A Hero Speaks At Columbia University

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Early in the week, I saw a post called "Hero's Welcome" by Annie Karni, on The New York Post's website. Here's some of it:

"Columbia University students heckled a war hero during a town hall meeting on whether ROTC should be allowed back on campus.

"'Racist!' some students yelled at Anthony Maschek, a Columbia freshman and former Army staff sergeant awarded the Purple Heart after being shot 11 times in a firefight in northern Iraq in February 2008. Others hissed and booed the veteran. Maschek, 28, had bravely stepped up to the mike Tuesday at the meeting to issue an impassioned challenge to fellow students on their perceptions of the military. 'It doesn't matter how you feel about the war. It doesn't matter how you feel about fighting,' said Maschek. 'There are bad men out there plotting to kill you.'

"Several students laughed and jeered the Idaho native, a 10th Mountain Division infantryman who spent two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington recovering from grievous wounds."

There's a stench of educational decay to this story and the collapse of the quaint old notion that our colleges and universities are vessels for the free flow and exchange of ideas.

What type of breeding ground is it which fosters our youth to feel safe flinging hateful insult at a soldier who has come perilously close to death, so that they might grow up safe and free?

It's bad enough that civil discourse has disintegrated to the point that many American adults now toss the racist label around like a beach ball, but what does it say about the parents, our schools, and in particular, our college campuses, that out of the mouths of babes now comes racial insult before intelligent questioning of a speaker who simply has a first hand account to offer?

Do these students think Maschek woke up one morning and decided to attack Iraq on his own? They do realize, that as an enlisted soldier, he was sent to war by his president and Congress? Or, is it that these underripe and nuanced intellectuals just hate soldiers in general because someone indoctrinated them to think this way?

It seems fair to ask, since it was Columbia University that thought it appropriate to invite Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to its lecterns in 2007.

In college, I took a yearlong survey of the Vietnam War. It's no secret that our involvement in Southeast Asia was not exceedingly popular. Soldiers returning from combat were often met by ridicule and chant-ing protesters calling them all sorts of nasty names.

As part of the course, there were many invited guest speakers, including three officers from the military. One was an Air Force pilot. He said the closest he ever got to action was from the ungodly altitudes that his plane flew. He never saw the enemy he dropped his bombs on. Relentless reminders about what he had been ordered to do were painfully etched and grooved in the lines of his face.

Another was an Army infantryman like Anthony Maschek, and the third speaker was from the Navy.

We didn't utter a peep as these men spoke. We sat in awe listening to the first-hand accounts from these soldiers who had performed their duties with honor and dignity. We had our views, no doubt, but we just asked our polite, if not leading, questions during the Q&A sessions.

On Thursday, Maschek, who lost a leg in combat, sat down for a televised interview. When asked how he felt about the heckling from Columbia students, he said, "It's just a small group of people that were heckling. They have the right of their opinion. Personally, I fought for that right and I support that right of their opinion."

Words begin to fail that there could be such grace from someone who has sacrificed so much for those who have done so little.

I wonder if any of the "students" who heckled Anthony Maschek have had a chance to visit the Washington war memorials lately? Short of, and until the next attack succeeds on our soil, this might be a good place to start learning about respect for those who protect and revere their right to call this war hero a racist.

Geoff Cutler is owner of Cutler Tree LLC in Southern Pines and is a regular contributor to The Pilot and PineStraw magazine. Contact him at geoffcutler@embarqmail.com.

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tbcc 2 years, 2 months ago

Beautifully written piece, Mr. Cutler, as well as timely. The system desperately needs a wake up call, and I hope that more Americans observe this troubling pattern and set out to alter its course. Whatever happened to such time tested traits as common decency and respect for others? Those misguided students don't seem to show any of either.

HillTopper 2 years, 2 months ago

Media coverage creates most of the negative sentiment surrounding our current military activities as well as previous engagements. What are these kids to think? That's all they've heard. As precious as freedom of speech is, it needs to be used responsibly. It just all boils down to viewer ratings, internet hits ... whatever. It's all about the "money". The more disgusting the story is, the more people are drawn to it. Responsible and fair media coverage would surely paint a different picture.

