Professor Calls Care Packages for U.S. Troops 'Shameful'

Massachusetts Law Professor Calls Care Packages for U.S. Troops 'Shameful'


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.


The professor, who specializes in constitutional law, wrote the email last week in response to a university drive to collect items for U.S. troops, like sunblock and sanitary products. He also wrote that sympathy for American troops in harm's way is "not particularly rational in today's world."

Paul Spera, past commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, blasted Avery's remarks on Monday, calling the professor's argument "despicable."

"The shameful thing is that he’s teaching our young people," Spera told FoxNews.com.

"One of the things that we've learned from Vietnam is to separate the warriors from the war. You can be opposed to the war -- you can disagree with the tactics and the political decision involved -- but the individuals on the battle field are there protecting us," said Spera, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam.

"Somebody has to stand up to this man," he said, noting that the recipients of such care packages are willing to "lay their lives on the line for the freedoms that this man is abusing."

The university has since been inundated with complaints from students and alumni, claiming Avery's view is not representative of the school community.

"I don't think that reflects the overall feelings of Suffolk Law in general," law student Marisa Roman told the station. "Clearly it's a patriotic school; we have a huge American flag up in the atrium."

Avery reportedly takes exception to the flag as well, claiming that its hanging is "not a politically neutral act."

"Excessive patriotic zeal is a hallmark of national security states. It permits, indeed encourages, excesses in the name of national security, as we saw during the Bush administration, and which continue during the Obama administration," he wrote.

Suffolk University president and provost Barry Brown issued a statement saying the school supported the "free exchange of ideas and robust debate" and respected the "right of our faculty members to exercise academic freedom."

But, Brown said, "As a diverse community, no one opinion or perspective is representative of the views of the whole community."

"While I personally intend to donate a care package for our troops, I respect the right of others to hold a differing perspective," added Camille Nelson, dean of the university's law school. "Suffolk Law, while valuing debate on U.S. military policy, has a well-deserved reputation for supporting armed services personnel in the pursuit of their J.D. degrees and career goals."

Avery declined to comment further on the matter when contacted Monday by FoxNews.com.

The care package drive, meanwhile, will continue despite his objection to it.

"There's individuals who really appreciate and need things we're sending," said student Kelly Bogua.

"I'm participating in it and I think a lot of people are regardless of the email. If anything, he really just discredited himself," she said.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/1...roops-shameful/?intcmp=trending#ixzz1dpZhV1xk

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/1...kages-for-us-troops-shameful/?intcmp=trending


Typical liberal dirt bag. They are always lurking in the background, ready to knife a soldier or Marine in the back.

_

 

Why hasn't this fool been fired? He's disgraceful.

 

That leftist academia has systemic access to the malleable minds of America's youth is no accident.

 

In that state, he'll be praised.

 

Good point. I totally agree with you, Michael Avery.
Keep up the good work.

 

Airman, sailors and coast guardsman have been deployed also; let's not forget about them. More to the point, this law professor must not realize that the service men and women he is bashing, take an oath of enlistment or officer's oath of office... which both include supporting and defending the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The very document this Constitutional law professor studies, and under which is freely exercising his first amendment rights to express his opinion. Perhaps someone should enlighten him of this irony.

Regards.

 

I don't see a problem with soliciting practically ANYTHING in an academic environment of higher education.

I think it was said very well at the end of the article: "He really just discredited himself."

I most liked what the university president said (Barry Brown). I think it's spot on:

"... the school supported the 'free exchange of ideas and robust debate' and respected the 'right of our faculty members to exercise academic freedom.'

But, Brown said, 'As a diverse community, no one opinion or perspective is representative of the views of the whole community.'"

I couldn't think of a more appropriate way to express the conditions that MUST exist and be maintained in a place of higher education in the United States. Essentially, freedom of thought and opinion. If a moron wants to make himself known, let him! The community will respond accordingly (as it did in this case).

 

Don, you know, your posts would have so much more meaning if you didn't attack and belittle those with whom you do not agree with.

Technically, while I don't agree with him, he's right about them being sent over to "kill" other human beings.

