country or what?

[Quill Pen]

9. Pretty sure I know what "review the process" means...

...it means there will either be no more student-organized assemblies, period, or his personal rubber-stamp will be required on all future assembly speakers and materials.

He shot himself in the foot, I think. His tantrum letter basely cheapens his own attempts to honor veterans and teach his students remembrance and respect for those who've served.

Can only imagine what a jingoistic pukefest his "alternate viewpoint" assembly will be. Again, another shot in the foot: apparently he doesn't realize that teens can see right through overwrought displays of patriotism as easily as they can through plastic wrap.

:puffpiece:

[prairierose]

4. deja vu all over again

It was the same kind of thing in the 60's. Except very few members of VVAW got asked to speak at HS. If their main message was "We have to find a better way to resolve conflict" then what is the problem with that?

The problem is that kids are not stupid. Those kids know that a draft is on the horizon and telling them about the ugly realities of war makes them less than gung ho to be cannon fodder.

:hippie:

[uppityperson]

5. Here's the principal's email address from the school website

[email protected]

I just sent him an email thanking him and giving him my support for having an assembly that addressed war in a realistic manner, and that I thought this would be a better way to honor veterans by understanding a little more of what they have gone through.

[Ducks In A Row]

6. We should also mention he owns to the parents to be sure they know...

they can request their children's information NOT be sent to military recruiters. And that if he doesn't, the blood of those kids will be on his hands when they are tricked into enlisting.

[uppityperson]

7. my email, his response. Go for it.

Thank you very much for your comments, Mrs. We are working this issue through as a staff and as a student body, and I think we will all benefit from the dialogue that this assembly has stimulated.
Jim Kistner

-----Original Message-----
Subject: Veterans day presentation flak


Hello, I wanted to pass on my support and thank you for having Veterans
speak to your students and talk about the realities of war. As a parent of
a 16 yr old, and as a concerned citizen, I strongly believe that war is
uncomfortable and we need to be aware of this. I also believe that
addressing the realities of war in no way detracts from honoring those
involved in war. It helps us understand how much they should be honored.
Thank you for hosting this assembly, and you should not feel any necessity
to apologize for it.

Sincerely,

[freeplessinseattle]

8. I graduated from Sehome in '90, and am not proud to say so!

I'm not familiar with that principal, but it was a strangely RW kind of environment, odd since it is just a few blocks from Western Washington University. I remember this notorious civics teacher named Mr. Firebaugh who was well-known as a big-time loud and proud redneck-teaching civics the way he saw the world. I remember hearing that he had brought a special (antique or expensive or especially good at killing) GUN to school a few times to show off and pass around the room. Then a few years after I graduated there were campus cops and metal detectors, wonder if Nazi Firebaugh could still bring his gun for show and tell?

I'm embarassed. I wonder proportionally how many students were really offended? I hope Sehome is changing and more students spoke up against the principal's apology.

[raysr]

10. I know those guys

we all sat together on the stage when Dennis Kucinich was at the college. GREAT guys, Vet's for Peace.

[fortyfeetunder]

11. You should have heard that moran Dori Monson ranting

about this topic today on his radio show.

He was incessantly reiterating that Veterans Day was only to honor veterans period, and the veteran talking at Sehome HS was doing nothing more than spewing a "leftist agenda"....

[geniph]

13. I hate to break it to Dori Moron

but after having seen combat, a lot of veterans become activists for peace, and who is better qualified to protest against war than someone who's seen what it really is with their own eyes?

Why is it that some people think you aren't a "real" veteran if you're not a gung-ho, jingoistic, rambo-brained goosestepper? My husband is a Vietnam combat veteran, and he's very against the Iraq war.

[flamingyouth]

12. This is a terrible story

I have to say, it was good to be holed up on Molokai without access to the Internet last week. :grr: