Role models deserve trust

The decision by Forest Lake High school to cancel an appearance by alumnus and war hero Peter Hegseth and Medal of Honor nominee David Bellavia of Vets for Freedom was supposedly due to "political correctness" ...

[Hmmmmmm]

Mr. McDonough, it appears from other news sources that the real reason the Vets for Freedom visit was cancelled is that the school received many phone calls expressing disapproval of the vets' message and warning of protests should they be allowed to speak. The administrators felt that the risk of disruption was too great. The tragedy here is that the students are learning that the left can now literally bully its way throught he marketplace of ideas, and that administrators, fearful of lawsuits should things turn ugly, can be cowed into silence. This is not healthy.

[Terry]

Benita, first our prison system is not capable of rehabing a person. I know that's what they like to believe but it's just not working. so in my mind that is an irrelevant argument.

While I don't really care if Kathleen Soliah is in jail or on the streets I do believe it's important to look at this case not from our prespective but from the perspective of the victim and society.

From the victims point of view we are obligated to provide them with some sort of closure and comfort, they need to know that the death of their loved one does not go unpunished. If you lost your mother in a sensless bank robbery would you be satisfied if the murderer was released before he/she was suppose to?

From a societal point of view this woman was allowed to the opportunity to commit a crime and not be punished for it. During this time she was allowed to raise children one has to ask what lessons did she teach her children? I became a father at a very young age and I've used that experience to teach my daughter to be careful and wait before having children. I'm proud to say that my daughter took those lessons to heart and is careful and waiting to start a family. By imprisoning Kathleen we are at least sending a message that no matter how long ago the crime was committed at some point you will pay for it.

[Randy]

Hmmmmmm wrote:

The tragedy here is that the students are learning that the left can now literally bully its way throught he marketplace of ideas, and that administrators, fearful of lawsuits should things turn ugly, can be cowed into silence. This is not healthy.

Do you suppose an anti-war group would be allowed to come to speak to students?

[Gndydncr]

Just so we're clear; the costs of incarcerating Sara Jane Olson are born by the good citizens of California and not Minnesota.

[Gndydncr]

Randy wrote:

<quoted text>
Do you suppose an anti-war group would be allowed to come to speak to students?

Pardon me if I’m jumping to a conclusion, but the Veterans for Freedom were not identified as a pro-war group.

[jcf817]

You haven't been to their website and read their mission statement, have you?

[Randy]

Gndydncr wrote:

<quoted text>
Pardon me if I’m jumping to a conclusion, but the Veterans for Freedom were not identified as a pro-war group.

I think looking at their website does that job.

Peter Hegseth writes for the National Review, hardly known for its antiwar stance. Also, do you think Rep. Bachmann would tour with a group that was not pro-war?

[Archie Anderson]

Let's see now, Lewis and clark,Thomas Jefferson,Colombus,Moses and the ten directives, The President, the marines, our nations war hero's parents and God.

Not allowed in public schools. Madalyin Murray O'Hare and her committe of one and the American Criminal Liberties Union removed God from our schools, and six e-mails from anti american war protesters disallowed contact between decorated war hero's and students in OUR public high schools. Where in the hell will it end??

[WJH]

They say that Vets For Freedom is partisan, how it partisan by wanting the US to win?

We've had nonstop daily anti war messages from the media. Isn't it time we get to hear from Vets that actually SUPPORT the mission?

Vets for Freedom is not pro war, they are Pro Winning so they can come home with the satisfaction that the Iraq people are safe and able to run their own country.

Put the politics aside for a change

[Gndydncr]

jcf817 wrote:

You haven't been to their website and read their mission statement, have you?

From their mission statement:“Vets for Freedom is a nonpartisan organization … who have put long-term national security before short-term partisan political gain.”

What’s the problem?

[Jabber]

As soon as the British quit patrolling Basra, the various Shiite militias started to push on each other. Now the Shiite led national government is trying to calm down the situation, while Sadr is stirring up trouble all over Iraq. When we leave the same thing will probably happen. We need to get the Sunni nations to help us diffuse the turmoil. Otherwise we are just prolonging the invitable.

[bill m]

Maybe according to some they should not allow private schools to compete in state highschool tournies. Well I would say then maybe we should take out sports from schools completly. Make youth sports a community program - then when Roseville plays Maplewood it actually would be that way. It could be funded through city budgets. We then would take away one tool that the spending school crowd have to extort more money from us. Schools could focus on education. Communities could use youth supports to attract families.

the idea that you should exclude private schools is heading down a path that scares me - the road to having only public education.

[Mellers]

bill m wrote:

Maybe according to some they should not allow private schools to compete in state highschool tournies. Well I would say then maybe we should take out sports from schools completly. Make youth sports a community program - then when Roseville plays Maplewood it actually would be that way. It could be funded through city budgets. We then would take away one tool that the spending school crowd have to extort more money from us. Schools could focus on education. Communities could use youth supports to attract families.
the idea that you should exclude private schools is heading down a path that scares me - the road to having only public education.

I guess I jumped to a very different (yet startlingly simple) solution: public schools play public schools, private schools play private schools.(NOTE: I couldn't care less either way but don't feel that the letter writer was advocating removing sports from schools altogether)

[Bill m]

So you are suggesting a state tourny that instead of classes having public class and then a private class?

[Mellers]

Bill m wrote:

So you are suggesting a state tourny that instead of classes having public class and then a private class?

Sure, why not? My whole point was that I didn't believe that the letter writer was advocating for the removal of sports from schools.

[jcf817]

"Vets for Freedom is a nonpartisan organization established by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Good...mostly facts. But how can they prove they're nonpartisan?

"Our mission is to educate the American public about the importance of achieving success in these conflicts by applying our first-hand knowledge to issues of American strategy and tactics in Iraq."

And success is measured how, exactly?

"We support policymakers from both sides of the aisle who have stood behind our great generation of American warriors on the battlefield, and who have put long-term national security before short-term partisan political gain."

You telling me that's not pro-war? That last statement is loaded with rhetoric. As if the people against the war don't support our "great generation of American warriors". Notice how they tack on "on the battlefield" to make it sound less partisan.

"Vets for Freedom is the largest Iraq and Afghanistan veterans organization in America."

Seems like straightforward statement of fact. Well...one out of four ain't bad.

[Archie Anderson]

What can be political about citizen hero's that give their life and limb without condition for their country?
What "type" of citizen would see this as political? I can tell you that is a citizen that does not deserve the freedom and milk and honey taken for granted from this country. "No veterans, No America"

[Heather]

Here's corrected information on mitochondrial disorders and vaccination

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/the...

[jcf817]

I could have predicted that my own patriotism would be called into question. Too bad you folks have nothing to add to the argument that you have to try that tired game.

[WJH]

Amazing while the left will gladly shut down a street to protest to make sure THEIR views are heard, their censoring anyone who might have a opposing opinon.

Wonder if we'll have troops in Kosovo for 100 years? Oh yea that was a "Democratic war" but I thought war was not the answer.