Posted on 11/06/2002 6:17:31 AM PST by Apple Pan Dowdy
THE HATE-FILLED LEFTIST PROFESSOR
OK .. in response to nearly 100 very demanding e-mail messages, here is what I have been able to find out about that incredible letter from the history professor at Saint Xavier University in Chicago to that cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
The Air Force Academy has a program called The Academy Assembly. You will read a description of The Academy Assembly below. An Air Force Academy cadet named Robert Kurpiel sent an e-mail to which ended up in the hands of Peter Kirstein at Saint Xavier. Here is the text of that e-mail:
Dear Sir or Ma’am
The Air Force Academy is going to be having our annual Academy Assembly. This is a forum for mainly but not only Political Science majors, discussing very important issues dealing with politics.
Right now we are in the planning stage for advertising and we would appreciate your help in the follow (sic) areas. Do you know of or have methods or ways for interschool advertising and or communications? What would be the best way for us to advertise at your school whether it is sending you the fliers and you making copies or by perhaps putting an advertisement in your local publication? We would appreciate your input and the cost of what your recommend. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Very Respectfully,
Cadet Robert Kurpiel
Now … here is the response from Professor Kirstein. Be sitting down when you read it.
From: Peter Kirstein
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2002 1:46 PM
To: Kurpiel Robert C4C CS26
Subject: Re: Academy Assembly
You are a disgrace to this country and I am furious you would even think I would support you and your aggressive baby killing tactics of collateral damage. Help you recruit. Who, top guns to reign death and destruction upon nonwhite peoples throughout the world? Are you serious sir? Resign your commission and serve your country with honour. No war, no air force cowards who bomb countries with AAA, without possibility of retaliation. You are worse than the snipers. You are imperialists who are turning the whole damn world against us. September 11 can be blamed in part for what you and your cohorts have done to Palestinians, the VC, the Serbs, a retreating army at Basra. You are unworthy of my support.
Peter N. Kirstein
Professor of History
Saint Xavier University.
So … there you go. Through the instantaneous magic of the Internet these two messages were soon flowing through e-mail accounts and message boards, and before you could say “tenure” Professor Kirstein was up to neck in academic horse squeeze.
Kirstein is an odd bird. If you cruise through his Saint Xavier website you will see one page devoted to the gravesite of Karl Marx in England! http://www.sxu.edu/academ/artsci/history/pkirstein/pictures.html Now, does that give you any insight into this man’s politics?
I also perused some of the writings of this extreme left-wing (dare I say communist?) history professor. Here’s an excerpt from a letter he wrote in October letter to Arab News:
It is my hope that large segments of our armed forces would refuse to engage in aggressive military action that would disgrace their families, their nation and all those who have worn proudly the uniform of the United States. Air National Guard units should refuse activation in preparation for airstrikes. Aircraft carrier battle groups stationed in the Persian Gulf should refuse to refuel or preposition aircraft that could attack Iraq. Special forces such as navy Seals and army Rangers should refuse invading Iraq in a preemptive war against a non-threatening adversary. If additional ground troops are deployed, hopefully they would not obey orders to murder civilians or destroy wantonly the delicate infrastructure of Baghdad, Basra and other Iraqi cities.
Now that’s nice, isn’t it? Our history professor is asking American servicemen and women to disobey orders … to defect? Obviously Peter N. Kirstein would get along very well with Hanoi Jane Fonda. Maybe we should start calling him Baghdad Peter.
Moving right along. If you happened to uncover Baghdad Peter’s e-mail address, and if you sent him a blue-steam e-mail about his letter to the Air Force cadet, this is the response you would have received today:
Due to considerable off-campus interest in a private correspondence with a military person, I am posting this. The situation has been resolved with humility, mutual respect and considerable friendliness. Both of us consider this matter to be resolved. May nations also learn differences can be overcome, disagreements bridged and that peace and harmony are possible I will respond, as needed, to other e-mail.
Uh oh. It looks like the professor got taken for a quick visit to the woodshed, especially when you consider this short, terse e-mail response many got from the president of Saint Xavier University today.
Thank you for your expression of concern about the intemperate, angry words issued by Prof. Kirstein. He has apologized to the cadet, the Academy, and the University and all have accepted. His harsh words certainly do not represent Saint Xavier University!
- Dr. Richard Yanikoski, president
Yikes! It doesn’t sound like Professor Kirstein is on the presidents Christmas Card list this year, does it?
