Posted on 10/15/2001 1:31:34 PM PDT by The American
Ever since the Mayflower landed on Plymouth Rock, the Bay State has played host to many legendary symbols: the Boston Tea Party is a symbol of patriotism. The Battle of Bunker Hill is a symbol of determination. The Massachusetts Minutemen are a symbol of volunteerism. But not all is well in Massachusetts, for dear old Harvard has become a symbol of insolence.
It's not like we need another reason to hate Harvard. From grade inflation to pompous students, we already have more than enough justification to detest all that is crimson. Now we have another reason. Harvard student leaders and campus administrators are snubbing requests to reestablish the school's ROTC program. The Advocates for Harvard ROTC -- alumni dedicated to supporting Harvard cadets and midshipmen -- want to instill a sense of national pride in their alma mater, but the head honchos at Harvard will not grant campus access to ROTC again.
Up until 1969, Harvard allowed ROTC on its grounds. Started by the National Defense Act of 1916, Reserve Officer Training Corps detachments quickly surfaced at colleges and universities across the nation, including Harvard. Then, because of hippie activists' Vietnam War protests, Harvard kicked ROTC off campus. A horribly anti-American move, indeed.
However, the university at least did something right by not completely hanging its ROTC students out to dry. It softened the blow of its vile decision by paying the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to allow the displaced cadets and midshipmen to join MIT's detachments. Then, in 1995, gay rights groups protested the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. To appease the misguided activists, Harvard rescinded all funding for its ROTC cadets and midshipmen, effectively spitting in the face of those who defend our nation's freedom.
Fortunately, anonymous donors stepped up to contribute approximately $135,000 annually to offset costs for Harvard students in MIT's ROTC detachments. If David Clayman, Harvard Class of '38 and founder of Advocates for Harvard ROTC, gets his way, those donations will no longer be necessary. The Advocates are fighting so that Harvard students who serve America are not treated like outcasts. Recently Clayman collected signatures from 900 alumni who want Harvard to bring back ROTC, and he hopes to have several thousand more in the near future.
Though undeniably noble, the Advocates' efforts have fallen on deaf ears. Harvard's new president, Lawrence Summers, and other school administrators have not demonstrated any intent to change the school's disrespectful treatment of the military. Sure, Summers speaks highly of students in ROTC, but talk is cheap.
And among Harvard students, talk about ROTC is basically prohibited. The Harvard Crimson reports that Paul Gusmorino, president of the student council, will not allow representatives to debate bringing back ROTC because he thinks it will just lead to bickering. Student council secretary James Griffin agrees, because talking about ROTC could "ground the entire council to a halt and kill all forward momentum." In other words, maintaining Harvard's student council's forward momentum is more important than training students to protect innocent Americans and oppressed foreigners. Those "leaders" in Cambridge have really screwed up priorities.
The United States of America is the greatest nation in the world. With this distinction comes the responsibility to use our strength to defend the world against evildoers. We derive strength from our superior military officers, many of whom come from ROTC programs. We demand and we receive unparalleled devotion from the men and women of ROTC. All cadets and midshipmen follow the ROTC Code of Conduct, which begins "I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense." These students pledge to do everything they can to protect our nation, our freedom, our liberties and our lives. For Harvard to treat its patriotic students with such disrespect is despicable and embarrassing.
Lawrence Summers said during his inauguration address last Friday, "Harvard has always been a work in progress, and it always will be ... let us together renew this great university for the age that is waiting before."
The appropriate first step of the renewal process is to restart the ROTC program, thereby encouraging Harvard students to serve their country. And if the Armed Forces do not jump at the chance to return to the hallowed halls of Harvard, then Summers must beg forgiveness for his school's 32 years of shameful disrespect. Harvard, you have shunned your responsibility to your students and your nation for too long. Do the right thing and bring back ROTC. Your fellow Americans are waiting.
I would like to see a law barring DOD research $$ from any university which does not allow ROTC.
I love this. Debate leads to bickering. This idiot will soon have a degree.
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