I spent my time in the Marine Corps with a number of folks who'd been "diverted" by the court system. Even though they were not supposed to do it there was a lot of horse trading "your Honor, my client will enlist in the military in exchange for". . .kept them out of the jails.
I don't pass any judgment on WHO they were . . . I do know that all the guys in my Platoon were about as diverse a group as you could get.
I think I learned and grew more during that time, and as a result of that experience, than at any period of my life.
I'm both thankful and proud of my service in the United States Marine Corps.
Some of the these high powered intellectuals are not near as bright as they like to convince themselves they are.
Amazing. I'm amazed at how many universities apparently foster this attitude. My wife has a niece who graduated from the University of North Carolina a couple of years ago at the age of ~40. It quickly became apparent to her that the ONLY way to pass certain classes was to ignore her own beliefs and spout back what the professor preached. IIRC, one of the worst of these wasn't even a U.S. citizen, and he continually railed on the evils of the U.S. capitalistic society.
quote:
"Transpeople are part of the Columbia community," said senior Sean Udell at the meeting, referring to the military's current ban on transgender soldiers.
Do you think some of these people EVER get out in the real world? That sounds like the lead in for a Monty Python sketch.
It was a stupid comment for Kerry to make. He was a Veteran himself so i doubt he meant that literally. I did not hear it myself nor can i find the rest of the speech to provide context. He may have been mocking someone or that is only part of the statement. Either way it is a ignorant thing to have said.
Here's a video with the audio clip. Not too hard to find.
Unfortunately this attitude is very prevalent around my area. Maybe it's just that my wife's entire family feels that way. My wife had a nasty fight with her brothers wife over this attitude, sticking up for our 2 nephews in the military. Both were honor roll students, and are performing excellent jobs in the service.
I'm not at all surprised at the attitude. It's prevalent among academics. Most have never held a job in the real world and know only what they've read in books. That same belief sustem is is grafted onto these students.
Most will get a nice 2x4 of reality to the face in the first job they get. Unfortunately, about 1/4 of them are never introduced to reality and continue to hold these beliefs throughout life.
Transgendered front line combat soldiers work in theory. The reality is that these folks are social deviants who don't work in reality anywhere.
Do you really want your product represented by a guy in hose and high heels?
No argument from me . . . I see some bizarre shit. I try to fend it off my making full sentences without using the words "multi-disciplinary", "cross functional" or "interface".
I've thought about distancing myself from the University but I've quickly gained a reputation for being off the wall . . . and I can get away with it there. We started my second class with a guitar solo. Totally screwed with a few of the young minds.
I do my last class each semester in the "Secrets of success you will never learn in an Ivy League environment". So far . . it's been a hit.
If Columbia ends up picking up the tab for my Ph.D or law school . . I take back everything I've said.
I plan to return back to college and teach economics and finance. The very best professors I had were former CEOs and Wall Street guys who retired and came back to provide education in context of reality.
It wasn't just Figure 14, Page 38. It was, this is how this particular principal made/cost my company $X,XXX,XXX.
Dear Members of the Columbia University Community,
On Wednesday the University Senate Task Force on Military Engagement will hold the last of its three hearings on the question of Columbia's relationship with the U.S. military and the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program. These meetings, open to all Columbia University ID holders, have been designed as forums for open and thoughtful discussion of a difficult, sometimes emotional set of issues. Under these challenging conditions, we have insisted on civility and respectful participation. To date, the hearings have been characterized by considerate and thoughtful discussion. On Wednesday night we are committed to ensuring that the Task Force hearing remains a venue for safe and open deliberation.
To reiterate, Task Force hearings are considered a matter of public record. All comments are being preserved and made openly available, and the events will continue to be open to the press. We have posted a transcript of the first hearing and sound files of each of the first two hearings on the Task Force website (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/senate/militaryengageme nt/). A transcript of the second hearing will be posted within a couple of days.
Here are details of our final hearing tomorrow:
* Wednesday, February 23, 2011. Faculty and graduate student perspectives on ROTC Opening remarks by Claude M. Steele, Provost and Dean of Faculties 417 International Affairs Building (Altschul Auditorium), 8 PM - 10 PM
On February 16, the Task Force began a web-based survey of student opinion on ROTC. The questions were for the nearly 10,000 students in Columbia College, Barnard College, the School of General Studies, the undergraduate program of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of International and Public Affairs. These are schools with students who have participated as cadets in off-campus ROTC programs in the last five years. If you are a student in one of the five schools, please take a few minutes to fill out the survey at<http://www.columbia.edu/cu/senate/survey/> before the deadline of midnight, Thursday, February 24.
In addition to the survey, the Task Force has an open submission policy. The Task Force has publicly posted email submissions received through February 20, and is continuing to receive them at rotc-taskforce@columbia.edu. We ask authors to specify in their submissions any restrictions on public posting.
Survey results will be announced in a comprehensive report that the Task Force will present for the March 4 Senate plenary. The Task Force does not have the power to adjudicate these issues—any change in Columbia’s approach to the U.S. military is a matter that must pass through the University Senate. Following the submission of the Task Force’s March 4 report, two Senate plenaries will remain for discussion and a vote on any proposed resolution.
