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William769 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 02:49 PM
Original message
Is Obama bullying college campuses?
I churned this over for a couple weeks because I, at times, have been accused of being overly sensitive.
But I still feel that the president, in his State of the Union address, implied that civil rights advocates have taken college campuses hostage in the war against “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and that, with the administration having met their ransom demands, the campuses should be liberated for recruitment.

Consider this paragraph in his January speech:

“Our troops come from every corner of this country — they’re black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American. They are Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And, yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love. (Applause.) And with that change, I call on all our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and ROTC. It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past. It is time to move forward as one nation. (Applause.)”

I don’t want to quibble over whether the president implied that the repeal of DADT was over and done — I don’t think that was his intention, and I’ve no doubt he knows the ins and outs, so to speak, of fully lifting the ban against out gay and lesbian servicemembers.

But I do want to explore the president’s call on higher education institutions to release the implied hostage, to open the way for military recruiters and ROTC to return to campus quads, student unions and lecture halls.

http://www.365gay.com/news/neff-is-obama-bullying-college-campuses/
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flor-de-jasmim Donating Member (260 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:06 PM
Response to Original message
1. I thought that actually referred to a specific incident...at Harvard?
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William769 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:09 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. " Harvard’s ROTC ban dates to 1969."
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el_bryanto Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:11 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Why should America's Best and Brightest be asked to shoulder the burden of America's Wars
That's just silly. We don't need to have America's leaders stopped on their way to class by Military Recruiters. Save that sort of treatment for those students attending community college or state college.

Bryant
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LuvNewcastle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:15 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. Exactly.
Only the great unwashed should have to risk their lives for an education.
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JuniperLea Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:22 PM
Response to Reply #3
8. Some of America's best and brightest...
Can't get funds for college. That's one reason for enlisting.

My kids "just said no" to the recruiters on campus... as did I. I told them if they were offered a cool hat or shirt, to just say no and I'd buy something cool for them if it meant that much. I never had to.
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el_bryanto Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:26 PM
Response to Reply #8
11. Best and Brightest in this case refers ironically to those with the means
to attend Ivy League skills without worrying about paying for them.

Obviously many of Ameica's actual Best and Brightest are shut out.
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SidDithers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:12 PM
Response to Original message
4. Yes. He's stealing lunch money and stuffing kids in lockers too...nt
Sid
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William769 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:18 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. That would be funny
Edited on Mon Feb-07-11 03:19 PM by William769
But unfortunately it's going to end up being true.
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JuniperLea Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:22 PM
Response to Reply #7
9. Pft... I hardly think so... eom
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texshelters Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:15 PM
Response to Original message
6. bring back the draft
starting with children from the fortune 500 companies and Congress and that would solved Obama's perceived problem.

Peace,
Tex Shelters
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Tierra_y_Libertad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:26 PM
Response to Original message
10. If they bring ROTC back they should put it in the Business Department. Killing is profitable.
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LuvNewcastle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-07-11 03:38 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. Excellent point.
Current and former CEOs of Halliburton and Erik Prince could be guest lecturers.
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