UW Student Senate rejects memorial for Pappy Boyington

[Father Knows Best]

From World Net Daily and linked on Fark.com:

Students reject honor to 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' hero
Member of Marines not 'sort of person UW wanted to produce'

Posted: February 14, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

The University of Washington's student senate rejected a memorial for alumnus Gregory "Pappy" Boyington of "Black Sheep Squadron" fame amid concerns a military hero who shot down enemy planes was not the right kind of person to represent the school.

Student senator Jill Edwards, according to minutes of the student government's meeting last week, said she "didn't believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce."

Ashley Miller, another senator, argued "many monuments at UW already commemorate rich white men."

Senate member Karl Smith amended the resolution to eliminate a clause that said Boyington "was credited with destroying 26 enemy aircraft, tying the record for most aircraft destroyed by a pilot in American Uniform," for which he was awarded the Navy Cross.

Smith, according to the minutes, said "the resolution should commend Colonel Boyington's service, not his killing of others."

The senate's decision was reported first by Seattle radio talk-host Kirby Wilbur of KVI, whose listeners were "absolutely incensed," according to producer Matt Haver.

Brent Ludeman, president of the university's College Republicans, told WND in an e-mail the decision "reflects poorly on the university."

"Pappy Boyington went beyond the call of duty to serve and protect this country – he simply deserves better," Ludeman said. "Just last year, the university erected a memorial to diversity. Why can't we do the same for Pappy Boyington and others who have defended our country?"

The resolution points out Boyington, a student at the UW from 1930-34, served as a combat pilot in the 1st Squadron, American Volunteer Group – the "Flying Tigers of China" – and later as a Marine Corps combat pilot in charge of Marine Fighting Squadron 214, "The Black Sheep Squadron."

Along with the Navy Cross, Boyington was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his heroism. He was shot down and spent 20 months in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.

The resolution says, "Be it resolved … [t]hat we consider Col. Gregory Boyington, United States Marine Corps, to be a prime example of the excellence that this university represents and strives to impart upon its students, and, That we desire for a memorial for Col. Boyington be commenced by the University of Washington by 11 January 2008, the twentieth anniversary of his death, which will be publicly displayed, so that all who come here in future years will know that the University of Washington produced one of this country's bravest men, and that we as a community hold this fact in the highest esteem."

Commenting on the decision, a blogger who says he met Boyington on numerous occasions at a museum and air show over the years noted the famous flyer "was no rich boy," having grown up in a struggling family in which he was forced to work hard to make it through school. The blogger, who hosts the website Paradosis, also pointed out Boyington was part Sioux.

Boyington was open about his marital problems and alcohol abuse, saying notably, "Just name a hero and I'll prove he's a bum."

The blogger wondered, "have our Washington youth revised history so much as this? To compare Boyington – or for that matter any of our WW2 vets – to murderers? What are these kids being taught today? They don't deserve those 20 months Pappy spent being tortured and beaten in a Japanese prison camp ... they don't deserve any of what our grandfathers and grandmothers sacrificed to free Europe and the Pacific."

Boyington wrote a book in 1958 that reached the best-seller list, "Baa Baa, Black Sheep." In 1976, he sold rights to Universal, which aired a TV series for two seasons of the same name.

Boyington, who died Jan. 11, 1988, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48808

Grrrrrr ...

 

[SMLE]

I say we call in Marine Air and level UW!

 

[KriegHund]

A war hero is not the kind of person...they want to produce...

What a depressing non-christian-god forsaken day (to keep from offending anyone out there )

 

[hillbilly]

Here are the actual UW Student Senate minutes.

It makes for entertaining reading.


http://senate.asuw.org/secretary/minutes/senate/12/02-07-2006.pdf

 

[CajunBass]

Shoot. Probably just as well. "Pappy" probably wouldn't admit he went to school there, anymore.

 

[The-Fly]

kids for you. Too much socialist leftist thinking, not enough exposure to the real world.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I say we call in Marine Air and level UW!

I wouldn't go that far. I do believe in accountability, however. Consider this:

Student senator Jill Edwards, according to minutes of the student government's meeting last week, said she "didn't believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce."

Ashley Miller, another senator, argued "many monuments at UW already commemorate rich white men."

Congratulations to Ms. Jill Edwards and Ms. Ashley Miller of the University of Washington! You are the first inductees to FKB's "Hall of Shame" and perpetual blacklist. I hope that someday you need something from me. You'll get a lesson in honor and respect, and not much else....

 

[Mulliga]

Holy schlamoly. While I do have some experience with college student governments (and the idiotic things they do on a regular basis), I never thought I'd see the day when a Marine who served in WWII and was awarded the freaking Medal of Honor (those students do understand the kind of valor that requires, right? :banghead: ) was denied a small memorial in appreciation of his service.

 

[Herself]

Greg Boyington, a "rich white man?" Do they know what Chenault and the USMC paid during his days as a fighter pilot? ("Promises" and "not very much," respectively).

Oh, help me! The man was a drunk. He dealt with it pretty well and wasn't especially reluctant about admitting it; but among other things, that meant he never got very far ahead, financially.

I have always been impressed at how much he managed to achieve in spite of his struggles with alcohol. Aside from drinking to excess, that man was my kind of stupid.

Shortsighted college kids can't see past his skin color. And they got that wrong.

