Dec 9, 2011
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An Iowa State University lecturer is under a firestorm of criticism after he insulted the U.S. military and condemned efforts by College Republicans to collect gift boxes for American soldiers.
“Why do Republicans care so much about the military?” Thomas Walker wrote in a letter to the Iowa State Daily. “Because the military-industrial complex is dear to their simplistic laissez-faire fantasies: a bottom-line patriotism that excludes the people at the bottom.”
Walker is a lecturer in the university’s English and orientation program. He ridiculed the charitable actions of the young college students and questioned their motives.
“Soldiers are to Republicans as fetuses are to them: prized,” Walker wrote. “But once out of the womb-like army, Republican solicitude for hapless veterans goes where extracted zygotes go.”
Walker was referring to a newspaper article detailing efforts by Iowa State’s College Republicans to show their support for America’s fighting men and women.
“Donating toiletries, boxed and canned foods, socks and beanies to U.S. soldiers who can already deodorize themselves, who eat better than the poorest Americans and who are gallantly garbed, is an eleemosynary travesty,” he wrote.
His comments have created an outrage among students and supporters of the university.
“I, along with many Iowans, was offended and disgusted by the unfortunate and highly inappropriate remarks made against our soldiers in uniform,” Regent President Pro Tem Bruce Rastetter told the Quad-City Times. “Not only did Mr. Walker insult our sons and daughters in uniform – he also questioned the kind and humanitarian efforts made by our students to ensure that our soldiers know we care about them and are exceedingly grateful for their service.”
Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy was a bit more subdued in his remarks – explain that he respects freedom of speech, but disagreed with Walker’s letter.
“Please understand that Mr. Walker’s opinions do not in any way represent Iowa State University, and as a military veteran myself, I strongly disagree with his comments,” Geoffroy stated in a release provided to Fox News & Commentary. “I do however respect every individual’s right to freedom of speech, which is so highly valued in our nation, and which is one of the cherished values that our troops are fighting to defend in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Walker remains employed by the university. You can read his anti-military, anti-Republican diatribe by clicking here.
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In the US, "lecturer" is a euphemism for "adjunct," which in turn is a eupemism for someone a college or university does not deem it necessary or wise to hire in a full-time, tenured or tenure-track position.
Look, first off, I am not a Democrat or a Liberal. I AM a moderate, who is conservative in many areas such as for capitalism and gun rights.
Now, if all you righteous, fellow patriots, would ACTUALLY READ the man's comments he makes a few pretty good points that you should give him credit for. Although, I wouldn't criticize you for being suspicious of his Marxist views, which most college professors in Liberal Arts hold.
But seriously, what about the veterans? Why aren't they considered the ones in "need". Trillions of dollars of tax money is funneled to the military operations overseas, WHY ISN'T THAT ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS? WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR?
Second of all, we are NOT fighting a "war". If it was a "war" it would have been over in 2001. We would have bombed the place off of the map. You all KNOW what is going on in the middle east is an OCCUPATION in order to seek out Islamic Terrorists who target our country, so they say.
But it is also to instil "freedom" and "democracy", so they also say? Freedom and democracy is an oxymoron by the way. A pure democracy would be a terribly unstable government, where 51% can enslave the 49% and the largest media empire could sway public opinion in a dangerous direction. It has NOTHING to do with freedom. FREEDOM is what is written in a constitution, such as the Bill of Rights, not something decided on the spot by the majority of the population, who may at a whim decide to kill you or enslave you (or stone you to death like they do in the Middle East).
So, what are they fighting against? I know some people have made comments that "they freed us from Nazism"? NOT THEY SERVING NOW, THE VETERANS, LIKE MY GRANDFATHER WHO WILL DIE WITH NO ONE KNOWING ABOUT HIM EXCEPT HIS OWN FAMILY.
Funny, someone would bring up Nazism though, or even the Soviet Union would serve the same point, because the ONLY threat to MY freedom or YOUR freedom is GOVERNMENT. And as a Regan style Conservative, I know that very well. I KNOW THAT OCCUPATIONS ARE NOT WARS. I KNOW WHAT REAL PRESIDENTS SUCH AS JFK AND RONALD REGAN SAID ABOUT THE THINGS WE ARE DOING NOW. I know what the real purpose and model of our country was.
And I am not going to sit here and allow you FOOLS to use your blind allegiance to a Fox News style patriotism to JUSTIFY this war, or to tell me the absolutely absurd idea that this war, funded by my tax dollars, is for my "freedom".
All of us who read George Orwell know what's going on when the government fights NEVER ENDING WARS, where the enemy is ALWAYS out there, like a boggy man. We all know what happens when government agencies like Homeland Security are erected at home. We all should know that these "wars" are not NORMAL. And we should all recognize that the BIGGEST and possibly the ONLY threat to our freedom is the government which has set off on a never ending power grab.
