UMass student hiding after death threats

[Bill McBlueState]

AMHERST - A University of Massachusetts student is in hiding after reportedly receiving death threats stemming from a column he wrote in Wednesday's Daily Collegian.

Rene L. Gonzalez's column in the campus newspaper portrayed former National Football League player Pat Tillman, killed in battle last week, as "an idiot" for leaving football to join the Army Rangers.

more at http://www.masslive.com/news/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1083316930254220.xml

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. While I STRONGLY DISAGREE with his INSENSITIVE.....

remarks, Freedom of Speech is quickly dying under *!!!

:(

[THUNDER HANDS]

39. oh come on, everyone gets death threats

I've gotten them. You haven't really been on a student newspaper until you've received at least one death threat.

I once had an entire University sports program come up to the newspaper office looking for me.

[AngryAmish]

40. This is not an example of "Freedom of Speech" dying

The First Amendment only applies to the government. This guy should not get death threats. But it is not the gov't shutting him down.

Part of freedom of speech is being prepared to take criticism for what you say.

[Mike Daniels]

44. I agree

I thought his remarks were crass and insensitive esp. "the got what he deserved" comment but he still had the right to say it.

And while others have the right to disagree with what he said I can't fathom getting so bent out of shape over someone's opinion that I would threaten them bodily harm.

Seems like a lot of these loons forgot Voltaire's comment about disagreeing with what one has to say but defending to the death that person's right to say it.

[bloom]

2. If he is getting death threats

so could I....

[sniffa]

3. that'LL teach him

[Beware the Beast Man]

4. While no one should receive death threats-

He should have known that the harsh tone of his piece would incite anger in many people.
IMO, I think it took a lot of nerve for Tillman to do what he did for something he believed in so much. What I don't like, however, is how the media has practically deified him while others who die barley get a mention outside of local media outlets.

[daleo]

6. So, if you think something you say will incite anger

Should you not say it? This is one way that free speech dies - the "he should have known better than to incite patriots" argument. I am not saying that is what you meant, but I think that is an implication of such reasoning. Consider how many people are angered (to the point of murder) by people exercising free speech and free choice in the matter of abortion.

[Beware the Beast Man]

9. No, that's NOT what I'm saying...

What I mean is that when you write an article that you know is going to piss off a number of people, than you should be prepared for the consequences. I never implied that ANYONE should be shut up for for their opinions, no matter how ill-timed or offensive thgey may be. If you look at the header of my last post, you will see that I also stated Gonzalez does not deserve death threats either, but he had to see them coming. By God, I'm sure you've seen some of the scary shit Freepers post a lot of the time. I just think in some cases, a little caution should be exercised. If you fuck with the bull, prepare for the horns. This is the kind of society we live in today. It sucks, it really does...

[daleo]

49. Well, one always has to be prepared for consequences

As you say, though, they should be confined to counter-arguments. I agree that too many people out there (including people on the left-liberal part of the spectrum on occasion) are not willing to leave it at that, which is frightening. It does take courage to take an unpopular stand.

[Wickerman]

5. He is an asshole

he doesn't deserve death threats - he deserves to be ignored.

What is sad is that Tillman has received so much press while Sinclair Broadcasting won't even allow the names of the other dead to be read (honored) on late night tv. censorhip, plain and simple.

Gonzalez is as guilty of exploiting Tilmman's death as anyone exploiting it for pro war reasons. He wasn't wrong to write his point, but it was exploitive to focus on one individual and insensitive and immature to boot.

[Skittles]

7. YEAH

WHAT LUNABUSH SAID.

[histohoney]

43. I second

the Lunabush
YEAH

[Just Me]

8. What is happening to this country?

Have we lost all sense of balance?

[Voltaire99]

18. We're watching a people sickened by TV, corporatism, war and theocracy...

...devolve into savagery, that's all.

Under present conditions, how do you expect the people to act? Destroy the traditions of liberalism and replace them with Darwinian struggle; celebrate ideological fury as the height of reason; enshrine the institution of violence in government and entertainment alike; build out Wal-Mart as the company store; decimate any semblance of community or social cohesion with the rapacity of hyper-capitalism; and preach unto the faithful that heaven is a McMansion for you and prison for your lessers; now, add the fever of rabid nationalism and the sour taste of losing a war...

