At YPU, a call for ROTC’s return
Three days after starting work at Bear Sterns and three weeks after getting married to his high school sweetheart, Capt. Pete Hegseth decided to go to Iraq — and he does not regret his choice. In fact, the ROTC recruit and Princeton alumnus believes that military recruitment can be beneficial on an Ivy League campus, especially Yale’s.
Hegseth, the president of Vets for Freedom, spoke Monday night to the Yale Political Union in support of its ultimately successful resolution, “Resolved: Bring the ROTC back to campus.” While some YPU members criticized the concept of recruitment on...
I spent three years in the United States Army. Never once was it suggested that I dehumanize anyone.
I have the greatest respect for our troops who are defending our freedoms in Iraq and I will be the first to say that it is outrageous that there is no ROTC on campus. Still, this line made me smile:
"Three days after starting work at Bear Sterns ... Capt. Pete Hegseth decided to go to Iraq — and he does not regret his choice."
Somehow, it doesn't quite surprise me that he does not regret that choice...
White Christians from the South and middle America bear the burden of casualties in the Iraq war. They die at a dispraportionate rate. However, no one seems to care about this injustice. Something also tells me these same people will be signing up for Yale ROTC and there will be no cries of discrimination against Whites.
Good for them. I've known a few ROTC cadets at Yale, and they were all excellent individuals with a balanced perspective on life. Given the military's "intolerant" stance on various social issues, it is imperative that we nurture and encourage intelligent and balanced individuals to enter its leadership structure.
Besides, as a matter of principle, I think it's ridiculous that the few ROTC cadets at Yale - who gave up many other lucrative opportunities to serve - have to put up with so much bulls***. For every morning PT (which happens during hours inconceivable to many college students), they (well, at least the Army folks) have to get up an hour earlier than other ROTC cadets because they need to rent a car and drive down to Fairfield. This is because Yale does not allow military training on (or near) its ground. Yale's supposed to encourage public service, is it not? Military service, no matter how one feels about the military in general, is one of the most important forms of public service.