Recently, Brian Crouch of Sound Politics beat the Seattle papers to one of those stories that's another harbinger of the Disintegrating Left. Students at Seattle Socialist - er Central - Community College virulently chased a U.S. Army recruiter away from his table on Bush's inauguration day. Pamphlets were ripped, and invective hurled. The picture here in Brian's post is worth a thousand words.
Now, today's Seattle Weekly reports the school's administrators have asked the SCCC student group held responsible, "Students Against War," to issue a formal apology. That may not be forthcoming, although (hold your breath here), we'll find out tomorrow.
The Weekly's "Buzz" column (second item down) has more - and a sincere hat tip to them for following the story at all, despite the obvious Leftist slant of the writer. Here's the brief, but highly informative report, in its entirety.
A Seattle Central Community College campus antiwar group, Students Against War, is in hot water after students chased U.S. Army recruiters off the SCCC campus during an Inauguration Day anti-Bush rally. Nobody was hurt in the incident, in which students ripped up recruiting literature and verbally confronted recruiters. Right-wing bloggers and radio talk shows across the country have gotten hold of the story and are besieging SCCC administrators with demands to discipline the students. The upshot, says Pete Knutson, the students' faculty adviser, was a letter from the administration demanding that the students apologize by Thursday or have their organization disbanded. In his response to the administration, Knutson noted that disbanding the group would be collective punishment for individual actions, that recruiters knew there would be large protests that day, and that asking the students to apologize was like "a show trial for a dictatorship." The ACLU is looking into the case, and students will announce Thursday, Feb. 3, whether they plan to apologize. Says Knutson, "Don't count on it."
Whew. And to think Pete's a rugged commercial fisherman from West Seattle, and anthropology instructor at SCCC, who's rightly concerned about pedestrian safety on Fauntleroy Way. Great, I agree with his moving epistle. But I guess free speech for the military doesn't rate too high with you, Pete. So bite my halibut, fellah, OK?
As it happens, the ideological mauling of our military at SCCC on Inauguration Day was part of an organized protest involving SCCC's Students Against War chapter that was written up in The Socialist Worker (second item in link). The article says the recruiters were "arrogantly" mistaken to show up, against the advice of student government, to offer information.
Demonstrators surrounded two Army recruiters who were arrogant enough to show up against the advice of the student government. The 300 students crowded around the recruiters, chanting, “Recruiters off campus!” and “No more war!” Students tore up Army information pamphlets and threw them back in the recruiters’ faces, while several pounded on their table.
Almost a week prior to the outburst, the protest was also publicized in The Socialist Worker.
As you can see here, Seattle Central Community College has certain ethical and educational objectives. The faculty and staff are commited to certain "learning outcomes." These include "intra-personal learnings" such as "self-reflection" and "self-responsibility," and "social behaviors" such as "social interaction" and "social responsibility."
Gee. They left out The Golden Rule.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at February 02, 2005 07:56 PM | Email ThisYou would think they were lighting up in a public place.
I think that the intimidation used to discourage the recruiters presence was uncalled for, and they do owe them an apology. I thought we lived in a civilized world, apparently not.
But just remember, those students are the future leaders of tommorrow.
Sad, Sad Day.....
Posted by: Chris on February 2, 2005 08:03 PMNo Responsibilty/Respect Required....Self respect or Moral integrity not a requirement....The list goes on and on....
They are immature, liberal, socialist skulls full of mush who will be "professional" future protestors.
Their emotions and principles will always trump law and order because they "know what is best".
They could be future Democrat County Auditors!!!
Posted by: Norm on February 2, 2005 09:05 PMIt is NOT ok to destroy private or government property! Protesters (idiots) need to be taught a lesson beyond an empty apology.
I admire that Marine for not turning around and snapping the backs of a few of the SCCC losers.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on February 2, 2005 10:08 PMThese students could have picketed peacefully, but they had no right whatsoever to get in this guy's face and treat him the way they did.
If I walked by their group on any given day, I might disagree, but I would never tear into them, harrass and destroy their literature right in front of their faces. That's unnecessary and just plain babyish.
Apologize, kids. Now.
There is no constitutional right to viciously harrass others. Not even for the left.
Posted by: Michele S on February 2, 2005 11:10 PMAll so they can learn intra-whatever skills and disrespect a member of the armed forces.