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

Sorry, wrong again ChiefHammer. I am a staunch believer and defender of FREE SPEECH but not of imbecilic, boorish, and impolite behavior. These students I assume were there of their own free will and not required to be there so they should have listened to the speakers and then come forward with their disagreements or opposing views. Nothing is learned by acting like this...maybe someone just needs to teach them manners; yes I do have manners. Many more manners than a majority of people I see today. We are becoming a mannerless society and at this point maybe it needs to be taught in High School. The bigger issue though is the one of the military itself. With an All-Volunteer Military and NO DRAFT these men and women who are joining I assume are totally cognizant of their feelings and beliefs as to why they joined the military in the first place. If they have been in WAR ZONES, I wouldn't think a bunch of mannerless college kids would bother them at all. The bigger question though is the TOTAL STATE of our MILITARY and THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX that runs and is ruining AMERICA. ROLLINGSTONE magazine has a story this week, here's a snip-it: "U.S. Army Inteligence ordered a team of soliders specializing in "psychological Operations" to manipulate visiting American Senators into providing more troops and funding fro the war....and when an officer tried to stop the operation, he was railroaded by military investigators." This is ILLEGAL and it looks like ROLLINGSTONE will be helping to get rid of another out of control GENERAL. The U.S. military has not been doing enough to deserve our respect.

DaveyNC 2 years, 2 months ago

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Tommy 2 years, 2 months ago

MC7 - It should give you a teensy clue that your opinions about the military machine are a little out of touch with reality that our president, who campaigned as one of the most vocal doves in several decades didn't shut down either Gitmo or our involvement in the two wars as quickly as he promised.

Mr. Cutler, thanks so much for your article. Maschek and other veterans can give back to their country for generations by politely and frequently making their opinions heard in the lecture halls and everywhere they go in America.

Yukonjohn 2 years, 2 months ago

I am absolutely against the war in Iraq! We should have tried to stay out of Afghanistan. I would have tried to re-enlist if, on 9/12/2001, we would have made an all out attack on Saudi Arabia!! I am a ten year vet, and think that Columbia University should receive 0$ of federal funding. If our budget is hurting so badly, quit giving it to places that are totally UNAmerican!!

HeelsHoopFan 2 years, 2 months ago

People have a right to speak their mind. I believe the words of Anthony Maschek speak the loudest " They have a right to their opinion. Personally, I fought for that right and I support that right of their opinion."

Don't any of you get that? An overwhelming percentage of combat service connected disabled citizens support folks right to speak their minds and demonstrate about the military and any war. They understand the sacrifices that are made by those who serve. They encourage freedom, liberty and the right to free speech.

You personally don't get to decide what's American or un-American. The public debate decides. We collectively vote to determine the course of the nation. Veteran Maschek represented himself well and has the support of a grateful nation.Things were not like that 40-50 years ago, so with respect to the support of a grateful nation , maybe we have come a long ways. One thing about it, War is Hell! Any veteran who tells you any different is suspect to actual combat experience.

HillTopper 2 years, 2 months ago

Never understood why America has to "foot the bill" and suffer all the negativety that comes with it. NATO and The United Nations are a joke! Right now they're all sitting back waiting for US to do something about Libya and it's precious oil. Sanctions? What in the world will that help. Sanctions only hurt the poor people that live in those countries. Look at North Korea. They probably spend 80% of their money on military. Let their people starve. Sanctions only hurt the North Korean people, not those in power. This has to change. One world and one world POLICE DEPT. with everyone contributing their fair share. If that isn't the case then it needs to be like the old days. Conquer a county and you get all it's assets! Overthrow Libya, WE GET THE OIL! You see what I mean?

HeelsHoopFan 2 years, 2 months ago

Yes James, I support the troops with every fiber in my being. Nothing worse than spilling blood on foreign soil without the support of your own nation. Nevertheless, it doesn't wane the support we have for our citizens to speak their minds.

Troops go into a combat situation not so concerned about the nations attitude toward them, rather looking out for their buddies to come out alive and uninjured. When they are alone they are more than likely thinking about that girl or boy back home, Sunday dinner, going to church and kicking back with friends and family and not whether some misguided Ivy League coeds are supporting them or not.

Folks like veteran Maschek know what they are getting into the minute they apply for a school like Columbia nestled in the upper west side of NYC. An incredible education and the exposure to a left of center environment, not unlike UNC, Yale or any other select institution. I believe Maschek will end up a little further left than he is now once he has graduated from Columbia.

I am trying to give a little credit here to a grateful nation that by and large support our troops from both the left and the right. My issue with respect to any combat operations is to have a clear and precise objective, clear orders and an exit strategy. Veteran Maschek objective appears to be warning a liberal audience that you may be negative about me and the military, but I'm telling you the boogie man is out there and I've seen him. As far as I am concerned, he's telling the truth, but we can't handle the truth. We leave that up to folks that replaced veteran Maschek and worry about whether Duke can beat UNC in Chapel Hill on Senior night.

