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TOM BOMBADIL
A merry fellow, quick with a song, captain of the table
Articles Posted: 101; Links Seeded: 489
Member Since: 4/2007Last Seen: 8/09/2009
Member Since: 4/2007Last Seen: 8/09/2009
13 Votes
30 Comments
Minnesota School Slaps Veterans in the Face
News Type: Event — Seeded on Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:02 AM EDT
Article Source: The Minneapolis Star Tribuneadvertisement
A national tour featuring decorated veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan won't be stopping at Forest Lake Area High School today as planned, after school leaders abruptly canceled the visit.
Steve Massey, the school principal, said the decision to cancel was prompted by concerns that the event was becoming political rather than educational and therefore was not suitable for a public school.
He said the school had received several phone calls from parents and others, some of whom indicated that they may stage a protest if the event took place.
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 | Forest Lake Event Cancelled | The Minneapolis Star Tribune | Tue Mar 25 | 0 |
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{"commentId":1620612,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
I find the actions of the principal to be cowardly and the school's craven caving to anti-military sentiments to be appalling. One of the young men scheduled to visit the school was actually an alumni who had served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne.
The event was deemed "too political."
What do you think?
{"commentId":1620612,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 7 votes
#1 - Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:26 AM EDT{"commentId":1620615,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
For more information on the school, see:
Forest Lake Area High School website
I feel sorry for the students who have been deprived by the over-zealous anti-war censors. Some of these anti-war evangelists say that military personnel should never be allowed in school.
But, many people go into the military at 18. Why shouldn't High School students have a fair opportunity to see what the military is all about and have a chance to decide for themselves what they think of our military without being brainwashed or filtered by anti-military propagandists?
{"commentId":1620615,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 5 votes
#2 - Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:30 AM EDT{"commentId":1620633,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
To contact Forest Lake Principal Steve Massey about this outrage:
smassey@forestlake.k12.mn.us
{"commentId":1620633,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":1620682,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
Bio and contact info for US Rep. Michele Bachmann
Thank Congresswoman Michele Bachmann for Supporting Our Troops
{"commentId":1620682,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":1620621,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
A photo of an American hero ... denied access to his alma mater:
{"commentId":1620621,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 5 votes
#3 - Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:32 AM EDT{"commentId":1620626,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
Star Tribune Columnist writes a fine blog on the subject:
Katherine Kersten: Did Forest Lake High Administrators Cave to Political Pressure in Barring Vets?
Shame on Forest Lake High administrators for caving to political pressure under the guise of preventing political pressure. Apparently, they only understand the sort of political pressure exerted by left-wing anti-war groups.
Since when can't a vet return to his own high school and talk about his service to his country?
I'll let Hegseth have the last word: "Are we saying that patriotism and duty and honor have no place in our public schools?"
{"commentId":1620626,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 3 votes
#4 - Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:36 AM EDT{"commentId":1620628,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
Star Tribune Poll Results as of 1:35AM CDT Mar 26:
Instant poll: Should the military be allowed to tell its story in public schools?
# of votes % of votes
Yes 16300 95.0 %
No 854 4.9 %
Total Votes 17154
{"commentId":1620628,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 3 votes
#5 - Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:38 AM EDT{"commentId":1620667,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
An interesting and impassioned blog with updated info:
Wake Up America: School Cancels Veterans
It seems that some of the high school students made it to the event at the Legion Post and participated after all.
Dozens of students at Forest Lake High School were so upset that they skipped school to go see the speech.
"My brother's in the armed forces...it's a slap in the face for people with family members in the armed forces," said student Elijah Miller.
The non-profit, non-partisan group does talk about staying in Iraq, but Hegeseth said the current speech has been adjusted for public school students. He said it's about sharing experience.
{"commentId":1620667,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 3 votes
#6 - Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:16 AM EDT{"commentId":1620674,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
Some very interesting documentation of recent harassment and even violence against the military here in America ...
{"commentId":1620674,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 3 votes
#7 - Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:24 AM EDT{"commentId":1620736,"authorDomain":"TBK"}
These private schools need to get a clue and lose the anti military attitudes. This country is built on the sacrificed blood, sweat and tears of those serving in uniform.
Maybe we do need the draft initiated, maybe that's the little tool in the shed that will get the attention of lofty minded anti-military folks who take for granted the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform.
Every school in the Union should be educated on the meaning of what goes behind wearing the military uniform and how those who are currently serving and have served, sacrificed, some making the ultimate, with the precious treasury of life for the freedoms we enjoy.
Imagine the attitudes pasted on to the youth through this type bias attitudes toward the uniformed.
As for Move America.Idiots, they are terrorist, enemy's of the State and should be dealt with accordingly, How Despicable!
{"commentId":1620736,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"TBK"}
- 3 votes
#8 - Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:27 AM EDT{"commentId":1623084,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
Thanks, TBK. As I have often said, it is possible to be principled in opposing the war (Chuck Hagel, Jim Webb, etc) without being dishonoring to the troops or treasonous to the nation.
{"commentId":1623084,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1624278,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
Since when does Berkeley run that school board?
{"commentId":1624278,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
- 2 votes
#9 - Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:07 PM EDT{"commentId":1624697,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
Sounds to me like a fair number of Minnesotans are upset about what happened. I don't know if the majority of them are or not. Of course, most Americans seem more excited about the fact that Britney Spears appeared on some TV show last night.
