20060306

The $35 billion question!

C.I.R. Press Editorial

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Currently the bastions of free speech, otherwise known as colleges and universities, have lost. They demand the right to debate anything and everything in class. They debate outside of class. They are so smart as to know the world better than all. Except for one minor thing... They assume some of their classmates might be "dumb enough" to enlist. They just cannot have such a thing! So they protest, that is America! But when the administration of the school decides to ban military recruiters from campus, there lies the line that should not be crossed.

I am sure the furor shall commence, but I am so glad to let them know you can either give the military and government their "free speech" on campus, or HIKE tuition rates. What will the choice be? I thought colleges were supposed to provide a vast amount of opportunities, allowing young minds a chance to decide for themselves what they want in life.

"The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that colleges that accept federal money must allow military recruiters on campus, despite university objections to the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays...

The federal law, known as the Solomon Amendment after its first congressional sponsor, mandates that universities give the military the same access as other recruiters or forfeit federal money...

College leaders have said they could not afford to lose federal help, some $35 billion a year."

Liberals lose. The military wins. The country moves forward. I still have yet to understand why it is so bad to have a recruiting booth on campus. The only conclusion that I can arrive at, is that colleges and the students are anti-military. If that is the case, they are not patriotic. Have your protests, there is no draft so no one is forcing you into the military...so you hate a group of society that is willing to fight for you.

Do they protest a Greenpeace recruiting table? FBI?

The court has ruled, federal money means you have to go out of your way to allow a bit of recruiting on campus. Those that want the money and not the recruiters, I kindly say "shove it."

-md