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

We were attacked on 9/11 by EXTREMIST MUSLIM TERRORISTS based in Afghanistan. Their leader was Osama Bin Laden. We went to WAR the next month to destroy Al-Quada and either KILL or CAPTURE their "LEADER". We failed! There is still an AL-Quada(although not very many left) and there is possibly still an Osama Bin Laden. From what I've read and heard some of the "Experts" say from both the Military and Government is that pulling our troops back from "Tora Bora" was the worst thing we could have done because they were very close to getting Bin Laden. WHY DID WE DO THAT? Wasn't that our OBJECTIVE? Bin Laden obviously wasn't in IRAQ, neither were there many(if any) Al-Quada there. What is our Military and Government doing to us as a Nation? What are those Generals doing demanding more and more troops and money when after 10 yrs they have failed at the most important part of their jobs? NOT THE SOLDIERS THEMSELVES, they have shed too much blood and have been valiant but the OFFICERS IN CHARGE? We cannot build a new Nation in Afghanistan. The Generals should know that and they should have demanded that fact be known more than anything to G. Bush. Now, have those same Generals put a VOODOO HEX on President Obama to believe the same thing? I'm beginning to wonder. And isn't it now utterly amazing that there are uprisings though out the Middle East of people who DEMAND DEMOCRACY with out any hint of religious fanaticism or murderous violence? They are over throwing DICTATORS with their NON VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS! Isn't that the most fantastic thing of all?

Behan 2 years, 2 months ago

I am actually a little bit dumber after reading this assessment of our environment.

MooreNorth 2 years, 2 months ago

Amazing! Behan read my mind even before I read MC7's comment.

teufelhunden 2 years, 2 months ago

MC7-have you ever wondered that it may be possible that there could be a lot more to the story than what you have read & heard? Those who own information decide what information you get to read & hear. You are spinning your wheels. Is it possible that our government & military have information that we don't? Yes. Is it also possible that they sure as heck don't want everyone to know what's really going on & their true motives? Uh...affirmative. Chillax.

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

Maybe if you guys start reading the "right" kinds of newspapers and magazines we could have better dialogues, so here's a snip-it from Michael Hastings ROLLING STONE article titled "Another Runaway General" 2-23-11: "The U.S. Army illegally ordered a team of soldiers specializing in "Psychological Operations" to manipulate visiting American Senators into providing more troops and funding for the war....the orders came from the command of Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, a three star General in charge of training troops in Afghanistan. According to the Defense Dept's own definition psy-ops or the use of propaganda and psychological tactics to influence emotions and behaviors, are supposed to be used exclusively on "hostile foreign groups." Federal law prohibits the military from practicing psy-ops on Americans and each defense authorization bill comes with a "propaganda rider" that also prohibits such manipulation." This is almost unbelievable if it's true but after Mr. Hastings article last summer that got Gen. McCrystal fired turned out to be true, I have a feeling that a lot of checks and balances were covered before they printed an article like this. This is an extremely sad day for our country.

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

It was an amendment to the MILITARY AUTHORIZATION BILL, HR 5658. Of course Sen. McCain and Sen. Lieberman laughed it off as you say(I didn't watch the show)because who wants to admit to being "USED or DUPED?" No one. Gen. McCrystal was probably told he had the choice of resigning or of being fired. I think that's usualy how it goes. The MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX has more to lose from us NOT being at WAR with someone around our small world than for having us always FIGHTING with some sort of "ENEMY" and it is well known to what end companies might go to keep those Government Contracts to continue to be written by our Congress. It's time for this to end so that more of our veterans can then go to a college as good as Columbia U. instead of being shot and killed or maimed.

teufelhunden 2 years, 2 months ago

So you're not watching the "right" shows then?

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

This was very interesting reading: 110th Congress "HR 5658, Subtitle G-OTHER MATTERS, Sec. 1075: PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO PROPAGANDA, (a)Prohibition- No part of any funds authorized to be appropriated in this or any other Act shall be used by the Department of Defense for propaganda purposes within the United States not otherwise specifically authorized by law." This HR 5648 has lots and lots of "INFO" that I find are actually worse than that part! This was a very long bill with everything in regards to the military and the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The WORSE part to me was finding out that basically the Department of Defense does not nor does it have to(more or less) provide info to the CBO regarding it's expenditures!"...The Department of Defense does not report outlays or actual expenditures for war because war and baseline funds are mixed in the same accounts, and does not provide information on many key factors...." Unbelievable. I knew it was bad just not that bad.

pinehurstmom 2 years, 2 months ago

What do you expect from the university that welcomed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? Sure I believe in freedom of speech, but when it comes to condoning behavior that undermines our military and promotes terrorists, they need to survive without any federal funding including individual scholarships and loans. Sometimes these liberal college administrators and professors go too far!