...and whether it's torture by US troops in Iraq or the desire for torture by students at UMass, it springs from the same sickening rot. To put it mildly, there is much to heal, much to repair.

[Just Me]

21. Much to heal, much to repair.

I agree especially with respect to the hyper-capitalism which has spiralled completely out of control and crushes basic human values.

I guess that,...I just didn't realize how entrenched these maladaptive principles had become in our nation. I suppose I have been blessed to have always had friends that are thoughtful, tolerant, problem-solvers.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[Muddleoftheroad]

11. How about you explain

That fucking idiot statement?

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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[Muddleoftheroad]

15. No, I choose not to, especially when faced with idiotic comments

The U.S. military goes where it's told, fights who it's told, etc. The U.S. military is under orders of the U.S. government. Gotta gripe, learn how the system works.

Easy enough for someone like you to understand?

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

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[Muddleoftheroad]

17. Not just following orders

Fighting enemies they are told to fight. Congress authorized a war against Iraq and, even thought the WMD was silly, Iraq NEVER stuck to the peace treaty. In fact, they attacked American aircraft on a regular basis for 10 years and violated the oil embargo as well.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

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[Just Me]

29. Oh my,...is this a testosterone thingy or what?

:bounce:

[atreides1]

38. Let's Hope That We Don't Become One of Those Enemies and Other Ramblings

"Fighting enemies they are told to fight". Strong statement that, I guess it would be fine with some if the US military were told to fight
other Americans, because they were ordered to.

Your right Iraq didn't abide by the treaty, but the no-fly zone was something created by an agreement between the US/UK/France, not by the UN. France eventually had enough, and that left the US/UK to patrol the skies over northern and southern Iraq.

Now if a foreign power was flying over US territory what would we do I wonder? Granted we would probably be a bit more accurate with our AA fire but we would still be firing at them.

And some of the targets that were hit were outside of the "official" no-fly zone.

As for Congress authorizing the use of force, I beleive their were certain requirements that the pResident had to abide by, and if they had known that the truth about the WMD's I don't think they would have
given Bush the authorization, but we'll never know.

The US military swears to "uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same", but the do not swear allegiance to the President.

Now when the DoD was called the DoW, it was different. But I like to think that Defense should be the main mission of the US military, not
offense, unless of course we are attacked, which we were, but it wasn't by the Iraqi military.

As for violating the oil embargo, answer me this how could the Iraqi government be the only ones guilty of this violation. I mean if no one was buying, then how could they have sold the oil. And let's not forget that Chickenhawk Dick and the Halliburton subsidiary that was doing business with Iraq.

So yes Iraq was guilty of many things, but let's make sure that the light is shed on all, not just the Iraqis.

[Voltaire99]

19. The Nazis followed orders, too.

Not for the first time, Muddle, language and logic aren't on your side.

[Muddleoftheroad]

24. So did every army in history

That comparison and a couple bucks with get you a latte at Starbucks. Other than that, it is worthless.

[Voltaire99]

35. Look up the Nuremberg trials, my friend.

Following orders is no defense. You can bring me my latte now.

[Muddleoftheroad]

42. Nor is it an automatic conviction

Again, every army in history follows orders. As do policemen, firefighters and a host of other groups. If you have issues with Iraq, direct them at the civil leadership.

[BiggJawn]

12. Got any reasoning behind that?

Or are you just "droppin' a downrigger"?

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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[BiggJawn]

22. I asked for reasoning, not insults.

"Fascist War Machine' is the best you can do? What, got that off of Natalie's "Ophelia" album, din'tcha?

But what can one expect from a certain type of fisherman?

Tell us, oh Wise Aged One, what have YOU done today to build an economy where a young person wouldn't feel compelled to sign up for military service to pay for college? Hmmmm?

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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[diamond14]

32. Hi a560....welcome to DU....glad to have you join the conversation

thanks for your input....



:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:


:toast: :toast: :toast:

[Onlooker]

26. How did this ever become news?

So, a college student writes a tacky editorial column and it becomes national news? How did this happen? We should look for some tacky racist or homophobic column by a college student and see if we can get that equal time.

