Elite A&M group resumes training

Houston Chronicle ^ | Feb. 14, 2003, | JOHN W. GONZALEZ

[Dubya]

There may have been a lack of "situational awareness," and sensitivity training may be in order, but there was no malicious intent to stifle free speech when Texas A&M cadets drilled near a campus peace vigil last week, university officials have concluded.

With that finding, routine training has resumed for the storied Ross Volunteers honor guard company, officials said Thursday.

They'll be ready to participate in a parade in Conroe this weekend, the officials added.

Vigil participants claimed several agitated cadets drew to within 10 feet of their prayer circle and disrupted the Feb. 3 gathering in a university-approved free-speech zone near the center of campus.

Corps members said they were concluding their spirited daily drills near the statue of the late Gov. Lawrence Sullivan Ross as they always do and did not intimidate or threaten the estimated 30 vigil participants.

In the finding released On Wednesday, Corps Commandant Lt. Gen. John Van Alstyne said there was no proof of any improper actions by the approximately 100 Corps members at the scene.

His probe "concluded that there were no specific actions or comments that were intended to be intimidating," a summary of the findings said.

The report confirmed that "several participants in the vigil report feeling intimidated by the close proximity of a large number of uniformed cadets involved with military drills with (inert) weapons." But it said cadet leaders did nothing to inflame the situation.

The cadets' commander "encouraged the company members to take pride in their organization. He also pointed out that the many Aggies currently involved in military operations all over the world were demonstrating the same pride that he was encouraging in the company," the report said.

Even so, Van Alstyne said he would take several steps in response to the incident. He said he will meet with Ross Volunteer leaders "to discuss the requirement for situational awareness when operating on campus." He also instructed the cadets to be informed about any vigils or rallies scheduled in their usual training areas.

Further, Van Alstyne said he will "host a meeting of the Ross Volunteer leadership and selected organizers of the peace vigil. (The) intent is to provide the Ross Volunteer leadership an opportunity to understand how their routine actions could have been perceived as an effort to intimidate."

Vigil organizers have already said they would participate in such an exchange.

[Dubya]

Officials: No intent to stifle speech

[harpseal]

I would suggest that the protestors want only their speech heard and not that of the cadets who were speaking up for thenation in their daily routine. Why should the cadets have to change their routine to accomodate these pices of filth?

[Dubya]

Amen.

[Freebird Forever]

Bump for the Aggies

[Tennessee_Bob]

Gig 'em

[Station 51]

Vigil participants claimed several agitated cadets drew to within 10 feet of their prayer circle.

I have difficulty with the Cadets interrupting people in prayer. Is anything sacred anymore?

[Britton J Wingfield]

I hope they had a nice, loud cadence going; "Saddam Hussein is son of a.."

[belle99]

Corps members said they were concluding their spirited daily drills near the statue of the late Gov. Lawrence Sullivan Ross as they always do and did not intimidate or threaten the estimated 30 vigil participants....

They were practicing for Silver Taps, to be held that Tuesday night, honoring those Aggies that had died since the last Silver Taps...the vigil participants were part of an organization that was not even part of the A&M campus...they were just looking for publicity

[LouD]

I'm guessing they had perfect situational awareness. That's why they were able to annoy the peaceniks, while still retaining plausible deniability.

Someone ought to buy those boys a beer!

[Dubya]

My bible says when you pray go into your closet and don't be a hy.

[Dubya]

Hope this will help you.

My Prayer Closet


Head off to the mountains or a beach or a beautiful resort? There’s actually a place you can go that’s even better than those places – and you can go there as often as you want. That place is in the presence of God.

Pray in private. You can get a closer walk with God that way. We are not suppost to pray in front of people to get their praise.

[Clara Lou]

I have difficulty with the Cadets interrupting people in prayer. Is anything sacred anymore?
It says that "Vigil participants claimed several agitated cadets drew to within 10 feet...." It was found that the cadets didn't do anything wrong. ¿Comprende? The Peace Weenies merely perceived that they were being intruded upon by the blood-thirsty military-types. If they wanted total peace and quiet, why have their vigil in the middle of a very busy university of over 40,000 students?

[Dubya]

THE PRAYER CLOSET YOUR SECRET PLACE

Matthew 6:6
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you."
NIV

JESUS GIVES US A GUIDE TO PRAYER

" Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:9-13 NIV

I hope you want let these liberals mislead you. Christian prayer was not the real reason they were there. If they were Christians they would obey the Christian Bible.

[J Jay]

They were practicing for Silver Taps, to be held that Tuesday night, honoring those Aggies that had died since the last Silver Taps.

There is nothing in the world that will send cold chills down your spine like Silver Taps---With campus "lights out", Corps standing in silence, 6 buglers around the Academic Bldg. dome playing Taps for a deceased fellow Aggie. A bit thumbs up to the RVs.

P.S. Can some Aggie tell me if "Sully" has ever saluted yet? As of '49, he had not.

[tamu]

RV and Silver Taps bump!!

[J Jay]

p.s. bit=big. Silver Taps is conducted at midnight.

[Dubya]

Siler Taps

Wish I could hear it.

[TankerKC]

...no malicious intent to stifle free speech when Texas A&M cadets drilled near a campus peace vigil last week...

Just a thought ( which could be completely wrong). Doesn't "Freedom of Speech" mean that the government won't "stifle" speech? Can a bunch of cadets really take away your right to free speech? If you are intimidated and won't speak your mind, then what you have is stifled courage.

[dogbrain]

"He also instructed the cadets to be informed about any
vigils or rallies scheduled in their usual training areas."

WHO would want to schedule "vigils or rallies" in the "usual training areas"?

WHY?

Looking for trouble? Not usually hard to find.

[Dubya]

You are right on as far i am concerned.