And that government, ladies and gentlemen, is our own government.
Let me assure you, the only threat to freedom is a standing government.
The only threat to a standing government is terrorism, civil disobedience, social unrest, or another country that embraces freedom in it's constitution.
However, in this case, there is no other country in the world which will come to the aid of America. We have fallen victim to the WOST enemy.
"Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. Even the ardent love of liberty will, after a time, give way to its dictates. The violent destruction of life and property incident to war, the continual effort and alarm attendant on a state of continual danger, will compel nations the most attached to liberty to resort for repose and security to institutions which have a tendency to destroy their civil and political rights. To be more safe, they at length become willing to run the risk of being less free."
-(Alexander Hamilton, as quoted in W. Cleon Skousen’s The Making of America, p. 237)
Why is everyone surprised at this person's comments. Since the first time I stepped foot inside a college classroom, the teachers have been throwing leftist, and at times, even Marxist ideas into every lesson. I will say that there were a few that did not, but even most text books present a skewed point of view rather than both sides of the issue.
This type of slant is evident in the earliest levels of schooling. Pick up an elementary school history book and page through it. The indoctrination is evident and rampant.
Considering Mr. Walker works for ISU his comments ABSOLUTELY represent ISU!
After reading the entire editorial, I can't say as a veteran that I'm offended by the Walker's comments. If I identified as a Republican I'm sure I would be. Further, I have to say from personal experience in Iraq that the majority of care packages we received were filled mostly with useless or redundant items. That's not to say they weren't appreciated on some level, but I often wondered about the logic involved in putting some of them together. Unfortunately I felt more often that people usually sent the care packages as almost an afterthought, perhaps to fulfill some sort of "good deed" complex. I wouldn't go so far as to classify the senders in a specific political category, though.
What I can tell you is that I felt a whole lot more anger and annoyance toward the zombie-like approach to "Supporting the troops" than appreciation for another bottle of shampoo. Sitting in Iraq in 2005 and 2006 while the country imploded into sectarian violence was more than enough for me to realize that our approach to the war wasn't effective, yet every day I'd eat breakfast and watch pundits like Sean Hannity vilify people for "questioning the war while troops are in harms way." I felt then, and still feel now, that the greatest way to support the troops was to questioning the approach and policy toward the war, and that doing so would do far more in ensuring that our soldiers were taken care of than would sending a box of socks.
Steve I'm not surprised by your comments considering you are one of the biggest douche bags that I have ever met…
What's wrong, couldn't get a Haterade refill for a whole week?
It is awful that he is "teaching" our future leaders of tomorrow.
Audrey – why is that "awful?" He's using his rights. I'd rather have someone who tells me their true feelings on the military then someone who lies to me or pretends to thank me or gives me the obligatory "thank you for what you do." I know some people mean it but I can tell when someone really doesn't know what to say when they see me in uniform. I can see it in their eyes when they say thank you whether they are honest or not. So I say this professor can speak on – I don't agree much of it but oh well. He seems to be attacking the politicians and the military as an organization and not attacking servicemembers. My perception that's all.
I graduated on 1963, BSChEn. ISU went from a College to a University when I was a Freshman. I went to work for and EVIL gunpowder manufacturer; no name needed. I had an enjoyable and relatively successful career. Fortunately a lot of my career was before the EPA went bonkers. I made routine contributions to ISU for a long time, but the last few years I stopped. This article confirms my actions, and I really wish I could get some of my contributions back. ISU has turned into the generic university of the USA. PATHETIC! To think that this "lecturer" is getting paid by Iowa taxpayers makes me sick. What makes me really angry is that this guy can say these things because my Father was killed in WWII (the "good? war?) I in December of 1944, but I guess it was just another WASTED DEATH!
As a 60's person who has a son in the military, it is a good thing I don't live in Iowa because I would drive up to the school and physically confront this brainless idiot! A "smack down" is called for here. I am embarassed by my generation that has created the liberal far left professors we are now stuck with in our schools. The University President should have suspended him on the spot. Get a life, Walker! He was probably a hippie in San Francisco in the 60s and I will bet he has a tent at an "Occupy Something" location somewhere! Time to put "you" out of "our" misery! Our troops are the best in the world!
To all of the brave men and women of our military THANK YOU! You and your families sacrifice so much and get thanked so little. Millions of Americans pray for you everyday and are so grateful for all you do to keep us safe! GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY!
Donating toiletries, boxed and canned foods, socks and beanies to U.S. soldiers who can already deodorize themselves, who eat better than the poorest Americans and who are gallantly garbed, is an eleemosynary travesty,” he wrote..