Ron Mazor Co-Chair, Task Force on Military Engagement CC '09, Law '12
Roosevelt Montas Co-Chair, Task Force on Military Engagement Associate Dean, Center for the Core Curriculum CC '95, GSAS '96, GSAS '04
About the Columbia University Senate
The Senate is a University-wide legislative and policy-making body. It is mandated to consider all matters affecting the entire University or more than one school. Its 108 elected and appointed members represent faculty, students, administrators, research officers, librarians, and alumni. The Senate was established in 1969. Anyone with a CUID is welcome at its meetings.
I wrote and told them that regardless of a person's opinion the way the young Soldier was treated was an embarrassment that will take years to live down.
My class is in the same building and ends at 8:00pm tomorrow night. I will be there.
Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 10:57 am:
This CoUNTry is so f**ked !!! I'm glad I'm over the hump.
I can't tell you how often I have the same sentiment. I think I've seen the best we have to offer and are now witnessing the start of the decline. I could well be wrong, but it will take a big change in attitude of the young generations to not go down in flames.
Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 12:53 pm:
quote:
This CoUNTry is so f**ked !!! I'm glad I'm over the hump.
The mind is such a resilient organ in its ability to forget pain. Presumably, y'all lived through the late 70's when our then Dear Leader Carter decimated the economy and worse, the morale, of this Great Country. We didn't know it yet but we were on the verge of one of the greatest US presidents, Ronald Reagan.
I work with some of the brightest and most hard working people on the planet at Broadcom. It is inspiring how the New Immigrants to the US show unbridled optimism because they have memory of where they came from.
We are on the the cusp of infrastructure change where the People are finally standing up to the leaders who have lied to us for the past 20 years. Wisconsin is leading the way and the unnecessary termite infestation of the public sector can be transferred to the private sector.
We will soon replace this Thing Who Occupies the White House. America soon will no longer throw its friends under the bus while kowtowing to our enemies.
To borrow a phrase, America's best days are ahead of us when the People wake up to embrace freedom and reject servitude.
Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 03:39 pm:
We will soon replace this Thing Who Occupies the White House. America soon will no longer throw its friends under the bus while kowtowing to our enemies.
To borrow a phrase, America's best days are ahead of us when the People wake up to embrace freedom and reject servitude.
Reindog, I hope you're right too. However I'm not as optimistic. After all, did you see the outcome of the Chicago mayoral election?
Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 03:51 pm:
As a friend of mine who owned a construction company in Maine noting the difference between Maine and Massachusetts subcontractors:
"You can fix stupid but you can't fix corrupt".
Chicago always has been and always will be corrupt.
Rahm should have been disqualified for running for mayor because he didn't meet residency requirements. This was the very same weapon Rahm and Obama used against Obama's opponents in his Senatorial race. The fix is in but it is no surprise.
I am beginning to believe Wisconsin is truly a watershed moment. We now have up and coming leaders who are telling the truth: Kasek in Ohio, Walker in Wisconsin, Christie in New Jersey. People might not like hearing the truth but they will accept it when there are leaders who are willing to stand on principle. Reaganism is Alive and more people will realize that Conservatism is the ONLY answer to make this country great.
Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 04:10 pm:
I love the sign in the BY Post article that says "The Military Preys on LOW INCOME communities"
Some of the guys/ gals i served with joint to ESCAPE the low income communities. They where glad to have 3 squares a day and making enough $ to have a nice living on a high school degree.
Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 04:35 pm:
Everyone is a victim. You're a victim too; you just may not realize it. The good news is that the government is here to help you, so relax and feel comforted.
Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 06:05 pm:
Presumably, y'all lived through the late 70's when our then Dear Leader Carter decimated the economy and worse, the morale, of this Great Country. We didn't know it yet but we were on the verge of one of the greatest US presidents, Ronald Reagan.
Point well take but there are some huge differences. Carter didn't set us up with nearly as much debt as BO has, and BO isn't done yet. As I write this the current Debt Clock show each tax payer owing $127,863. That's per tax payer not per household!
It's real long and I didn't have time to make it to the end. I know they are going to be selling their investment strategies as part of all of this. The thing is that this video is a bit dated, and some of the things that he talks about as future events have been taking place. It really is a house of cards that can come crashing down in a hurry. Every day that goes by with us paying our way with borrowed money is one more step toward that house of cards losing it's foundation. This is one thing that I would be thrilled to be wrong about, but I keep seeing more and more signs of heading in the wrong direction. Reagan was a great leader in my book, but he couldn't fix all that was causing the long term erosion of the US. I really don't see turning things around long term as long as the public education system exists in it's current form. That won't get fixed easily.
Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 06:56 pm:
Reagan was a great leader in my book
I agree, he may have been one of the best ever. But lets not forget he wasn't perfect either, some look back on his presidency with rose colored glasses. He both raised taxes and contributed more than his fair share of red ink to our national debt.