Up next ... an attempt by the Air Force Academy as they step in and try to calm the situation down a bit. Here is a letter from the Director of the Academy Assembly.
Subject: An Open Letter from the Academy Assembly
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There has been considerable attention given to an e-mail received by a Fourth Class Cadet here at the United States Air Force Academy from Professor Peter N. Kirstein of Saint Xavier University. Dr Kirstein's e-mail was a response to an e-mail he had received concerning the Academy Assembly.
The Academy Assembly is a forum to promote academic discussion of important issues of our day and to allow the student delegates from all over the North America to draft a report that is widely disseminated. This year our theme is America's Challenges in an Unstable World: Balancing Security with Liberty. I am pleased to say that a "cyber-episode" which started poorly has evolved into a more professional and academic discussion.
Please find below a letter of apology from Dr Kirstein which I received this morning, accompanied by a phone call. I have drafted this message in response to his correspondence and with an advance copy to Dr. Kirstein.
On behalf of the Academy Assembly I accept this apology in the same sincere manner in which it was given. Furthermore, I offer my own apology to Dr Kirstein for the way his original message, which was intended as private communication, was spread throughout the Air Force Academy and beyond. Since that e-mail was forwarded with such great vigor to many individuals both within and outside the Air Force Academy I would ask that you, the reader of this letter, please forward this e-mail to anyone to whom you sent the original message.
Two results of this are obvious and I want to share them with you. The first is that through well considered words and messages a situation that was initially highly inflammatory has become one in which diverse ideas can be compared and discussed; this is the essence of the Academy Assembly. Second, though emotions have run understandably high throughout the USAFA Cadet Wing in response to this e-mail, replies to this e-mail from our cadets have been, almost without exception, marked by great maturity and professionalism. I was presented nearly forty proposed responses to the original e-mail from cadets, but the one that best encapsulates the opinion of the cadet wing is a quote from their book, Contrails, which serves as not only a statement for others, but an admonition for themselves
"It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag." ~Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, Sergeant, USMC
I would dare to add one thought to the above quote; that we in the military, as servants of the public, must carefully guard and cherish our relationship with the civilian community. We must always remain open and responsive to legitimate criticism that is presented in a spirit of willingness to improve the forces that guard our country and make them an institution that all Americans can take pride in. I am pleased to say that this discussion, of which many of you only saw the first portion, has moved towards that high plain.
Respectfully yours,
Captain Jim Borders, USAFA
Director, Academy Assembly
Instructor, Political Science
And here, as promised in Captain Borders’ letter, is the apology written by the Professor.
Dear Captain Borders,
I have expressed to Cadet Kurpiel my regrets over what I communicated to him in my e-mail. I did not mean to impugn his character. I am sure he is of the highest character. I should have written him in a more thoughtful and contemplative manner. As one who believes in non-violence and the avoidance of conflict, I could have been more circumspect and creative in my communication with him.
Cadet Kurpiel has sent me several generous, thoughtful and impressive e-mails. He has also expressed "apologies" for the unwarranted national distribution of a private e-mail correspondence which has caused me and others to receive 100s of e-mail messages. I hope this update on my response and the cadet's kind communication will serve to inform the public that this issue has been resolved with dignity and honour between myself and Cadet Kurpiel.
I remain respectfully yours,
Peter N. Kirstein
Professor of History
Saint Xavier University
Do you think Professor Kirstein is truly sorry he wrote that letter to the cadet? Get serious! He’s sorry the letter became so widely disseminated … nothing else. He was made to look like a fool. He embarrassed his university, and he had to eat crow. But tomorrow he’ll be right back at work poisoning the minds of those wide-eyed kids entrusted to his care.
BWAHAHAHA!!!!First thing I thought of..."Eyegore"!
FMCDH
H's G, USNA '92.
If anyone feels compelled to express an opinion to this ignorant disease here is his information!
Name: Kirstein, Peter N.
Title: Professor
Dept: History & Political Science
Room: N229
Phone Ext: 3283
Email: kirstein@sxu.edu
WWW: http://www.sxu.edu/history/pkirstein
For grins I sent a private email (from Yahoo) to the "professor" and got the same reply that is at the bottom of this thread. I didn't believe at first this was real, but it really appears to be... man, what an a$$hole.
I wonder how many emails that address is going to receive from .gov's in the next few months?
From an outspoken friend....
Now I'm a pretty laid back guy, and few and far between are the events that really piss me off. Sure we all get frustrated or a little irritable every now and again, but I'm talking really pissed off. So I'm sure you'll share my suprise when I opened my inbox and read this little exchange between a cadet at the Air Force Academy and a processor of history from Saint Xavier University...
