Bloggers Joe Katzman and Trent Telenko pick up on a disturbing report from WABI-TV in Bangor, Maine (video is here), that children of Maine National Guardsmen who've been deployed to the Gulf have found themselves facing schoolyard taunts--not from fellow students but from "antiwar" teachers. Here's a quote from the WABI report:
Alan Grover, WABI-TV: "What the kids are facing is hearing that their mother or father is a bad person for taking part in the confrontation with Iraq; comments that are coming from teachers. That's according to officers with the Guard's Family Assistance Program who've been traveling throughout the state this week. The officers report that such incidents are relatively few in number but that they've occurred in practically every region of the state."
Maj. Andrew Gibson: "Some kids have even reported that . . . teachers have said things to them, specifically, about the . . . unethical nature of their parent going off to fight."
Most of the children involved, WABI reports, are between seven and nine years old.
It appears that the phone calls have been made from the seat of political power here in Maine down the chain of command, and all of a sudden there is no problem here; never was one. Whaddaya mean, "Traumatizing Students"? Never heard of it; never happened. Whaddaya you, nuts a-sumtin'?
Those former National Guard Officers who broke the story to Channel 5 are now probably peeling potatoes in the Mess hall of Camp Keyes as a Corporal and Private respectively, and keeping their mouth very shut, while the Family Advocacy group involved... didn't there used to be one here in Maine? I wonder what became of it?
I will even be rather surprised if we ever hear from any of the effected Parents again. Ever hear of the "offer" that just can't be refused? I suspect that a lot of them have been made and quickly, if somewhat reluctantly, accepted by a lot of players yesterday. They probably know all too well what happens to anyone foolish enough to hesitate... or to their Loved ones.
When we see a criminal case that is suddenly dropped by prosecuting Attorneys, Complainants and Plaintiffs suddenly withdraw their cases, and Wittnesses abruptly forget or recant their testimony (or vanish entirely), we can pretty well guess that a very powerful, well-organized entity has an interest in the outcome of the case for some reason, and has probably made a few phone calls and paid a few visits, offering certain "proposals" that are best not turned down.
Anyone see a similarity here?
Gee; I wonder what kind of organized entity has an interest in the outcome of this case, hmmmm?
Anyone want to venture a guess?
But in the end it may be just as well; things were rapidly approaching critical mass here, and perhaps worse outcomes may have been avoided by squelching the whole deal before it got out of hand. No doubt the schools got the clear message to knock this stuff off ASAP, and that they are being watched by people - like us - who will not put up with such treason.