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

Mauiman: why are you defending anti-american tactics used by our military on our own citizens? From THE ATLANTIC MAGAZINE(2-24-11), "Federal law forbids the military from practicing psy-ops on Americans, and each defense authorization bill comes with a "propaganda rider" that also prohibits such manipulation." Sounds to me mauiman that you'd prefer us to live under a strong armed Communist government similar to those of the past U.S.S.R. or today's China. So you are wrong and you are trying to defend tactics and ideas that are evil.

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

Propaganda is the WMD "situation" that we had prior to the IRAQ war. I remember watching on tv, Colin Powell at the UN with all of his diagrams and "bottles" and then his stern warnings about the threat that Saddam Hussein was supposed to be. Well, that turned out to be pure propaganda of the worst kind since that lead to WAR where thousands upon thousands of PEOPLE have been KILLED and/or MAIMED. You can try to explain that away all you want but there was no need to go to war in IRAQ. and that has been proved over and over. We'll have to see about the "penalties" for violating the propaganda rules. Congress has apparently been placing specific restrictions on unethical and illegal use of propaganda for years now. I've looked and looked for the EXACT LAWS and PENALTIES but it's not easy to find....and I love doing research(In college I worked part time at the library helping students find their research information). Those Senators maybe were aware when they were being "told info that was not quite right or exaggerated" but what difference does it make. Our country has been guilty of lots of propaganda during it's many wars, probably from the Civil War to today but it is WRONG! GOT THAT? I let my opinions be known but don't go on and on about nothing compared to a few others here.

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

According to the UK's Guardian(2-16-11): "Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell asks why the CIA failed to warn him over the Iraqi defector who has admitted he fabricated WMD evidence. Responding to the Guardians revelation that the source, Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi or "Curveball" as his US and German handlers called him, admitted fabricating evidence of Iraq's secret biological weapons program. Powell said that questions should be put to the US agencies involved in compiling the case for war. On Feb. 5, 2003, a month before the invasion, Powell went before the UN Security Council to make the case for war. In his speech Powell referred to "first hand descriptions of biological weapons factories on wheels and rails...The source was an eyewitness who supervised one of the facilities. It is now known that the source Janabi made the story up. Colin Powell now says he regrets the role he played. George Tenet failed to pass on information from German Intelligence that "Curveball" was lying." You've got to be kidding!!!! CURVEBALL WAS LYING?!!!! I'm afraid that Colin Powell lied, George Tenet lied, Bush lied, Cheney lied, Rumsfeld lied, and on and on. After reading and learning all of this I do hope that the soldier in this story gets a very good college education and has a great life.

marathonman 2 years, 2 months ago

I am very grateful that the young man could speak at Columbia. I am distressed that some were raised in homes who have no idea of the threats we face and feel justified in heckling. In fact, I am distressed that folks still feel they can disagree by heckling. This thread has bounced all over the lot with respect to the subject. To those who think things are being resolved peacefully in the Middle East, I say stand by ...... "it ain't over till its over"!

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

So Powell must be a Racist? Really? Why? Not quite following except I think there's another word for what Bush and Cheney did in this case by letting Mr. Powell go before the UN in such a fraudulent way. Racist is not the word but duped liar is the one that applies.

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

I did NOT say that ALL Conservatives are racists. I did say and believe though that there is a preponderance of people who are both racist and conservative. I have only met ONE Liberal Republican and that person is absolutely NOT a racist. Come on, it's just so obvious. Now, I'm NOT saying that they're racist's of the WORST HATEFUL sort but rather racist's in the "old timey" kind of way. Everyone has their place and everyone should know their place because that's the way it's been and that's the way it still needs to be. Sound familiar? It just goes along with the "CONSERVATIVE" mindset...thats all I'm saying. The Republican party has very few minorities. Why?

geoffcutler 2 years, 2 months ago

MC7 You're a columist's dream come true. I make points about racism and incivility concerning the military, and you come on at great length and breath to prove those points. Keep up the good work, and Thanks!

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

Geoff, where am I racist or even uncivil? I've probably been around a more diverse American population than a lot of you and since I tend to be a bit of an introvert, I have "observed" an awful lot of human behaviors. A lot of that behavior was very awful. Just because I take a more "liberal" and less pro-military stance that makes me uncivil? Don't get that.

teufelhunden 2 years, 2 months ago

Yes, we are aware that you don't get it. Blinders.

moonchild7 2 years, 2 months ago

I said that Allen West was racist. Why else would anyone with any sense belong to the Republican Party since it looks now, that they are actually ANTI-HUMAN with all of their DRACONIAN ideas. Forget the dislike of minorities, they just seem out of touch with HUMANS!

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A Hero Speaks At Columbia University

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