(Snip: The original correspondence is already posted on FR)
So that, as one might expect sent me into a f**king tirade. I mean I saw f**king stars. I wanted to kick my dog. I wanted to smack my television. I wanted to drive to Chicago and take a great big sh*t on ol’ Peter's car. But instead, I cooled down and calmly came to the realization that this matter will need to be handled with diplomacy and tact instead of brute force and anger. So I wrote the following letter to our dear professor and cc'd the President of Saint Xavier University....
Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 210815 –0500
To: kirstein@sxu.edu
Cc: Dr. Richard Yanikoski
From: Ernie
Subject: Fwd Re Academy Assembly
Hey Petey,
This email was forwarded to me by one of my subscribers, and to say that I found it's content distasteful would, at the very least, be a booming understatement. You are walking proof that even the most well educated people can still be frustratingly ignorant of the happenings in the world around them, stumbling around through life with blinders on like a retired draft horse. You see I, as are many average Joe Americans, am under the apparently false impression that our nation's educators are a tolerant and enlightened bunch who foster thought and dialog with those they are charged with teaching. Your blatant hypocrisy in this area has proved that theory is no more than wishful thinking on an earth-shattering scale.
The kid came to you simply asking for some contact information not to overthrow the world, and certainly not to be subjected to a tongue lashing fueled by your political views regarding events that happened well before he even graduated middle school. But since you're so willing to open your big fat mouth and cast your ante into the political poker table, I'd like to call your hand.
Let's take a look at what we've got here. A young person came to you and very politely asked for your assistance and you not only rebuked them and refused to help, but further added insult to injury by attacking them personally. Why did you do this? Because you disagree with what this person does for a living? Could you not simply just ignore their request, or perhaps reply with a polite, "Sorry not interested." Or would that be too low key for you? Maybe you're not strong enough to deprive yourself from the personal gratification you get when tossing some venomous, unprovoked remarks at someone who doesn't share your same views about the world?
You Mr. Kirstein, are the real disgrace to this country, and I am appalled you would *not* support the soldiers, sailors, marines, and yes airmen -- who put their lives at risk so you don't have to. But hey, that's your right as an American I suppose.
Let us for the moment overlook the irony of the fact that if you were to criticize the governments of Palestine, Vietnam, Serbia or Iraq, you would be drug out of your house during the middle of the night; probably stripped naked before the eyes of your crying children and weeping spouse, beaten unmercifully in the town square, executed with a bullet to the back of your brain, all before having your rotting corpse serve as a warning to those who oppose the government's rule. Let us further overlook the irony that the only reason people like you aren't beaten and killed for voicing such idiotic fantasies, is because so many men and women of our military past have chosen to give their lives in place of yours.
Instead let's look at website bio, you say you teach peace and freedom. And yet you call one of those who keeps you safe and defends your freedom a "coward" and a "baby killer" and even go so far as to suggest the military personnel of this country are responsible for the 3,000 terrorist victims of last year's attacks.
No, those aren't the words of someone who practices peace and freedom, those are the words of a grade-a certified A$$HOLE.
You want cowardly, Pete? How about the concept of flying a plane into thousands of innocent men, women and children is cowardly. Try that on for cowardly size and see how it fits.
But while we're on the subject of what pisses off who, I should confess I'm furious that you pretend to understand the situations in which these people fought and died because you read a few textbooks, snapped some pictures, and maybe even took the time to browse through a few tourist brochures, while other people -- people much better than you -- speak of these places with first hand knowledge and have the scars and nightmares to prove it.
These heroes of battles past that are the true teachers of our nation's wartime history, not some self righteous has-been with a fancy diploma and a lifetime subscription to National Geographic. But I think most of all, I am furious that someone who claims to be a well respected educator, would refuse to help a student from any institution of learning simply because of conflicting political views.
In my opinion, I don't think that person is teacher at all but more of a fraud, a fraud who damned well ought to be ashamed of themselves and offer that student their most humble apologies.
And I'd like to think that you'd be ashamed little Petey, but again let's be honest, that would just be more wishful thinking, wouldn't it?
You insulted all military personnel, past, present and future, you did it while acting in the official capacity as a History Professor of Saint Xavier University, and therefore have spoken on behalf of the University. That's very important because in this country Mr Kirstein, we don't publicly execute people for voicing their opinions against the government, we subject them to something far greater power: the court of public opinion.
