Massachusetts Law Professor calls care packages for US troops "shameful"

[Faithful One]

"A Massachusetts law professor has created a campus firestorm with an email to colleagues that declares it would be “shameful” to send care packages to U.S. troops “who have gone overseas to kill other human beings.”

Michael Avery, a professor at Suffolk University Law School, sent a five-paragraph email to colleagues in response to a school-wide appeal for care packages for deployed soldiers, Fox affiliate WFXT-TV reports.

“I think it is shameful that it is perceived as legitimate to solicit in an academic institution for support for men and women who have gone overseas to kill other human beings,” Avery wrote.

Full Story: Massachusetts Law Professor Calls Care Packages for U.S. Troops ‘Shameful’"

Read More: http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/15/massachusetts-law-professor-calls-care-packages-for-u-s-troops-shameful/

EDIT: Added new link since Yahoo took the story down.

Idiot.

Some of the comments are typical RW trash:

"Another leftover hippie beatnik professor living in the protective cocoon of a liberal college institution living off grant money totally clueless. And these are the wackos we charge with educating our children. These are the most dangerous liberals on the planet."

[MADem]

1. Well, ain't he a fart, that he can't resist a solicitation unless it is banned from his immediate

vicinity?

If you don't like, don't buy--a much-loved ancestor with a fourth grade (equivalent) education taught me that...and this nitwit has a law degree?

:eyes:

[Faithful One]

2. It's idiots like this Avery who reinforce the RW talking point

that liberals are anti-US Army and anti-American.

[MADem]

5. Indeed. Despite the fact that so many of those wingnuts are chicken hawks.

They love to wave the flag, but put on a uniform? That's for the "little people."

Of course, you only need one ass like this pontificating professor to give the rest of us--even those of us who served--a bad name.

[badtoworse]

3. I've sent care packages to our troops

He can kiss my ass.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. What's shameful is that the troops don't have every fucking thing they need supplied to them by govt

[MADem]

6. Well, they have "necessities." The nice stuff in the Care Packages are

the things that are little luxuries, that bring a bit of comfort or fun to a remote duty station.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

9. I don't know... I've heard some strange things on 'want' lists for care packages.

Sure, they want stuff for entertainment and treats but they ask for basic need items, too. Here's a partial list from one site that helps with care packages
BABY WIPES (travel size)
HAND SANITIZER (travel size)
Body Wash, Liquid Soap, Facial Cleanser
Shampoo /Conditioner (travel size)
Hair Gel (for female troops to pull hair back)
Combs / Brushes / Bobby Pins (in original packaging, please)
Deodorant (travel size)
Razors (disposable or "Intuition" or "Mach 3" types)
Shaving Cream in Tubes / Shaving Soap (No CANS of Shaving Cream, please!)
Lip balm / Chap Stick / Carmex / Blistex
Baby Powder & Foot Powder (travel size)
Tissues (individual packs; travel size only)
Hand & Body Lotion / Moisturizer (travel size)
Sunblock, SPF 45, Zinc, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera Gel
Bug Spray / DEET / Skin-So-Soft
Mouthwash (travel size)
Toothpaste & Toothbrushes & Dental Floss
Breath Mints / Breath Strips
Lozenges / Cough Drops
Loufa Sponges / Buff Puffs / Washcloths
Nail files / Emery Boards / Nail Clippers
Feminine Hygiene Products
Cotton Swabs (i.e. Q-tips) - also used to clean guns!
Cotton Balls
Band-aids, Gauze Pads, First Aid Kits / Ace bandages, Icy Hot or Bengay cream
Moleskin
Shoe Insole Cushions (gel kind is best)
Tylenol, Motrin, Advil or Aspirin Packets
Eye Drops (i.e. Visine)
Nasal Spray
Vitamins (multi-vitamins are always needed!)

I mean seriously, Floss? Tylenol? Band-aids? How do we justify marching these guys off to hell without easy and free access to stuff like that?

[MADem]

15. A lot of this shit is sold and available in even the remote PX/BX, but it will be sometimes

crappy (for example, disposable safety razors but not the MACHIII) and lots of times they'll run out of stuff. When you are in a combat or an "isolated outpost" situation, the availability of supplies depends on the arrival of the truck full of stuff. In places where the stuff can't be trucked in because, say, the trucks get hijacked or blown up, they have to fly it in.

Also, anything not available from the PX/BX can be mail-ordered. The list is stuff that is nice to have, that costs a bit of money for a junior enlisted person who may be supporting a spouse and kid(s) back home, and it's also stuff that is "legal" to be had in-country pretty much anywhere (no booze, or rum laden fruitcakes, for example).

One thing some of the outposts aren't great at is women's items. They never have been, though--they're at least trying to get better. Also, ethnic hair care products are always a backordered item.

So, it's not that the stuff is completely unavailable, it's that it's not easily available and there's little or no choice in brands/quality (e.g., you might be stuck with crappy PRELL instead of that nice shampoo), and these sorts of kits also mean that's money that service personnel trying to stretch a paycheck don't have to spend.

[judgegblue]

7. Agreed. I view the troops as victims

of the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld war machine. I feel sorry for those who believe sincerely that they are serving their country, but were sent to far away lands to fight battles that have no connection with defending our country. The lesson of Vietnam was too soon forgotten.

[kestrel91316]

8. Thank you for your concern. He doesn't represent all, or even most liberals.

I'm pretty sure you already know that though.

[Iggo]

10. Thanks for the RW trash. (n/t)

[lonestarnot]

11. Hmmmf.

[TransitJohn]

12. Kudos to him for speaking his mind.

This strikes me similar to all the "I had a run in on with conservatives on Facebook!" posts here in GD.

[caraher]

13. I'm a bit confused about the email aspect of this

Did he blast his email to everyone on campus? All faculty? A select few colleagues?

I'm wondering how one's emailed opinion (misguided or not) winds up on FOX News...

[Xithras]

14. The dear professor needs to take a course on tact.

I don't support the military and want to see it gutted, but I wouldn't go so far as to attack the soldiers themselves. Most are there because they had no other viable alternatives. They are debt and wage slaves, just like everyone else.

[Ganja Ninja]

16. I think it's shameful too.

Shameful that they need care packages. Shameful that the government doesn't meet their every needs. Shameful too that charity collections have to be taken up for veterans.