--H

 

[YellowLab]

Offensive comment deleted

 

[ambush]

"in a handbasket I'll tell ya, in a handbasket"

 

[kwelz]

Offensive comment deleted

When did we start linking off to The Low Road.
Whatever you feelings on this topic, and they are probably about the same as mine. There was no calling whatsoever for comments like that. This is the High road, we are above acting like this.

 

[UWstudent]

kids for you. Too much socialist leftist thinking, not enough exposure to the real world.

he said it perfectly above..

by the way, this decision by the UW senate does not reflect my personal thoughts and opinions.. the senate is composed by almost 100% leftist student body, which do not want to exhibit any sort of war related memorials or whatever..

i wish it were more evenly distributed

 

[SMLE]

Just had an idea...

Let's all chip in for a giant portrait of Pappy and have it placed in the UW student senate chambers!

Then find out what streets Ms. Edwards and Ms. Miller live on and get them renamed "Boyington Blvd." or "Black Sheep Lane"!

 

[KAR120C]

Presumably this is a least partially an over reaction to Iraq, by these idiots. They think if they lash out against a past event it will somehow magically achieve what they want in the future. I wonder if their next strategies include holding their breath, and "not being your best friend anymore". When did they start admitting three year olds to college anyway?

Would that they could spend one week in a Japanese POW camp. Getting hit with a larger clue stick than that I cannot imagine.

I suppose it is too much to hope that at one point in their pathetic self centered little lives they eventually learn the truth about the Japanese government that the GIs were fighting against, e.g.
- They massacred civilians in the 100,000's, if not millions. And we aren't talking slowly starved to death, or collateral damage, we're talking writhing on the end of a bayonnet, or falling decapitated into a pile of bodies.
- They forced countless conquered females to be sex slaves.
- They performed biological experiments equal to anything the Nazi's did.
- They practiced cannibalism on murdered POWs.
- They planned to sacrifice their entire civilian population by sending them to fight the Americans, armed with bamboo spears.

 

[grimjaw]

It's a political body going back and forth about revisionist history. This kind of thing happens all the time. A few of the members objected to the wording of the memorial. One made disparaging comments about the military and/or members of the military, and another made a racist/classist comment about 'rich white men.' If the student body doesn't vote them off when they're up for reelection, oh well.

I wonder if this is the kind of thing that young politicians engage in.

jmm

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

A war hero is not the kind of person...they want to produce...

What a depressing non-christian-god forsaken day (to keep from offending anyone out there )

I am a non-christian myself but would have to agree that this sucks. I defend their right to choose not to honor a war hero as the "type of person" that they want to promote but I would also like to see alot of people (including alumni) decide that UW is not the "type of school" they would like to attend or support in any way.

Yea!!, I actually got to use the fire emoticon for something.

 

[dch1978]

Student Senate

Remember, these are over-privaleged rich white girls, (most likely, didn't see a picture), they are now rebelling towards their father, (rich white guy), and want everything that he had to be taken from him.

I am at college, a little older than most students, and am appalled at what the 19 yr old female mind uses to describe all issues. Republicans = rich, white, slave owners, still today they own slaves, they are just kept quiet.

My folding pocket knife is too large (3"), for any practical use except to "stab someone in the heart."

I pray these people learn what the world can do them before they are killed. Some have absolutely no clue what can happen while walking home drunk on a college campus. But the problem there is that campus cops keep it pretty quiet.

I also hope that the alumni will pull financial support.

DCH

 

[CAS700850]

My friends, every time I begin to weep for the future of our country, given situations like this, i pause and go to the web pages for West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy. There, we see thousands of young people who still volunteer to serve their country and get a college education. Add to that the thousands of ROTC cadets around the country, and you'll see, as I do, that higher education and service to country are not mutually exclusive.

 

[KriegHund]

My friends, every time I begin to weep for the future of our country, given situations like this, i pause and go to the web pages for West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy. There, we see thousands of young people who still volunteer to serve their country and get a college education. Add to that the thousands of ROTC cadets around the country, and you'll see, as I do, that higher education and service to country are not mutually exclusive.

Im not a soldier, but that deserves a big Hoo Rah (or ooh rah? )

 

[Vex]

In the announcements section at the end of the minutes, there is the following:

Hala Dillsi noted that GBLTC is having auditions for the drag show this week.

It was noted that tickets for the Vagina Monologues are currently available in the
HUB ticket office.

Jon Lee said Innocence Project Northwest is having a screening at the Burke
Museum regarding the death penalty.

I think it's safe to say we're dealing with a "far left extremist" group, here.

 

[dracphelan]

Thanks for the reminder of why I will probably never be able to return to college and get my masters and doctorate. I would never be able to keep my temper in check around these people.:banghead:

 

[HSMITH]

These are the future leaders of our country, and a typical example of what the liberals in our educational system strive to produce. The bad news is they are starting on them in the elementary schools. Parents that hope to raise rational human beings have a tough chore these days.

Pappy Boyington is a NATIONAL HERO!!!!!!!!

 

[MS .45]

God help the United States. These idiots are our future politicians. They've no idea about true sacrifice and honor. This makes me mad and sad.

 

[Polishrifleman]

Being very local to the UW and having many friends that graduated from there I find it very alarming but can understand the type of individual that would be on student council.

There is a very large far eastern contingency that attends school there and for the PC crowd this is acceptable behavior to not stir a riot. Unfortunately many have forgotten what and who got us to where we are and what we have.

It gives me pleasure at this time (any many other times) to say I went to the other Pac 10 State University but who knows what WSU's student body has done since I graderated from that cow college in order to be PC or promote an agenda vs. doing what is right.