WOW what a stupid statement…….shouldn't our troops be better off than the homeless? His high dolloars words still didn"t hide his stupidity!
Rick Haywood – I think that the homeless should get treated just as good as we do. There are homeless veterans you know…some people come back and have nothing. Sometimes we eat better…they might not eat some of the food we get…
I do not really think he is talking about our young men in the military. I think he is talking about our republican leaders. who am I? I don't know, but he may have a point. please help me out if I seem out of line.
please take more time to read it. he poses it in a question.
i think we are reacting what sounds like a negativaty against our troops, when i dont think he is really going there.
Dennis Price I'd like to help him get his 30 virgins!!!!!
someone needs to remind this ass that the reason he has the freedom of speech is because of those he looks down on…
He has the right to say what he wants. But unless he has served in any branch of the military he has no rights saying that they don't deserve comforts from home. Its these small boxes that brighten a service members day. To know that somebody back home cares.
Oh also what about the families that have to see "sh*t" like this, we really don't need it. We give up so much so people can degrade our loved ones.
Army Wife of 7 yrs and oh yeah my husband has been deployed over 3.5 yrs of that 7!
I agree with what you said, not the article.
I don't think he said we don't deserve care packages – he said we don't need them. On the larger bases we really don't. The patrol bases w/o the amenities of the bigger FOBs – yeah they need care packages. But he never said we don't deserve them. It's nice to get them and know people care – that's about all they do. Make us feel good. But I don't take offense to what he said. I don't particularly agree but again he has the freedom to say his thoughts.
As a Veteran, I would like to thank all of you who send care packages. My Nana sent me one every two months, and I tell you, my buddies and I feasted like kings when they arrived, and the newspaper she wrapped the stuff in was awesomely cool! Keep up the good work, you really don`t know how much a care package really meant to us, and like all good bros, we always share our care packages! Thanks again!
Fox and freinds posted the name, address email and phone for the asshole on tv..I assume it is on the Fox website…Iowa State systems will probably crash today..
I didn't see anything in this man's article that proves he has any anymosity towards the man and women in uniform. He is definately against the two-faced political posturing of the Republican party, but I do think taking his ire out on the college students is wrong. His comments should have been directed toward the congressmen and women who vote for military might and against veterans benefits.And before you all call me aclassless ass, I had 3 brothers serve in Viet Nam and have 3 nephews and a neice-in-law serving now!
I'm in the military – I think the guy's an idiot but he has the right to voice his opinions…although we do have most of the stuff we need when deployed (except on the patrol bases and smaller bases). I'd rather hear someone speak their true opinion about the military then those who kiss our asses but really don't give a crap about us. It's just an opinion.
Let's face it. This is a direct result of the freedom of speech being exercised without moral compass or responsibility. Free speech should always be available, and I and my family have sacrificed much to ensure that this freedom exists. However, all freedoms come with a responsibility. Free speech does not say that you can say whatever you want without repercussion. Yelling "Fire" in a crowded building is not protected by free speech because it is an irresponsible act that can have tragic consequences. If he wishes to exercise his freedom he should not be surprised if the reaction to his words are cries for his dismissal from an institution that provided the soap box for such a distasteful display of vulgar and denigrating rhetoric.
This guy has been in college to long! I'm pretty sure Shakespeare was talking about him in 1599 "be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England(and Iowa) now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day".
anyone who thinks our military actually has a positive influence on our inherent freedoms (the bill of rights) is a moron… it really is that simple. Almost every time in our history that our civil liberties are challenged, it is out of some fear mongering bullshit argument that the militants want to use for increasing our quality of life (which they confuse for freedom because, like I mentioned above, they are morons) by use of force on society. Seems anti freedom to me. When they were throwing people in jail for expressing political beliefs in the 40s and 50s… it was the militants who backed this mentality and the military never came to our defense. Manifest Destiny… militants. When the patriot act was passed, and even now, where we are losing due process all together, where is our military? Seems like they are actively doing nothing for freedom, and maybe even making it worse. Want to know who really supports freedom? The ACLU. The libertarian party (not that fake tea party wannabe bs). Hell, 3rd graders doing reports on the Bill of Rights probably do more for freedom than most of the mercenaries who actively serve in the military, as their blind support and reliance on a paycheck only enables those in power who want to take it away. Funny how some people can wave a flag and shit on the constitution at the same time.
He was probably spitting on Vietnam veterans in his youth.
He is a very lucky man to live in a country that allows free speech. I would not allow a child of mine, however, to attend an institution that has instructors with such socialistic views. Perhaps the professor would be better served keeping his opinion to himself…