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Sorry if off topic but received message below from my buddy this morning. Thought you all would be interested. I think Chuckie Schumer needs a few phone calls eh?

Background: Brooklyn high school students rallied against a new federal law requiring schools to provide military recruiters with student contact information. The head of Navy recruiting in NYC wrote the DailyNews that those students opposition didn't really matter, because only 4 of 209 students from that high school qualified to enlist, since 1999.

Senator Schumer wants to reprimand the forthright Navy Commander. This is the Daily News' response.

New York Daily News --

Rough sailing in Bushwick Wednesday, November 6th, 2002

First, let's get one thing straight: The U.S. military is not the enemy. The U.S. military protects us from the enemy, upholds the Constitution, guards our liberties and does a damn fine job of it all.

It also does a damn fine job teaching young Americans about values and ethics and discipline -- not to mention setting them on the path to higher education and/or a skilled profession.

All that appears lost on kids at Bushwick High School and Bushwick Outreach Center. They rallied against a new federal law, requiring schools to provide military recruiters with student contact information -- and, by the way, allowing parents to opt out(No one seems upset that schools gladly provide corporate recruiters with the same information. Who has done more for America, the military or Enron?)

The protest prompted a letter, printed in the "Voice of the People," from Cmdr. Edward Gehrke, chief of the Navy Recruiting District in New York. He wrote: "The vast majority of students [at the aforementioned schools] are not qualified to enlist in today's Navy. Few...exceed the minimum qualifying score on our vocational exam, and most have too many drug and/or police issues, to even be considered for enlistment."

Though some might argue, he could have been a bit more diplomatic, even diplomacy can't hide the stats. Gehrke notes that of 209 students from the two schools who tried to enlist in the Navy since January '99, only four qualified. Four. Not very impressive, is it?

Now, Gehrke is in the middle of a firestorm. The students are angrier than ever, and the usually rational Sen. Chuck Schumer has joined their cause, demanding that Gehrke be reprimanded by the Navy and forced to apologize.

For what, speaking the truth? With all due respect, senator, this is not the time to go politically correct.

The city's new Education Department, which was supposed to be a force for good, also has caved in, allowing the kids themselves -- not just their parents -- to decide whether the contact information will be provided. Throw a tantrum, and DOE surrenders. This doesn't bode well.

We have an educational system that does not educate. We have a society that's producing too many young people with drug and/or police issues.

Instead of living in denial, the offended students, and their families and their teachers, should face up to the fact that there's a problem here, and unless the kids --and the schools -- straighten out, the future is pretty dismal.

That's the message. Gehrke was only the messenger.

Thanks for the article, we have the same problem in the Portland Orgon Schools. The school board here has had a ban on military recruiters.

Thank you for your post! Any topic you want to bring up is welcomed here. :)

Thanks for your post. I think it's very appropriate in the Foxhole.

Senator Schumer needs to hear from Veterans!

Here's contact info:

313 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-6542
Fax: 202-228-3027
TDD: 202-224-0420

Send an email