[riverwalker]

27. Micheal Savage started it

he gave the guys name, school, and practically his address and then incited listeners to harrass him. I wouldn't even think that would be legal.

[Just Me]

30. Ewwwww!!!! Savage the Saboteur!!! *eom*

[saigon68]

31. Michael Savage is a GOON

His website has more bandwidth theft than any other on the Web.

Sweet Pea however won't put up the Lynndie England WAR CRIME PHOTOS because his NEOCON Handlers won't let him. But let some mercenary piss in his pants. The photo is posted w/in 5 minutes.

[Voltaire99]

36. Savage is a good little foot soldier

The type whom you'd find on Kristallnacht handing out the weapons.

[maggrwaggr]

47. isn't the FBI supposedly cracking down on this kind of shit?

nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

48. Anyone with access to the Interent could find that info

The University made that info available to anyone with Internet access. His e-mail address and phone number was even posted on Fark.com.

[Zolok]

28. Well, now the freepers know how we feel when

John Kerry's battlefield heroism is derided and dismissed...

That having been said, Gonzalez' sentiments were crude and moronic I'd associate them more with the sort of freep-bombing that goes on incessantly on Yahoo message boards and the like.
I suppose I should admit I went to grad school for political science at Umass Amherst back in the day....generally it was a sensible over-worked crowd.
Now watch by this time next week Governor DeCaf will be demanding that the graduate school of political science at Umass be closed or seized by the national guard or some such bombastic twaddle.

www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com

[Bill McBlueState]

33. governor decaf.. heh, heh

:D

[Voltaire99]

34. Tillman: building a fascist icon

We can be sympathetic toward Tillman's family, but not toward the fury of his destructive fans.

Watching the TV news images of flowers being laid at makeshift shrines where Tillman is hailed as "one of the greatest American heroes of all time," and learning that days later his symbolic pallbearers are bent on the blood of a fellow student, we are called to defend democracy against its most serious and persistent threat: destruction from inside.

Behind what's happening is the wish to remake America as a martial culture. (What like? Well, something along the lines of North Korea--just with a lot of Jesus thrown in for the groundlings, and McMansions and Lexuses for their masters.) What our rulers wish for above all is to transform America into a nation ready to march to the beat of war, ready to lie down for lower wages, ready to use violence to silence dissent, ready to do as it's told and sacrifice anything for "our" (read: their) glory. Fascism needs symbols like that of the "perfect" Tillman for its cause; we are being asked to gather round his corpse and be made better--as the pro-war poet Rupert Brooke wrote about entering World War I, "like swimmers into cleanness leaping." And the very next step, of course, is to howl for blood.

Thanks, but no fucking thanks! Already our national sports are transformed into backdrops for propaganda, with images of our war machines and their pilots smiling away at commercial breaks. And at a time when the NFL is best understood as an advertising arm of the Pentagon, the creation of an icon like Tillman is exactly what the war party wants.

The truth, however, is less glitzy and triumphant. It is measured in thousands of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq killed, more wounded and homeless, and now the latest irrefutable evidence of torture by the US army. That is not heroism. That is the cause Tillman joined: imperialism. He was wrong, and that is to mourn but not to celebrate.

[Just Me]

37. I genuinely appreciate how well you articulate that kind of awareness.

I certainly do not wish to witness that kind of downward spiral.

[nagbacalan]

45. This won't resonate with the general public,

but I wholeheartily concur with Voltaire99. Not just in foreign affairs, our culture of late has taken on a much more brash and belligerant tone IMHO.

[Ganja Ninja]

41. Out of all the NFL players Tillman was the only one to do ...

what he did. So did he just love his country that much more than everybody else or was it something else? Due to the nature of his death and out of respect I prefer to call him a patriot.

That being said we all know that a lot of the people who support this war don't support it so much out of love for this country. They support it out of hate and a desire for revenge.

[Freddie Stubbs]

46. Gee, I never would have seen that coming

This guys is supposed to be working on the PhD in Political Science. How estranged from reality did he have to be to not fathom that something like this would happen?