tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741897648980433465.post7320031038531270115..comments2023-08-05T04:20:38.120-04:00Comments on A New Republican: An Assault on Petraeus and Free-SpeechJosh Grundlegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01827125493183670561noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741897648980433465.post-51446007221912979182010-02-02T11:34:28.661-05:002010-02-02T11:34:28.661-05:00Karl~
Well I'm glad to see we have agreed on ...Karl~<br /><br />Well I'm glad to see we have agreed on something. If only all politics were so simple!<br /><br />I think you bring up a good point when stating "You'd think that a group of far-left college students would welcome his point of view and cheer him for it -- but then again, that would mean actually reviewing all sides of their particular argument, and it's pretty clear they had no intention of entertaining a reasoned debate." I think this speaks to a broader political/social ailment, namely that most people (here college students) do not really think things through. This isn't so much about protesting Petraeus, but fighting against a symbol. Petraeus is representative of the United States. These leftist movements on many campuses model themselves after the cultural revolution of the '60s without really understanding why or what. To me it is more of an illogical rebellion than any thought out perspective. That is why it is precisely illiberal and anti-free speech. There is no argument to be heard.<br /><br />But I think your final response is particuarly comforting. I was pleasantly surprised at the response of the student body (chants of USA for instance). However, this was unfortunately not as true in last years UNC incident or in my personal experiences as an undergraduate.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments.<br /><br />~JoshJosh Grundlegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01827125493183670561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741897648980433465.post-23103369474679116082010-02-01T19:08:24.665-05:002010-02-01T19:08:24.665-05:00Josh--
No argument here, especially on the appall...Josh--<br /><br />No argument here, especially on the appalling sanction of the events written by one of the campus grown-ups, applying a disturbing moral equivalency between the disruptors and the polite audience. The actions of (a handful) GU students is yet another example in the parade of unruly, illiberal college students found so often across this nation and their screaming objection to anything "objectionable."<br /><br />First, Petraeus is hardly a Patton-like demagogue, but a reserved intellectual who is largely responsible for getting our proverbial chestnuts out of the fire in Iraq (Afghanistan remains to be seen, though a comparison between the two countries with regard to COIN practices is really not compatible).<br /><br />But an interesting point you may have overlooked: Petraeus is, without discussion, the nation's/military's most respected advocate of shutting down Guantanamo Bay, saying that its presence and propaganda value hurts our soldiers in the field. You'd think that a group of far-left college students would welcome his point of view and cheer him for it -- but then again, that would mean actually reviewing all sides of their particular argument, and it's pretty clear they had no intention of entertaining a reasoned debate.<br /><br />One also imagines that these students were probably outraged at the tea party protests during health-care town halls over the summer in which Democratic politicians were often shouted down without mercy ...<br /><br />This is all disappointing, though it should be noted that a) it was a small minority of students, and b) it appears that the overwhelming majority pressured them to leave using non-violent means. Perhaps this is the best we can expect given the atmosphere of the modern American university culture.<br /><br />--KarlKVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03287825585878661745noreply@blogger.com