UW Boyington Flap
Some nitwits at University of Washington, objected to a memorial for a noted alumnus, the World War Two ace, Pappy Boyington. After national publicity, one vocal objector, Ms. Jill Edwards, has been sanctioned:
Reported from the blog AndrewsDad
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON:THAT
Student Senator Jill Edwards will submit, in writing, a signed apology letter seeking forgiveness to all students, staff, and alumni who are now or ever have served in the United States Marine Corps. In said letter it will contain a formal apology and a recognition that her very rights and freedoms are guaranteed by such members of the armed services, to include the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, past or present, living or dead. Additionally, said letter will be printed in all its form and substance in that day’s edition of the UW Daily newspaper as well as being recited on the UW Radio station. To realize her mistake, she must acquaint herself with the history of the person she is so keen to dismiss, by reading Col. Boyington’s book, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. All of these requirements are mandatory, under pain of losing her seat on the Student Senate.
Wow! There aren’t many events in the world, or in the blogosphere, that I actually know something about. But this is one of the few. I’m a minor expert in American aces of World War Two, and have built a well-regarded, fairly high-traffic website on that topic.
Now … on to Pappy Boyington. It would be great if University of Washington memorialized him. Wonderful. Furthermore, Ms. Jill Edwards should learn a little about Pappy Boyington.
But not by reading Boyington’s self-serving, highly embellished autobiography. Ouch. Please. Boyington was good pilot and a good squadron leader. But he was a drunk, a liar, a womanizer, a deadbeat, and in many ways, a person more flawed than most people. He also exaggerated his record of aerial victories. Read all about him. Let me be clear. I am a big fan of American fighter pilots, of all types. And Pappy Boyington was one of the greatest. But he said it best himself, “Show me a hero, and I’ll show you a bum.” He was a complicated, deeply flawed, guy.
If they want Jill Edwards to learn about Pappy Boyington, she should start with Black Sheep One: The Life of Gregory Pappy Boyington, by Bruce Gamble. And then Black Sheep: The Definitive Account of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in World War II. And then maybe, Once They Were Eagles: The Men of the Black Sheep Squadron, by Frank Walton. And then (yeah, fourth), if she really wants to, then she could read Baa Baa Black Sheep.
Sheesh.
Two wrongs don’t make a right. And substituting Boyington’s lies for Edwards’ uninformed political correctness is no solution to this.
Dangers of Smartassery
Controversy over Boyington Memorial at UW
Stop. Just stop.
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