Hateful Letters to a Soldier - From a Leftist Professor

Front Page Magazine / Frontpage.com ^ | November 8, 2002 | peter kerstein

[doulau]

Last week I got a message containing an email exchange between an Air Force Academy cadet and a professor who responded very rudely to a polite request for information. I didn't run it because I couldn't verify it and the professor's response seemed so stereotypically rude and anti-military that I wasn't entirely sure it was real.

The Air Force Academy has a program called The Academy Assembly. An Air Force Academy cadet named Robert Kurpiel sent an e-mail to which ended up in the hands of Peter Kirstein, Professor of History at Saint Xavier University.

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

Here is the response from Professor Kirstein:

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

The Air Force Academy stepped in and tried to calm the situation. 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 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

[ProudEagle]

My reply sent this morning...

Dear Sir;

Yes I can hear you now. "Oh God hear we go again, another jingoistic non thinking idiot" responding to an internet story. Tough. I looked up your email and since it is legitimate and the story verified, let me lay a few of my own thoughts upon you.

How dare you? Just who in the hell do you think you are? What are your credentials to judge someone who chooses a profession that would preserve and enable you the right to espouse your dribble on the young minds of America. It is obvious you have served nothing but yourself over the years sir. You know nothing of service to your country. Except possibly lip service. You obviously have never have served or payed the ultimate sacrifice. Let me educate you for a change. It's called service to your country sir. Something you obviously are a stranger to. Something you, as a supposed educator are unqualified to teach to the young minds of America today.

I served with men who did understand this sir. Vietnam. Remember that little song and dance? I won't bore you with my where and why. You wouldn't have a clue. But we do. We were there. Better men than you died in my arms for a nation that wanted the opportunity to preserve their freedom of speech you ignorantly and blatantly take for granted. You obviously don't know the difference. But whether you like it or not, we who did serve still consider it a noble cause 30 years later. My blood brothers who lay there still, they thought it honorable to fight for an oppressed people. They thought it honorable to fight and give a people the right to speak as you have the freedom to repulse Cadet Kurpeil.

Cadet Robert Kurpeil was proud enough of himself, of his country, and yes, even YOU to ask you for your help. And assuming that he full well knew of your political affiliations and leanings, he still considered you enough of a fellow American to ask you to contribute and help with his education. And you responded like a true socialist marxist self centered spoiled pig. What an ass. You and your kind today infuriate me sir. Your ignorance of today's world threats and dangers, your lack of respect and understanding of men who died to preserve your rights, OUR rights, your lack of understanding of how bitterly and costly it was earned over the years by men who loved our nation and what our Constitution stands for; is your shame. A young mind who wished to ask your help was flagrantly insulted by a childish and boorish coward with his own selfish ideals and behaviour.

You are a disgrace to the eductaion system in America. You are a disgrace to our country. Regardless of your apology to Cadet Kurpeil.

[ctnoell]

Funny you should post this. Seems like every leftist professor I had in college was a Vietnam vet (or at least said they were). I guess they all suffered from the Oliver Stone syndrome.

[ctnoell]

Cool! Expose this b*stard!

[JoJo Gunn]

Just who the hell does he think he is? Why, he's a Utopian rockinroll critic, dontcha know?


http://my.execpc.com/~billp61/103199r.html#2

[ctnoell]

You, and all other American soldiers, past and present, are heroes to me and this entire nation. Our debt to you can never be repaid! A million thanks!

[ProudEagle]

The email I sent him won't even register. Trash like him are only concerned with their livelyhood at other peoples expense.

[JoJo Gunn]

I sent mine, and almost immediately the retort came back. Fastest kickback I've seen. I didn't get a rejection notice, but don't imagine he'll read my little missive of love.

[Zebra]

Words fail me. If I were on the Board of Trustees of St. X and took my responsibilities seriously, I would insist on the most severe censure of this "educator" or, if such response was not immediatley forthcoming, resign my position post haste. Pacifism is fine; it is the intolerant, disrespectful and abusive tone of that e-mail that disqualifies this "professor" from being a representative of the school and calls into question whether he is even capable of moderating an exchange of ideas in a classroom setting.

I intend to communicate with each of the trustees (check the link above to the St. X website, where the Board of Trustees is listed) and express my incredulity that such conduct by a sitting professor could be punished in any manner short of dismissal. If, as I suspect, the school's response was limited to a written reprimand and a demand for that less-than-heartfelt "apology", I will make it my business to make sure parochial schools that feed St. X are made (and kept) aware of this episode.

Simply incredible.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I've been working on an idea for college and university oversight. It simply informs parents and potential students in a 'just the facts' manner. It would be paid for by the colleges and universities. I'll ping you later. FReegards....

[amstaff1]

Self serving apologies always ring hollow and rarely fool anyone but the fool. As someone else noted the only thing this jerk is sorry about is the fact that now everyone knows what a creep he is.

And what is it about these people when it comes to skin color. The crack about killing non-white people is ridiculous, as if there were some agenda.

[Bernard]

Could there be some concern about government funding, and possible decreases in that funding for schools that house lunatic professors who hate America?

Or maybe the professor is just stupid. After all, his original response called the cadet a baby killer. Maybe the good professor confused "soldier" with "abortionist".

[The Toad]

That professor isn't too bright is he? You don't "bomb with AAA". Maybe before spewing his leftest hate he should attempt to learn what he is talking about first.....

[ChadGore]

Mailto:kirstein@sxu.edu
From: me, just now

Subject: Harms way

Sir,
I would put forth that you are better served by 1.5 million of your fellow Americans volunteering to go into harms way on your behalf than not. In the best interest of the future, please tell your wife at dinner tonight you would like to spend more time with her and the kids, and resign.

With Honor,

[Barset]

Good one.

"...top guns to reign death and destruction upon non-white peoples.."

As opposed to "top guns" RAINING death and destruction upon non-colored people as our first president of color did in Christian Serbia.

Reticence may be the sine qua non of good breeding which restrains us from unseemly displays of anger, but this kind of all too prevalent abuse from a member of the parasite class, especially one too lazy to learn his homonyms, and directed towards a young man whose boots this credentialed fool is unfit to lick, makes me want to beat the snot out of this nasty little coward.

Why would parents allow this low-class nonenity to put his filthy paws all over the minds of their children? Ugh!

[ghostrider]

I went to the link that you posted and saw where this emotionally disturbed, anti-American, radical liberal professor posted the USAF Academy's acceptance of his apology. However, the depth of his emotional sickness can not be appreciated without seeing the vile spew that first caused the uproar. Someone needs to hack his site and post the nasty e-mail that he mailed to the professor.