UW student government slanders WWII hero and alum

A fine display of products of our nation's government indoctrination centers run the University of Washington's student government. Details:

In North Idaho, Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington is honored as a war hero.

But at the University of Washington in Seattle, the man who shot down enemy planes in World War II isn't the kind of person to represent the college, some students decided Tuesday.

Several of the UW's senate-students voted against a monument to honor the marine, who is credited with destroying 28 enemy aircraft.

Student Jill Edwards "questioned whether it was appropriate to honor a person who killed other people. She said she didn't believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce," according to minutes of the meeting.

Local veterans disagree and consider Boyington to be an icon in the fighter-pilot industry.

Don Glovick, commandant of the Marine Corps League Pappy Boyington Detachment 966 in Coeur d'Alene, said he isn't surprised that a "student organization of an institution of higher learning would resort to something like this considering the quality of professorship in the faculties."
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In further discussion, Andrew Everett told senate members he had drawn up funding proposals for the construction of the memorial, but was then asked why he was interested in honoring Boyington, a 1934 University of Washington graduate.

Everett said Boyington's achievements warranted recognition and that he had many of the qualities the university "hoped to produce in its students."

Student Karl Smith said the resolution calling for the monument "should commend Colonel's Boyington's service, not his killing of others," according to minutes of the meeting.

Student Ashley Miller commented that "many monuments at UW already commemorate rich white men."

Never mind that Boyington was from a working-class low-to-middle income family. Details, details. Continuing:

In 1958, Boyington wrote Baa Baa Black Sheep, which later became a television hit starring Robert Conrad.

Boyington died of cancer in 1988.

Back at the student-senate meeting, Edwards gained a little support from fellow student Mikhail Smirnoff, who said he was in favor of the resolution because it didn't support the monument, just the concept of it.

He added that he thought those who fought in World War II were heroes and that it was a much different war than the controversial war in Iraq.

The debate on the resolution was then closed and a tie was announced.

Senate chair Alex Kim broke the tie and voted no.

Since the resolution for a monument died, students who spoke out against it have received hate mail and threatening voicemails, according to the university's newspaper.

"We now have a preponderance of the 1960s and '70s anti-war crowd wearing pigtails and beards instructing student bodies in their beliefs, rather than the facts of past and present wars and its heroes, and what they mean to our present and future freedoms," Glovick said.

The liberal latté-drinking city's fishwrap, the Seattle Post-Unintelligent, spun the story in a way to try and evoke sympathy for the "snot nose, hemp-wearing, pot smoking, drum beating, dreadlock wearing, 'gee when is the financial aid check going to arrive,' brat kids". From the P-U:

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

I guess talk radio and the blogosphere are responsible for her idiocy? Or only the sun shining on said idiocy? Damn those right-wingers, using the poor child's own words against her! Since when did we become accountable for our own words? Continuing:

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.
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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.

If she didn't mean Boyington specifically, then why did she bring up "rich white men" when the topic was on him? And just what kind of "genius" in this Jill Edwards wench? According to Boortz, "It seems that Jill Edwards is catching a little heat from the great unwashed. Now that's a shame, isn't it! Don't you think that a young adult should be allowed to deliver an insult like this to everyone who ever wore the dress blues of a United States Marine without any negative feedback at all? Jill, it seems, holds a place on the University of Washington student senate due to her membership in something called the "Honors Croquet League." Now isn't that special. Jill Edwards is an honors croquet player. We're all impressed." What, is there a non-honors Croquet League, not to be confused with the esteemed Honors Croquet League?

Fortunately, there are a large number of UW students who are incensed and demanding action. Boortz reports that the following resolution is being introduced by a fellow student senator:

Associated Students of the University of Washington
Student Senate
Session 12

Edwards Apology

WHEREAS Student Senator Jill Edwards offended all members of the United States Marine Corps, past or present, dead or alive; especially those who were, are, or will be students at the University of Washington with her comment that she "didn't believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce." This commented brought shame and dishonor to not only the UW Student Senate, but also the University as a whole, all its members who have served in the Marine Corps and all Marines past and present.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON:

THAT

Student Senator Jill Edwards will submit, in writing, a signed apology letter seeking forgiveness to all students, staff, and alumni who are now or ever have served in the United States Marine Corps. In said letter it will contain a formal apology and a recognition that her very rights and freedoms are guaranteed by such members of the armed services, to include the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, past or present, living or dead. Additionally, said letter will be printed in all its form and substance in that day's edition of the UW Daily newspaper as well as being recited on the UW Radio station. To realize her mistake, she must acquaint herself with the history of the person she is so keen to dismiss, by reading Col. Boyington's book, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. All of these requirements are mandatory, under pain of losing her seat on the Student Senate.

History of Legislation

02/15/2006: Submitted for consideration

Here's hoping that the fallout will shake the foundation of the pervasive political correctness claptrap that infects this and other universities nationwide.

Welcome to the information age, children! If you want to fancy yourselves as "thoughtful" and "grown-up", you will need to learn lesson #1 in life: Actions have consequences. It's a lesson that the left is trying to shield you from, kiddies, but I'll be damned if the rest of normal America will let them get away with it!