UMass Student Apologizes To Tillman Family For Column Man Admits Article Was 'Insensitive'

Local 6 News (Mass) ^ | POSTED: 10:39 p.m. EDT April 29, 2004 | Not Provided

[.cnI redruM]

AMHERST, Mass. -- A University of Massachusetts at Amherst graduate student is apologizing to Pat Tillman's family.

Rene Gonzalez had written a column for the campus paper saying the football player-turned-soldier who died in combat in Afghanistan wasn't a hero -- but a "G.I. Joe guy who got what was coming to him."

Gonzalez said in an e-mail to a Boston TV station that he was trying to say Tillman's celebrity had factored into his being labeled a hero.

He admits he tried to prove his point in an "insensitive way" and that the article wasn't worth publishing.

The school's president issued a statement calling Gonzalez's column "a disgusting, arrogant and intellectually immature attack" on Tillman.

The paper ran a letter to readers today saying the column didn't express the paper's views.

[.cnI redruM]

That's what happens when the university president does his assigned job and takes responsibility for what happens on the campus. Gonzalez was humiliated into admitting he did a shameful thing.

[Semper Paratus]

Maturity IS a worthy virtue.

[Jeff Head]

As I said on THIS THREAD from yesterday...

"His letter was disgusting and deserving of nothing but shame, ostracism and some hot tar and plenty of feathers.

Sitting all safe and comfy in his advanced degree work there at the University of Massachusetts, spouting his rhetoric and barvo sierra while men far better than he die so he is free to spout it. What an intellectual and moral midget and pervert."

Jeff

[VRWCmember]

UMass Student Apologizes To Tillman Family For Column Man Admits Article Was 'Insensitive'

I think there's a typo in the headline. Here, I'll correct it:

DUMBass Student Apologizes To Tillman Family For Column; Man Admits Article Was 'Mental Excrement'

[mountaineer]

So he admitted to being "insensitive." That's a start. Now admit you were wrong, Rene.

[CatoRenasci]

I'd like to see the University President really do his job and make sure this piece of manure is not receiving any financial aid and is paying full out of state tuition. Garbage-boy is free to spout what he wants, but there is no reason for the taxpayers of Taxachussets or the US to subsidize him in any way.

[68skylark]

I'm sure a lot of Kerry supporters will be disappointed at this news -- they seemed to like the original column.

[Wheee The People]

Deport him anyway.

[dfwgator]

Bullhockey!! This guy only apologized because the school president made him do it. Apologies are useless, the cat is already out of the bag.

[Radix]

Too little, too late.

The mentality of activist students in most Massachusetts Universities and colleges is beyond redemption. Gonzalez is no aberration when it comes to political opinions in the activist types who indulge themselves on a subsidized education that I contribute to.

The school there is paid for with my taxes, and the freedom to express vile opinions is guaranteed by the likes of Pat Tillman and all of the volunteers in the military who make this miserable person and other likeminded people to be able to spew out their garbage.

[Jaidyn]

So he admitted to being "insensitive." That's a start. Now admit you were wrong, Rene.

It sounds like he might have my sociology teacher. I have to listen to that kind of crap all the time.

[GreenLanternCorps]

How? he's an natural born American citizen. We can't deport home grown idiots. We can however, tie him to an ant hill and smear his ears with jelly.

[Alberta's Child]

The school's president issued a statement calling Gonzalez's column "a disgusting, arrogant and intellectually immature attack" on Tillman.

I found this comment particularly interesting. When a university president issues a statement like this, it means that the board of trustees has taken a sh!t-load of heat from school alumni threatening to withdraw their financial support.

[11th Earl of Mar]

The mods pulled the original article referenced in this post yesterday... or day before... because it was "inappropriate for FR."

Now after the national news has picked up the story, the Mods decide it is a permitted topic.

What does this say to the world about FR? [Other than the fact that we are more paranoid and closed minded than DU.]

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Do u suppose this chap is receiving a taxpayer subsidized college loan?

[Phantom Lord]

Deport him anyway.

Isn't he a US citizen?

[Little Pig]

The original articles were pulled because people were posting the little twit's address, phone number, and email address. Granted, all those are publicly available, I guess the admins just didn't want FR overtly involved in the severe drubbing this idiot deserves (and hopefully got/is still getting).

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[rbmillerjr]

Yes.

Deport him anyway.

[Dante3]

"Insensitive" does not adequately describe the article. "Perverted" would have been a better word.