I think SCCC should be shut down for the remainder of the year (I'd say permanently, but I'm holding out hope that future students won't be such spoiled jerks) and a new administration hired before re-opening.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on February 3, 2005 12:19 AMThey aspire to be targets for bulldozers.
Posted by: ERNurse on February 3, 2005 12:20 AMThe right to free speech is being badly abused by those who think it’s a blank check for any protest; people who behave like this invite that right to be restricted. (isn’t that happening already?)
Political socialists, anarchists and far left liberals seem to be forming an "unholy alliance" to destroy this country.
Maybe it's time to stop funding (with my tax money) organizations that support those that are determined to destroy my childrens future.
Posted by: jaybo on February 3, 2005 08:50 AMUh, huh. Blaming the victim, eh? I guess every crime victim has it coming, too.
Posted by: Steve on February 3, 2005 08:54 AMXiaoding
Posted by: xiaoding on February 3, 2005 09:49 AMWell, what was he suppose to do? SHOOT THEM!!! That would really give you "WAR HATERS" something to Rag About. The Recruiter(army) was the civalized one. What planet were you raised on Xiaoding?
Xiading, with your superior opinion of the Armed Forces here in the US, why dont you move to Canada, or better yet, across an ocean, we dont need your WAR HATING ego here.
I am so amazed/ashamed by the flagerant bashing of our military. What is this country coming too.
Xiaoding -- You are an example of a 'Socialist Style Home Enviroment'. Dropped on your head at an early age, left for the 'Village" to raise, enrolled in the Hate America Universities. Course of study, Hate-Hate-Hate, Blame-Blame-Blame. I am sure the only degree you have is from FU.
Posted by: Go Army on February 3, 2005 10:30 AMSpin it how you will, Students 1, Army 0. By the way, I am a Jacksonian, nitwits :)
Posted by: Xiaoding on February 3, 2005 12:36 PMIt isn't a matter of who won or who lost! It comes down to showing class, level headedness, and responsibility. If you want to put that on to a scoreboard it would read Students 0 Army 3.
The truth without any SPIN is that it is obvious to anyone with any sense of civility that the students were out of line, and acted in a dispicable manner!
Posted by: Joe on February 3, 2005 01:04 PMWant another example of discrimination against the military and College Republicans? Visit my latest post at the WCRF weblog. Click the link for more the full story. We are increasinly coming under attack, and now more than ever need support from the RIGHT!
I am working on a serious project, a manual on how to launch counter-protests and rallies. Your comments and contributions would be invaluable!
Posted by: CR ACTIVIST on February 3, 2005 09:29 PMThe problem here is once you start punishing these sorts of demonstrations, you cut into the fabric that makes this nation everything we hold so dear. You can hate these people all you want but the minute you start trying to take away their rights, through organizational disbanding or expulsion, for not saying what you want then you turn Seattle and America into a thought controlled state. Try selling that as George Bush's vision of freedom...
Posted by: Kermit on February 3, 2005 11:44 PMJust what kind of thoughts were these students THINKING....
What ever happened to common curtisy? Due onto others, as they would do unto you?
I am a parent of two, and I am appalled by these "CHILDREN's" actions. It was not peaceful, nor respectful, it was Mob-Like.
Where are the recruitor's rights? Who gave the Demonstrators the right to destroy his property?
Kermit-Look at both sides, and you will find that the students were wrong by their ACTIONS, not their right to Freedom of Speech.
Posted by: Chris on February 4, 2005 08:03 AMMany of the comments here exemplify what is wrong with the right today. Weak, whining complainers who expect other people to do their fighting for them.
CR, you got the right idea, do you have a blog?
When asked to leave by the security guards, what should the recruiter have done? (one of the posters asked this question). How about pointing to a flag and saying "these colors don't run!" Sadly, this kind of resonse is just incomprehensible to many on the right. Running to mommy is more their speed. Most of them are sunshine patriots. (let me add that I don't blame the individual recruiters involved, I am sure they are just following orders from their kiss-ass, carreerist commanders)
People, take a good hard look at the whining and complaining on this board. It's a disgrace. Resolve to stand and fight next time, or be damned.
Xiaoding
Posted by: Xiaoding on February 4, 2005 10:32 AM