SELF-SERVING PUFFERY (Rene Gonzalez)

NRO - The Corner ^ | 4/29/04 | Jonah Goldberg

[swilhelm73]

SELF-SERVING PUFFERY [Jonah Goldberg]

The Daily Collegian is defending its decision to run the "Pat Tillman got what he deserved" piece by hiding behind the skirt of the First Amendment:

Rene Gonzalez is a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts who occasionally submits columns to The Collegian. While his views in no way reflect the opinion of our editorial board or staff, we base our decisions not on whether we agree with the opinion of students submitting opinion pieces, but on the backbone of journalism: The First Amendment.

As a news organization, The Collegian lists the First Amendment as its most important value and asset. We do not hold back from printing news stories, columns or editorials that may upset our readership - instead, we seek to both inform and stir debate through our publication. Our decision to publish Gonzalez's column - an opinion piece written by a member of our campus community - is the only way for us to live up to this ideal.

What a bunch of heroes.

There's only one problem, the First Amendment has, mmmm, let me see: Nothing to do with this. The First Amendment protects against government censorship. This is a question about editorial judgement. Be men (or women) for pete's sake. If you want to defend your decision to run the piece on the merits, great. But don't pretend that the constitution made you do it.

Indeed, if The Collegian "doesn't hold back" from running controversial pieces that will upset their readers -- good for them. I assume they would stand resolute after running a piece which said "Martin Luther King got what he deserved." Or maybe, just maybe, somebody in the newsroom would have said, "Hey you know what? This piece adds almost nothing to the discussion and is needlessly inflamatory."

But I am sure the Titans of the First Amendment would gird their loins and say "Forsooth No! We must not cave into the sensitivities of our readers!"

Or, as it says in the editorial, "We cannot, however, compromise the mission of our publication for the sake of ensuring the constant happiness of our readership."

Either defend the piece on the merits or don't run it you chumps. But please stop trying to sound like you aren't personally responsible for the decisions you make. That's why you're editors.

HIGH-LARIOUS [Jonah Goldberg ]

It turns out the Daily Collegian was one of the newspapers which refused to run David Horowitz's anti-reparations ad. Well fellas, as anyone at the ACLU will tell you, ads of a political nature are central to the first amendment. And, yet, somehow you refused to run that even though you had far, far, far less editorial responsibility because, as an ad, the Horowitz appeal was not editorial content.

Sorry if I sound unduly miffed, but it is precisely this sort of politically correct bloviating self-congratulation I despise about A) liberal journalists B) liberal college kids and, most especially, C) liberal College journalists. They censor and condemn whatever personally offends them and then they celebrate their own willingness to be "controversial" by running things they don't mind. Then, if criticized, they don't have the intestinal fortitude to stand by their decisions crying free speech and whining about how criticism amounts to censorship.

I would keep going, but if I did, I'd end up hurling myself at the floor like John Belushi in one of his old SNL News skits.

[swilhelm73]

In addition to being scum, Rene and co are obviously hypocrites as well...

[tang-soo]

Click here to see this piece of work.

[stylin_geek]

Obviously Jonah does not understand the nuances of the Daily Collegian.

[68skylark]

I agree with Goldberg's basic point -- the editors deserve as much condemnation (or more) as the writer of this piece.

[Cyber Ninja]

Wanted to see if this thread survives bump.

[BJungNan]

Bump

[Westbrook]

I find it more than curious that "free speech" and "first amendment rights" apply only to Leftists, America-haters, and Bush-bashers.

When was the last time the UMass newspaper published an article with an opposing point of view?

And while the school president may have castigated this self-important moron for his obtuse childishness, it is likely that they share the same general worldview.

[crusty codger]

They did post an article opposite this persons article praising Pat.

My thought is, if they re institute the draft are Puerto Rico residents required to register?

[SoDak]

I'm shocked. I didn't think ol' go-along-to-get-along Jonah had the cajones to write something like this.

[got_moab?]

Here's some more brain droppings from Rene. Methinks he should stick "African American Music and Jazz Studies".

U. Massachusetts community rallies against Patriot Act
By Dan O'Brien
Massachusetts Daily Collegian (U. Massachusetts-Amherst)
12/11/2003

"Rene Gonzalez of the university's Student Government Association's ALANA caucus spoke at the event. He said most Americans have a feeling that laws that make a totalitarian society would not happen in the United States, but his disdain toward the government was clear.

Gonzalez compared the type of government in the United States to fascism. He also said that the little opposition of U.S. citizens to the policies of President Bush is not dissimilar to the rise of Adolf Hitler in the years prior to World War II.

"In Germany, the [support of Hitler] happened first with little things. Then they had a politician with the unquestioning support of his people," he said. "That's what fear in a conformist nation does. That's what's happening [in the United States] today."

[John Lenin]

Hiding behind the constitution is what leftists do best when they bash America and Americans. Pathetic.

[got_moab?]

Wonder if he's gotten any good mail lately???

Email me at: rene@student.umass.edu or renegonzalez7@hotmail.com

[DustyMoment]

In the spirit of The Collegian, some additional articles that Rene Gonzalez might write (or have written):

John Lenin Got What He Deserved
James Byrd Got What He Deserved
John F. Kennedy Got What He Deserved

You get the drift. Hopefully, this angry ignoramus will grow up and mature, one day, to the extent that the columns he wrote for The Collegian will come back to haunt, embarrass and shame him . . . kind of like some of the things that John F'n Kerry is discovering about his past.

[ladyinred]

Ah, yes, a girlie boy.

[got_moab?]

Maybe he would rather get some phone calls.

(413) 253-9639

[daddypatriot]

I am Korean War veteran who never saw combat but was willing to go if sent. I would like 10 minutes alone with Rene Gonzalez, who isn't fit to tie Pat Tillman's boots. God, what a cowardly rat this Gonzalez is.

[merry10]

i emailed him exactly that. Nothing more or less.

[highimpact]

The differences between Rene Gonzalez and Pat Tillman:

1. Pat Tillman will forever be remembered as a legitimate war hero who sacrificed his life of fame and fortune on the football field for the preservation of our safety on the battlefields of Afghanistan. Rene Gonzalez will quickly be forgotten, with his only legacy being a sensationalist hit-piece.

2. Pat Tillman sought neither fame nor credit for his selfless actions. Rene Gonzalez provokes hatred with the INTENT of stirring controversy IN ORDER to pursue fame and fortune.

3. Pat Tillman was a patriotic American. Rene Gonzalez displays hatred of all things American.

4. Pat Tillman took it upon himself to make the world a safer place for all of us. Rene Gonzalez encourages our ENEMIES through childish neckline and self-aggrandizing rhetoric.

5. Pat Tillman was a brave man who used a weapon. Rene Gonzalez is a coward with a pen.

Additions to this list are welcome!!

[highimpact]

correction to #4..."neckline" should read "name-calling" (damn that spell checker)

[Khurkris]

I highly reccomend forwarding this photo along with email
addresses and tele # to any and all RANGER web sites. I have done so and also to a couple of former Rangers I served with who have retired to Puerto Rico. As long as people like this are not held accountable for their actions our culture will continue to decline.