{"commentId":1624697,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1625877,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
That, Tom, is a disturbing truth.
{"commentId":1625877,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1627150,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
I guess I am old-fashioned. When I hear about a school rejecting Veterans, or protesters calling for the fragging of generals, or zealots protesting the war by invading a church and splashing blood on worshippers, or ELF terrorists burning down houses, I tend to think it's a big deal. Maybe the extremism of the far left has become more mainstream and acceptable now...or, people are just really jaded today.
{"commentId":1627150,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1627268,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
You're talking about a loud and very vocal fringe, some of whom I'm betting support Obama because they believe he really does subscribe to Wright-speak.
{"commentId":1627268,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1627902,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
I wonder if Obama is "radical enough" for some of the far Leftists (he has even been criticized for not being "black enough" by some). I wonder if Dennis Kucinich is really radical enough for some of them. When we have people on Newsvine openly embracing Hugo Chavez, praising Marxism or socialism, calling for troop fragging, calling Bush "Hitler," or extolling the virtues of anarchy, I realize that there is at least some group of people out there who are opposed to America - at least, any America that I recognize at all - and would probably hate Obama or Hillary or McCain.
They are, like Ward Churchill, on the side of the America's enemies. And, we might ask, what does that make them?
That said, I don't think the principal of this school is a traitor. But, he may not be a paragon of courage, that's for sure.
{"commentId":1627902,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1627953,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
Hmmm, you're right, Tom. Those folks will be the ones protesting outside the Denver convention, abusing the freedoms they enjoy while they denounce them.
Yes, the principal was cowed by that fringe.
{"commentId":1627953,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1628461,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
What's happening to our country? I was asking my Dad, who lived through the Depression and WWII, what would have happened in the 1940s if someone had gone out in the street and burned and American flag, or if they had hung a soldier in effigy, or suggested fragging a general, or called FDR "Hitler," or refused to allow Veterans to visit a school. He said such actions would have been unthinkable, and that people would have not accepted it.
Why do we accept it now?
{"commentId":1628461,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1628504,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
I don't accept it. I suppose we've grown tolerant of what some term "dissent." It's not, but that's what it's called these days. Much of it is rooted in brutish anarchy.
{"commentId":1628504,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1624752,"authorDomain":"anamericanjoe"}
{"commentId":1627251,"authorDomain":"doughpro160"}
What dolts. How on earth can the ignoramous' (both on the faculty and among the parents) view the visit as political? Do they not teach history in that school? Apparently not the right kind of history. They should be thanking the vets with every fiber of their being. It is just too bad that the students are not being taught that if it weren't for citizens brave enough to fight, there would be no choice at all. Political? How cowardly. We have presidential candidates galivanting through schools all over the country. The school would probably fall all over itself if Hillary or Obama wanted to visit.
{"commentId":1627251,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"doughpro160"}
- 3 votes
#11 - Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:20 PM EDT{"commentId":1627911,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
Excellent note, Donna, my thoughts exactly.
{"commentId":1627911,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1627332,"authorDomain":"doughpro160"}
I just read the statement posted to the school's website. It stated that increased publicity created a situation where individuals and anti-war groups were threatening to protest the event, and that it was cancelled due to safety concerns. So the terrorist tactic of intimidation worked on the school. Thank God our veterans and military do not have that same type of spaghetti-spined mentality.
{"commentId":1627332,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"doughpro160"}
- 3 votes
#12 - Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:35 PM EDT{"commentId":1627914,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
Beautifully put! LOL, I love "spaghetti-spined" as a descriptive. That is positively poetic! Could you post an excerpt of their statement? When a few idiot protestors can frighten a public school and deprive young people of an important educational experience ... when these fuzzy-brained, loud-mouthed losers can grossly insult our military and our nation, then it's time for the good, decent, responsible parents, students, and administrators to speak out and take stern action.
{"commentId":1627914,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1628015,"authorDomain":"edhog"}
This is not my axe to grind with the people of Minnesota but I have a question. I am from Southern California, served 3 years US Navy World War 2. I am disgusted with the attitude of the schools and the Commies in Berkeley. My question is, would it not be better to have automatic conscription and make all these idiots serve there country or someday have a horrible insurection. How, many good young men serve the military from MN. I know, the most dead from Iraq is from CA. Just a question. Also, why are these school officials such wimps and give in to all the crazy leftist. Take your shots folks.
{"commentId":1628015,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"edhog"}
- 3 votes
#13 - Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:35 PM EDT{"commentId":1628538,"authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
Ed, thanks for commenting here, and thanks so much for your service. Saying "thanks" to you seems terribly inadequate, but we all owe you a huge debt of gratitude.
Many Americans, particularly where I live here on the Gulf Coast, are shocked and angered by what we see in Berkeley or San Francisco, and certainly now in this Minnesota high school. It appears that many Minnesotans, including the young men from that area who served in Iraq, are also outraged by what happened.
God bless you, sir, and if anybody does take any shots in here at you, I have a feeling that you will be able to handle it very well. Much respect to you!
{"commentId":1628538,"threadId":"240137","contentId":"1390698","authorDomain":"tombombadil"}
- 2 votes
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