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Now I just saw something on the news last night, something involving my alma mater, UMass Amherst.
It seems that a graduate student (Rene Golnzalez) wrote an op-ed piece for the Daily Collegian, stating that Patrick Tillman, late of the US Army 75th Ranger Battalion, should not be glorified as a hero, that "This was a 'G.I. Joe' guy who got what was coming to him. That was not heroism, it was prophetic idiocy." And in another line, "It's hard to say I have any sympathy for his death because I don't feel like his 'service' was necessary ... He was acting out his macho patriotic crap and I guess someone with a bigger gun did him in."
The article in question was part of a point-counterpoint with another op-ed piece that praised Tillman as a hero.
Needless to say, this grad student has drawn a lot of fire upon himself from the UMass community, the military (particularly Rangers), and others who knew about the article. He's even received death threats over this.
The current president of the university made some good points in a press release. "The comments of Rene Gonzalez ... are a disgusting, arrogant and intellectually immature attack on a human being who died in service to his country." "Thanks to Pat Tillman and the other men and women who have fought and died for our freedom, Americans enjoy the rights, including the right to speak and write as they see fit."
Gonzalez then went on to say this (which I think is just a crock of bull in trying to cover his own ass): "I mean no disrespect to the family of Patrick Tillman, and I would be very hurt to learn they were hurt by my comments. My intent was to open a debate on whether or not serving the in U.S. military is a de facto reason for considering someone a hero."
I tried going onto the Daily Collegian's website to read more on the controversy, but the site's overloaded with high traffic volume.
Daily Collegian
My opinion? Tillman wanted to serve his country. He sacrificed a lot to do it. He ended up making the ultimate sacrifice. He should be honored for what he did. His heart was in the right place.
It seems that a graduate student (Rene Golnzalez) wrote an op-ed piece for the Daily Collegian, stating that Patrick Tillman, late of the US Army 75th Ranger Battalion, should not be glorified as a hero, that "This was a 'G.I. Joe' guy who got what was coming to him. That was not heroism, it was prophetic idiocy." And in another line, "It's hard to say I have any sympathy for his death because I don't feel like his 'service' was necessary ... He was acting out his macho patriotic crap and I guess someone with a bigger gun did him in."
The article in question was part of a point-counterpoint with another op-ed piece that praised Tillman as a hero.
Needless to say, this grad student has drawn a lot of fire upon himself from the UMass community, the military (particularly Rangers), and others who knew about the article. He's even received death threats over this.
The current president of the university made some good points in a press release. "The comments of Rene Gonzalez ... are a disgusting, arrogant and intellectually immature attack on a human being who died in service to his country." "Thanks to Pat Tillman and the other men and women who have fought and died for our freedom, Americans enjoy the rights, including the right to speak and write as they see fit."
Gonzalez then went on to say this (which I think is just a crock of bull in trying to cover his own ass): "I mean no disrespect to the family of Patrick Tillman, and I would be very hurt to learn they were hurt by my comments. My intent was to open a debate on whether or not serving the in U.S. military is a de facto reason for considering someone a hero."
I tried going onto the Daily Collegian's website to read more on the controversy, but the site's overloaded with high traffic volume.
Daily Collegian
My opinion? Tillman wanted to serve his country. He sacrificed a lot to do it. He ended up making the ultimate sacrifice. He should be honored for what he did. His heart was in the right place.