AFRAID It Might Turn “Political”

Another f**king coward on the taxpayer dole.

This time from a Minneapolis area high school.

A national tour which featured decorated veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had to cancel its planned appearance at Forest Lake Area High School yesterday after school principal, Steve Massey, suddenly pulled the plug on the visit.

Massey, the school principal, said the decision to cancel was prompted by concerns that the event was becoming political rather than educational and therefore was not suitable for a public school.

Massey said the school had gotten a few phone calls from parents and others, and some of those callers indicated that they may stage a protest if the event took place.

So if a public school is handing out condoms and parents protest, the school is portrayed as “courageous” for standing behind the power of the state and telling parents to, basically “shut your piehole”.

But if a few non-parents call and threaten to demonstrate, pro-American events get canceled?

The principal’s explaination–caving in to a few at the expense of the majority–most probably was copied from a NEA (National Education Association) press release.

Most likely titled, “What to do when your school is threatened by patriotism”.

“The event was structured to be an academic classroom discussion around military service. We thought we’d provide an opportunity for kids to learn about service in the context of our history classes,” Massey said. “As the day progressed, it became clear that this was becoming a political event … which would be inappropriate in a public setting.
“We decided to cancel,” Massey said. Organizers of the National Heroes Tour then scrambled to relocate the event to the American Legion building in Forest Lake. The visit, which U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, had been scheduled to attend, is sponsored by Vets for Freedom, a national organization run by Pete Hegseth, a 1999 graduate of Forest Lake Area High School who served with the 101st Airborne in Iraq in 2005-06.

“I think it’s extremely unfortunate that a school would bow to the political pressure of outside groups and not bring in a veterans organization,” Hegseth said. “Are we saying that patriotism and duty and honor have no place in our public schools?” So far, the tour has visited one school, albeit a private school.

The Forest Lake HS stop involved about 150 social studies students–and was closed to the public–and the media. The last-minute change left Hegseth wondering how many people would actually show up today.

The 101st Airborne vet had to assure the principal “not to advocate about the progress made in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

“I don’t know if we’ll have a crowd,” he said. “We changed venues, but we don’t have the ability to publicize it.” He said he had talked with school officials ahead of time and assured them that the presenters would not make any political statements.

“We had a number of conversations at the beginning of this to make sure our message was in keeping with the traditions of a public school,” Hegseth said.

“We have not endorsed a presidential candidate. We’re not in the business of doing that.” According to the Veterans for Freedom website, the national tour “is about supporting our troops, honoring their commitment and rallying the country to complete the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At this critical juncture in our country, we need Americans, lawmakers and the media to fully recognize — and appreciate — the sacrifice of our brave military and the dramatic success they have achieved, especially in Iraq with the new counterinsurgency strategy.”

When asked whether the part about “rallying the country to complete the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan” could indeed be construed as political, Hegseth said that the group agreed not to advocate about the “progress made in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

“It’s Iraq and Afghan veterans talking about what they saw and what they did there, and about what it means to put on the uniform of your country,” he said. The veterans started their bus tour in San Diego on March 14 and will end April 9 in New York City.

Here’s the e-mail address: smassey@forestlake.k12.mn.us

Let this punk coward know what you think.

More proof of the saying, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.”

And those who can’t do or teach, become spineless school administrators.

[UPDATE: The tireless Spree at Wake Up America has a really nice article on this for those interested in reading more. Check out Minnesota High School Cancels Veterans Tour Engagement at Wake up America.]

by RidesAPaleHorse & Mondoreb
image: RidesAPaleHorse
Source: Forest Lake event canceled; too political


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