World War IV Daily

2.19.2006

IOTW - Jill Edwards and Ashley Miller

>>> You knew it was coming, but there was nothing you could do to stop it! Welcome to Idiot of the Week, where each Sunday--maybe--I pick an individual or perhaps a group of people who are so inextricably stupid that to ignore them or simply disparage them is woefully inadequate. Stronger measures must be taken; a full-on assault must be executed via the written word. Expect a whole lot of hurt feelings and a bucket full of fun at somebody else's expense. This isn't about impartial analysis or good-spirited criticism; it's about people getting what's coming to them. Remember, when you cross the line of idiocy you enter a free-fire zone. Lock and load, people! <<<

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WHO: University of Washington Student Senators Jill Edwards and Ashley Miller

WHY: For ridiculous statements while discussing a proposed memorial for WWII war hero--and UW alumnus--
Colonel Gregory 'Pappy' Boyington, a Marine Corps pilot credited with shooting down 26 enemy aircraft. He was eventually shot down and spent 20 months in a Japanese POW camp. He received the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor for his actions.

[Source document here.]


First things first: In the interest of full disclosure, I should make it known that I am a college student and a resident of Seattle, where the University of Washington is located. I do not, however, attend UW.

With that out of the way, I will leave most of the information to the article itself, and address what I consider to be the most egregious examples of childish ignorance and nescient stupidity on the part of the UW student. We'll start by analyzing the minutes of Student Senate's February 7th meeting. The resolution to construct a memorial to Col. Boyington is first discussed on the bottom of page four.

The sponsor of the legislation, Senator Andrew Everett (e-mail address: apdge@u.washington.edu), outlines his proposal. He states that "he had read about Colonel Boyington and thought his achievements warranted recognition." After a bit of discussion, Senator Jill Edwards (pictured left; e-mail address: jae6@u.washington.edu) chimes in, questioning "whether it was appropriate to honor a person who killed other people." Of course, her position as--I kid you not--Chair of the Honors Croquet League makes her immensely qualified to make such a statement. Think I'm making this up? Check it out. Nice scarf.

We'll let her off the hook for her question about the appropriateness of honoring a 'killer', as I suppose the complex ethical justifications for taking a life are beyond the comprehension of a college student. Isn't a shame that everything can't be as simple as croquet? (But seriously, killing people gets such bad press these days. What gives?)

However, her next comment is something completely different: According to the minutes of the Senate meetin
g, she said that "she didn't believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce." Wow. Well Ms. Edwards, I personally know several Marines and I personally know several UW students, and if those students are any indication of their peers then all 40,000+ UW students couldn't eclipse the honor, bravery, discipline, moral integrity, and uprightness of character of a single Marine if you combined them all together. Maybe the problem with your university is that you AREN'T producing people like Pappy Boyington. Just because you saw Jarhead doesn't make you an authority on Marines. You sleep safely in your bed at night because of such people, and you're damned lucky that they don't possess the selfishness to just give up and leave you to the wolves, because they've got plenty of justification to do so.

Apparently, Ms. Edwards has written about her travails--isn't college just awful?--in the weekly Honors Croquet (*snicker*) Senate Report. Appropriately, she says that "I am thouroughy [sic] regretting opeining [sic] my mouth." Well, you're on to something, Ms. Edwards. For your sake, I strongly advise you against doing so again.

Back to the Senate meeting. Immediately after Ms. Edwards made a fool or herself, ASUW (Associated Students of the University Washington) Vice-President Ashley Miller (pictured right; e-mail address: asuwvp@u.washington.edu) presented the idea that "many monuments at UW already commemorate rich white men." Oh God....

The argument that Boyington was a 'rich white man' is as inaccurate as it is insulting. First of all, Boyington was part Sioux. And maybe Ms. Miller hasn't checked the US military pay scale recently, but nobody who serves in the armed forces ever 'takes it to the bank'. Such a hasty generalization--she was no doubt shooting from the hip in an attempt to grab the first negative connotation she could--is inexcusable. Ms. Miller is either a moron or she's too lazy to do a little research. My money's on both. Unlike Ms. Edwards simple disdain for members of the United States Marine Corps, Ms. Miller is simply a victim of her own ignorance. I'm done wasting my time on her.

Col. Boyington's final interview was published in Aviation History Magazine in May 2001. It offers a remarkable glimpse at his life's accomplishments and especially the man himself. One particular quote stands out to me, simply because I would expect the University of Washington to appreciate this kind of sentiment:

"The Japanese civilians who had been bombed out and were always around us showed us respect, not antipathy. Many of them went out of their way to help us at great risk to themselves, slipping us food. When I think about how the Japanese civilians treated us as POWs in their country, I can only feel very ashamed at how we treated our own Japanese Americans, taking their homes and businesses and placing them in camps."

The UW Student Senate rejected the proposal for a memorial.

In all seriousness, I would like to sincerely apologize to the spirit of Pappy Boyington and every other WWII veteran slighted by my peers across the canal at the University of Washington. Here's hoping that Union Bay suddenly floods to 15th and 45th.

(Hat Tip: Belmont Club)

3 Comments:

  • What a discrace, I spent 6 years serving this country. If was not for men and woman better than me you would not have a UW, you might have the University of Toyko at Seattle. After reading this woman's comments two things come to mind 1)why did I put my butt in harmes way. 2) What are we teaching our childeren about the cost of freedom. I can't believe Expedia hired this Woman another discrace.

    By Blogger Unknown, at November 15, 2013 4:01 AM  

  • This is the kind of trash that will go on to become democratic politicians. These two bags aren't fit to polish Boyington's boots.

    By Blogger Tchhht!!!, at February 15, 2014 10:20 AM  

  • Ignorant white trash whores that denigrate institutions of higher education

    By Blogger dblsecretprob, at September 21, 2014 5:08 PM  

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