Cadet Bush Goes to West Point

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This is a new opinion piece from West Point Grads Against the War's Jim Ryan. Incidentally, I'm also a grad and a member of this organization.

There's a lot of West Point cadet slang in this article, so some of the humor may be lost to those unfamiliar. Basically, the author of this article is giving imaginary "Cadet Bush" a dressing down for his recent performance at the WP graduation. "Cadet Bush" is supposed to be a 'plebe' - freshman. The terms 'smack,' 'beanhead,' etc. all refer to a freshman. Plebes at West Point may never break their 'military bearing,' that is, they cannot talk or look around when outside their barracks room. They must march everywhere they go. The author makes several references to Bush "looking around" - he's correcting "Cadet Bush" for breaking his military bearing.

That said, the rest of the article is excellent and well written:

Cadet Bush at West Point:
Screw That Chin In, Beanhead!
by James Ryan

http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/ryan310506.html

Mister Bush, you deserve a good reaming for your performance at the United States Military Academy graduation on Saturday. Post around to my room for some character guidance.

Come in, wackhead. Slam up against that wall! Suck up that capacious gut! Shoulders back! Pop up that puny chest! Fingers along the seams of your trousers! You want to be our big buddy, Mister? What's that? I can't hear you. . . . Sound off, dumbsmack! Yes, you say? Yes, what? That's an incomplete statement, beanhead. Tack a "sir" at the end. That's better.

So you think you can be our big buddy by spouting some cadet slang in a speech? One hour here at Hudson High, and you're falling out, acting like an upper classman. That's pathetic behavior, Mister Bush. This is one place where you have to earn privileges, Mister! You got that? You think all we care about up here is war? From your speech one would think so. You must love yakking about IEDs, convoy operations, and running checkpoints. There is so much more going on up here, mister, and you make us out to be cannon fodder. So run your feeble neck in another notch for that.

----------snip----------------------

Four years ago, you were introduced to the graduating class of 2002 as "a man who exemplifies the West Point motto of Duty, Honor, Country." That now revolts some graduates of West Point. At West Point, we uphold the Cadet Honor Code . . . a cadet will not lie cheat or steal or tolerate those who do. Mister Bush, it seems to us that you and your ilk have done exactly the opposite. (Keep that chin firmly in!) And you are still, cooking up war stories, unalloyed of truth, further proving, if such were still necessary, that lying, even under your combat imaginings, jeopardizes the lives of fighting men and women. And Saturday you told the graduating cadets that "the war began on my watch but it's going to end on yours." Perhaps you would like to correct that statement? Perhaps consider adding what is now widely known, that the assault on Iraq began premised on lies. That it is illegal. That these lies have severely dissipated the capability, morale, and reputation of United States military forces, and the United States of America. And that the young men and women of West Point in this year's graduating class may also be soon at risk for crimes against the Geneva Convention. And that you don't give a damn for anything we just said. Would you like to make a statement, Mister Bush?

Urp!*



* "Urp" is (or was) cadet oral slang directed at first-year cadets (plebes) and stands for "RP," an acronym for the command, "Respond promptly."

[napi21]

1. none of that cadet slang was lost on ME! The problem is, it would

NEVER happen!!!! I have a very good friend who graduated from WP, a lot of years ago. I know quite a bit about life there, and you would never see an article like this published by one of them!

The FIRST thing they are ordered to do is obey their Comander in Chief!

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2. hmmm....

Actually, the author of the article is a West Point graduate, as am I. We're members of "West Point Graduates Against the War," so there are at least some of us who would write an article like this.

Also, no one in the United States military takes an oath to the President. Our oath is to the Constitution - that's the first thing you do on day one at West Point.

[napi21]

3. As is true in the military. Same thing...oath to the Constitution.

I admit, I was not in the military, but my son was for 16 years. While he was active duty, ALL I could ever get him to say is "He's my CIC, and I can't speak against him." If you calculate the numbers, you will recognize that that covered several presidencies. I could tell, just by the look in his eyes that he really didn't like Clinton, but he NEVER would say an off word against him.

He's out now, and things are different.

[Doctor_J]

4. Wowzah

I wish I had the grapes to lambast * like that in public. Thanks, Cadet, and may you get to serve your country as you hoped when you enrolled.

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5. Actually,

The author of this article is West Point Class of 1962. His name is Jim Ryan. I did not write this.

Also, It's been a while since anyone called me "cadet." I'm a retired Captain now, and out of the military.

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