 

well that is what happens in wars. what do you wish, that we send our troops to another country carrying nothing but flowers and only be allowed to hold up a peace sign?

 

No, stay the (*)(*)(*)(*) out of other people's countries.

 

(*)(*)(*)(*) this dirtbag, packages from home keep soldiers sane, a wonderful remembrance of why they do what they do. I will never forget my first care package, nothing in it is worth remembering, but the fact it was sent.... That counted. These 'academia' bastards need to go to hell, they have no concept of the real world and why small things matter. They are wrapped up in their Ivory Tower way of life and don't understand the needs and desires of actual people. This is what excessive liberalism has gotten us, should we be surprised? I'm guessing not, should we be outraged? I'm guessing so, but liberals will simply blow that sort of thing off...

 

Perhaps the military needs some more mentally sound recruits.

Like, the need and desire to not have foreigners invade your country and kill you. Hmmm.

 

You know what, I've seen the trash you post, so thank goodness for the filter, but (*)(*)(*)(*) you. You have a BS stance on American troops and its tiresome at best, and utterly offensive at worst. You are just another internet coward who decries people you would never have to face in the real world.

 

Yes, I thought the truth might be a little hard for you to handle.

Personal attacks: charming.

No, what's tiresome and utterly offensive is American troops invading other countries and killing at random.

Coward? How so? I tell people what I think, whether it be on the internet or face to face. What's gonna happen: some soldier gonna get all violent on me just because he doesn't like what I say. Seriously? Violence as a result of words?

If that's the case, perhaps the military does need to recruit some mentally stable people.

 

Sounds like Bill Ayres, maybe he too will meet the monkey in the WH?

 

How about presenting even one truth, I have seen none, just your incessant whining.

A personal attack, then you are exactly the coward I originally thought. No problem, the rest of us can simply learn not to be like you. Thanks.

You are correct, nobody is going to come to you, in your worthless little hovel and do anything, we will simply continue to see what you say as the worthless drivel it is, and more than likely just laugh, because you are really that pathetic.

 

Don't feed the troll. This is the same guy who apparently believes bombing of any sort is cowardice and that you should run out with a sword in hand to defeat a modern army.

 

If this SINGLE professor is a "TYPICAL Liberal", how is it that the dean, and it sounds like most of the school, are going to contribute to the care packages?

I would say this professor is a very NOT "typical" liberal.

 

Sure he is, he's anti American............. VERY TYPICAL liberal trash.

 

Here you go:

What's tiresome and utterly offensive is American troops invading other countries and randomly killing their citizens.

 

Again with the personal attacks.

You might want to ease up on those a bit.


Hey, you wanna send this guy your package?

"The court martial of another U.S. soldier accused of taking part in killing unarmed Afghan civilians for sport is set to begin Wednesday."

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/16/justice/afghan-sport-killing/

"Staff Sgt. David Bram is one of 12 members of the Army's 5th Stryker Brigade facing charges in connection with the killings that took place over a period of five months ... "

 

Hey, they were muslims right? Good, now who GAF?

 

Tiresome at best, and utterly offensive at worst.

Indeed:

" 'Death Squad': Full horror emerges of how rogue U.S. brigade murdered and mutilated innocent Afghan civilians - and kept their body parts as trophies"

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ike-blows-Afghan-civilians.html#ixzz1dqvcyujm

What sort of Care Packages should we send to those scum? Hmmm?

"The Pentagon tonight apologised after shocking new details emerged of how American soldiers formed a 'death squad' to randomly murder Afghan civilians and mutilate their corpses."

Is this some of the "truth" you were looking for earlier on?

 

Ease up? Why? You have never once even been civil, just another clown that bashes on your betters.

Why would I send that person anything? I don't know them. You seem to not understand the importance of hearing from loved ones when you are thousands of mile away from them.

 

Though I find Uncle Meat's opinions misinformed and utterly disgusting I have to remind you that our troops are deployed to guarantee the very right which Uncle Meat enjoys. The right to sit on his butt, safe and sound at home, and babble lame and completely disengenuous opinions about things that he knows nothing about.