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February 21, 2011
Wounded Iraq Vet Heckled at Columbia University
Veteran Anthony Maschek (above, with fiancée Angela O'Neill) faced heckling from fellow Columbia students over ROTC
"Racist!" some students yelled at Anthony Maschek, a Columbia freshman and former Army staff sergeant awarded the Purple Heart after being shot 11 times in a firefight in northern Iraq in February 2008. Others hissed and booed the veteran.
Maschek, 28, had bravely stepped up to the mike Tuesday at the meeting to issue an impassioned challenge to fellow students on their perceptions of the military.
Wounded Iraq Vet Heckled at Columbia University
by Bruce McQuain
Apparently civility and free speech only apply to one side at Columbia University - the anti-military side. Woe be unto you if you have the temerity to stand up in an open forum as a member of the Columbia University community and voice an opinion in opposition to that which is prevalent there.
A wounded Iraq war veteran found that out recently as he stood up - something he had to learn to do again after his wounds - and gave what the NY Post describes as an "impassioned challenge to fellow students on their perceptions of the military." It occurred during the second of three meetings the University has scheduled to talk about ROTC and the possibility of bringing it back on campus.
Speaking truth to ignorance, Anthony Maschek said to his fellow students:
“It doesn’t matter how you feel about the war. It doesn’t matter how you feel about fighting,” said Maschek. “There are bad men out there plotting to kill you.”
One student shouted “racist” at the former soldier, awarded the Purple Heart for somehow surviving being shot 11 times .
Several students laughed and jeered the Idaho native, a 10th Mountain Division infantryman who spent two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington recovering from grievous wounds.
Maschek, who is studying economics, miraculously survived the insurgent attack in Kirkuk. In the hail of gunfire, he broke both legs and suffered wounds to his abdomen, arm and chest.
Several students laughed and jeered the Idaho native, a 10th Mountain Division infantryman who spent two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington recovering from grievous wounds.
Opinions of the military like that aren’t unheard of among some members of our colleges and universities. But this is 2011, not 1971 and the vast majority of Americans decided early on in this century that it isn’t at all acceptable anymore.
Behavior like that of Columbia’s anti-military crowd toward Mascheck is rude, crass, childish, and demonstrates a cosseted ignorance that they, for some reason, seem eager to display. It speaks to the fact that differing opinions are not welcome. And civil debate? Why bother with that when you can bravely stand up and call a wounded warrior a “racist” for simply expressing himself in an open forum?
This sort of bratty behavior toward a man who literally bled on their behalf only demonstrates for all the the emptiness of words like “tolerance”, “civility”, “acceptance” and “equality” for the Columbia anti-war students who jeered and laughed at this man. They should be mortally ashamed of themselves.
The incident also demonstrates that there is no real desire to engage and discuss – instead the emotional argument hold’s sway and any who oppose it are shouted down. Their minds are made up and they have no desire to hear dissenting opinions – their preconceived notions based in a totally naive outlook on the world have formed their unchangable opinion about the military. And ROTC.
“Universities should not be involved in military activities,” Sociology Professor Emeritus Herbert Gans told The Post. “Columbia should come out against spending $300 billion a year on unnecessary wars.”
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Wild Thing's comment........
Thank you for your service, Anthony Maschek. We are proud of you!
This really boils my blood. This soldier is a hero, and he is being heckled by a bunch of spoiled commie punks.
Why do these things always seem to happen 500 plus or whatever miles away? I would welcome the chance to be present when things like this happen. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Posted by Wild Thing at February 21, 2011 05:50 AM
Comments
Ever notice how it's those on the left who are rude, childish, and intolerant, especially those in college?
If I were to go to college, there's no way I would choose a liberal hell-hole like Columbia. Veterans need to start looking at universities which represent more American (conservative) values. Universities get Federal money because of Veterans and various GI Bills, so it's imperative we see it goes to the right universities.
Posted by: BobF at February 21, 2011 08:50 AM
These ungrateful students are to f%$king ignorant to realize that it is because of people like Anthony Maschek that they are able to protest. It is because of our veterans not our politicians or academic ignoramuses.
Posted by: Bob A at February 21, 2011 08:55 AM
Colleges are full of adolescent leftists more than happy to be influenced by socialist(Liberal) professors. Most of these students have no experience out in the real world on their own. They are lacking in worldly experience and are eager to take the unicorn path.
I ran into the same shit when I went back to college after my Vietnam service. The students I could argue with. It was the leftist professors that were absolutely intolerable.
Posted by: TomR at February 21, 2011 10:21 AM
I accidently came across this article while during a search. I am a retired Deputy Sheriff that has worked closely with our military over the years. It is sad that our future men and women of this country would treat Anthony Maschek in this manner. I believe in freedom of speech but not to the extent they have gone. If you don't like the good old USA and the freedom it gives you then back your bags and go to a 3rd world country and fight for your own life !!!!!!
Posted by: DaveL at February 21, 2011 10:50 AM
Doesn't look like much has changed in the University forum. I was luckier than most we had a VA on campus run by some former Green Beret, and I spent alot of time there. You're right , Tom , these kids haven't got a clue as to what is going on.
Posted by: Mark at February 21, 2011 11:05 AM
I was in college, early 70's, after an active duty hitch. Told a soc prof to get a life, get out of academia and see what the real world was like. Only "D" I rcvd, still ended up with a 3.6gpa
Posted by: Dave 18zulu at February 21, 2011 12:45 PM
I wonder if their parents who pay huge amounts of college tuition know that their children will be brainwashed by leftist professors....all the hard work parents have done, teaching their children to be respectful and have good values goes out the door real fast, doesn't it?
Posted by: Dani at February 21, 2011 01:26 PM
I was so pissed when I heard of this that I sent a scathing e-mail to Comrade Bolinger who is the Commissar of the University. Needless to say it was full of expletives. I'm so mean!
Posted by: Eddie (Enemy of the State) at February 21, 2011 04:08 PM
Thank you everyone so much. I was so upset about this. I appreciate all your input.
Dani, yes I agree, teaching to be respectful and values and what is important for too many families is gone.
Eddie, I love your letters you write and let people have what for, they need to hear to and especially from a Veteran, that makes it even more important. Thank you.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 22, 2011 12:22 AM
Remember when we were told that ROTC was being disallowed on college campuses because of the military's gay policy? BS. Faculty lounges are hotbeds of Marxism, disconnected from the real world and breeding hatred of those who can accomplish real things in the real world.
Any wonder Obamao attended Columbia?
Posted by: Ellie Light at February 22, 2011 04:27 AM