Since you seem so eager to voice your political views on others, I'm going to make it easy for them to return the favor. In addition to sending this to the President of Saint Xavier University and his staff to see firsthand the calibre of intolerance they have representing them, I am also posting it, along with your contact information, to the front page of my website for all my daily visitors to see. I'm also going to forward copies to the editors of the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times, along with a few radio stations in your area.
Hopefully, you'll get a taste of your own medicine and won't be so eager to impose your warped moral code on others.
Yes you say you teach peace and freedom, but both the intolerance with which you seem to treat people that harbor different views than you and the enthusiasm with which you persecute them, is quite frightening. I hope that cadet not only doesn't resign their commission but instead continues on to serve their country proudly for a long time. You on the other hand, much like the old draft horse, should have been retired out to the back pasture a long time ago.
In closing, I want you to know that this evening while I'm sitting on my couch and watching the news to see which new terrorist scumbag didn't complete his morning coffee run thanks to a Hellfire missile, you'll be in my thoughts; I'll be praying you get hit by a big f**king bus.
God bless the USA, and woe to her enemies.
Warmest regards,
Ernie Stewart Jr
USAF, 1991-1996
P.S. Nice picture. Keep the sweater. This way you look as bizarre and outdated as your sense of reality, you bow-tied schmuck. I felt better. I vented, and it felt good. And then I received this auto-reply...
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 20:07:25 –0600
From: "Peter Kirstein"
To: ernie@ehowa.com
Due to considerable off-campus interest in a private correspondence with a military person, I am posting this. The situation has been resolved on a personal level with humility, mutual respect and friendliness. May nations also learn differences can be overcome, disagreements bridged and that peace and harmony are possible.
I apologize for offending the countless men and women of the military who serve this nation with professionalism and dedication to their mission.
First off by noting the "private message" is a sly way of implying there was some breech of trust here. I don't think so. Did he send it from his work account? Yes. Did he reply with "Professor of History" in his email footer? Yes. Was the original question posted to him in an official capacity because of his position? yes. Then guess what Jack, that wasn't a private email it was official correspondence. not to mention if he didn't want to be famous for his controversial views he shouldn't have been so f**king anxious to share them.
Want to offer a real apology Pete? Why not post it on your page of the university website, maybe somewhere among the "challenge American unilateralism" propoganda and the plug for your new book, "False Dissenters: Manhattan Project Scientists and the Use of the Atomic Bomb".
So now I leave it in your hands, fair reader, the judge and jury in the court of public opinion. Personally, I think "oops I'm sorry" is something you say to someone after you step on their foot when the subway comes to an abrupt halt. I don't think it quite covers labeling generations of America's warriors as "cowards" and "babykillers".
But that's just my opinion.
Says here "Robert, 17, is the son of Joseph and Christine Kurpiel of Reinholds"
A quick Yahoo people email search using Denver, PA, and Kurpiel turned up email addresses for Christine, Joseph & Robert Kurpiel Kurpiel of Reinholds. I don't want to post their private emails here, but the information is there, if anyone cares to go look it up and write to them. His parents might forward email to him. Email search using Kurpiel
All little boys should be circumspect before they leave the hospital :o)
I once read.... "We as a culture and proud nation should preserve our factual history whether it is something that may embarrass some particular social, political, racial or geographic group of people. But there are social "Do Gooders" that believe that our "actual history" of particular events are degrading and embarrassing and that may damage someone’s self-esteem if perpetuated in the annals of history. Unfortunately, these pressure groups have intentionally misinterpreted, deluded, distorted and to the point completely eliminated essential parts of our nation’s history in school textbooks, and books."
This professor obviously is a huge fan of Marx (ie: his web site, although I do believe that the page of his photos of Marx has been taken down since we stated this thread... probably pressure from the school). Do you wander if he relates historical revisionalism to his duty to "set the world right on who Marx really was"... you know, give history a new spin? Is this GOOD?
Just like I said...we must concentrate on getting rid of tenure protections for teachers in every venue. This unrealistic job security devalues education careers. It rewards incompetance and promotes it.
Tyler Horning, Treasurer Tyler is president of the senior class at Conestoga Valley; He serves as treasurer for FBLA, is in Interact club, and active in the Republican party. Horning plans on attending college next year at Grove City College. He enjoys filming and volunteering for community organizations, including his church.
The pictures of the people are posted BELOW their bio.
BAN TENURE!!!!
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