Air Force Academy Cadet Attacked by University Academic

http://www.aero-news.net/news/military.cfm?ContentBlockID=6501

When I first heard word of the following story, I really thought it was one of those internet hoaxes that pops up about a hundred times a day... but we have since found out that the story that you are about to read is true... and an amazing demonstration of the arrogance we see all too often from those who do not appreciation the contributions our military makes to our lives... every minute of every day.

It started harmlessly enough with an E-Mail from US Air Force Academy Cadet Robert Kurpiel...
To: Peter Kristein
From: Cadet Robert Kurpiel
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 13:16:20 -0700

Dear Sir or Ma'am,
The Air Force Academy is going to be having our annual Academy Assembly. This is a forum for mainly but not only Political Science majors, discussing very important issues dealing with politics. Right now we are in the planning stage for advertising and we would appreciate your help in the follow areas. Do you know of or have any methods or ways for interschool advertising and or communications? What would be the best way for us to advertise at your school whether it is sending you the fliers and you making copies or by perhaps putting an advertisement in your local publication? We would appreciate your input and the cost of what you recommend. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Very Respectfully
Cadet Robert Kurpiel

Cadet Kurpiel's E-Mail received the following response from Professor Peter Kristein...
To: Cadet Robert Kurpiel
From: Peter Kristein (pictured right)
Sent Thursday, October 31, 2002 146 PM
Subject: Re: Academy Assembly

You are a disgrace to this country and I am furious you would even think I would support you and your aggressive baby killing tactics of collateral damage. Help you recruit. Who, top guns to reign death and destruction upon nonwhite peoples throughout the world? Are you serious sir? Resign your commission and serve your country with honour.
No war, no air force cowards who bomb countries without AAA, without possibility of retaliation. You are worse than the snipers. You are imperialists who are turning the whole damn world against us. September 11 can be blamed in part for what you and your cohorts have done to the Palestinians, the VC, the Serbs, a retreating army at Basra.
You are unworthy of my support.

Peter Kristein
Professor of History, Saint Xavier University



The Other Shoe Drops...
As you can imagine, a firestorm followed when the contents of Professor Kristein's wholly unwarranted attack (on a man who may one day have to lay his life down to defend this sickening academic's intellectual freedoms) became public. A "sort of" apology followed in which the professor obviously regretted his words but didn't seem to change his tune a whit...

"I have expressed to Cadet Kurpiel my regrets over what I communicated to him in my e-mail. I did not mean to impugn his character. I am sure he is of the highest character. I should have written him in a more thoughtful and contemplative manner. As one who believes in non-violence and the avoidance of conflict, I could have been more circumspect and creative in my communication with him.
Cadet Kurpiel has sent me several generous, thoughtful and impressive e-mails. He has also expressed "apologies" for the unwarranted national distribution of a private e-mail correspondence which has caused me and others to receive 100s of e-mail messages. I hope this update on my response and the cadet's kind communication will serve to inform the public that this issue has been resolved with dignity and honour between myself and Cadet Kurpiel."

I have a hard time swallowing the Professor's statement about the matter having been resolved with honor and dignity... at least as far as the Professor is concerned. I have no doubt that Cadet Kurpiel has acted with honor... after all, he must be working hard (as all USAFA Cadets must) to become an Officer and a Gentleman... but this half-hearted attempt at an apology by Kristein doesn't fit the bill and I strongly believe that Saint Xavier University can do far better than this nasty little man to teach university students the important lessons to be learned from an objective look at our world's history.

Further; there was nothing unwarranted about the disclosure of this communication to a US Government facility, especially since the Professor seems to be trying to implicate the cadet in the crimes of 9/11. Both e-mail messages discussed a public event and Kristein signed his attack with his official title at the University... which receives public funding via a number of government programs. I think that the Professor is simply upset with the fact that his horrific words revealed him to be a bullying and intolerant buffoon.

This Professor of History should be just that... history. -- Jim Campbell, ANN E-I-C

FMI: www.sxu.edu/academ/artsci/history/, www.sxu.edu/academ/artsci/history/pkirstein/

:eek:

Kristein needs therapy bad. And he doesn't realize a Cadet is not commissioned so he cannot resign. :rolleyes:

It's his opinion and it's justified. He doesn't want to help them recruit and that's his decision.

Frankly, GoMonica, you haven't helped this country at all, and what you did a while back to that persons car IMO makes you a disgrace to our armed forces and our country. Before you go judging others you should judge yourself, and get to some anger management classes.

The Professor is merely expressing an opinion widely held throughout the World.
Of course he should have chosen a more appropriate target for his diatribe; a senior military figure or perhaps a letter to an independant newspaper.

Originally posted by GoLleyt
It's his opinion and it's justified. He doesn't want to help them recruit and that's his decision.

Frankly, GoMonica, you haven't helped this country at all, and what you did a while back to that persons car IMO makes you a disgrace to our armed forces and our country. Before you go judging others you should judge yourself, and get to some anger management classes.

1. How did I judge this person? After the article I put the :eek: smiley. I didn't say one word about this person.

2. How do you know what I have and haven't done for this country? Most will say I do enough for this country just being in the military. At a moments notice I could get called up and be actived to any place in this world, putting my life on the line. I say that is doing a lot. What have you done? Most (if not all) of what I read from you regarding this country is negative.

3. What does me putting a pinky nail size scratch in someone's car have to do with this? I said this before that my reaction wouldn't have been so had the person been considerate themself to straighten out their car so I wouldn't have hit it as I pulled out, and so I would have been able to get into my driver side door. What exactly say did Cadet Kupriel do in order to get that kind of response from Prof. Kristein? What did I do to have that person park their car so carelessly next to mine as so I couldn't get into it the proper way, and couldn't avoid hitting it as I backed out? And I stated in my thread regarding the whole car incident my reaction would have been different if I could do it over again.

4. As for critizing people and needing anger management classes...here are some of your replies to people not living to your standards as a citizen of the USA

"So where are the gay elephants and where are your reasons? Scared to admit that you're traitors, eh?"

"...but you people would rather play lapdog to the likes of Bush and other Nazi scum. "

"And in my opinion I think that Bush is similar to the Nazis. "


Again, I fail to see how I critised the Prof. for his comments. And if I wanted to critise him it seems you have enough experience at that to help me out. So next time I feel the need to name call I know who to run to.

Go GoMonica!

The professor talks about "nonwhite" peoples, and then cites the Serbs as an example? (Aren't they white?)

It doesn't matter if your reaction is different. Quote me all you want, I have a right to freedom of speech as you do. But when it comes to someone in the military (who didn't CHOOSE to be in it because they actually gave a damn) damaging someone's car on purpose... I don't think the law allows for that.

Originally posted by GoLleyt
It doesn't matter if your reaction is different. Quote me all you want, I have a right to freedom of speech as you do. But when it comes to someone in the military (who didn't CHOOSE to be in it because they actually gave a damn) damaging someone's car on purpose... I don't think the law allows for that.

I did CHOOSE to be in the military. I signed all the paper work, I was the one who repeated the oath. I was the one who went through basic training and tech school. No one did it for me. No one forced me to be in the position I'm in.

I've looked in the mirror and I've seen thousands of people in the military, and I haven't found one who has a halo over their head. Believe it or not people in the military are human too (shocking revalation to some I'm sure.) There are a lot of people in the military who have done a lot worse than put a little scratch in someone's side car door. You act like I took a baseball bat to their car or something. My reaction wouldn't have been so had the person not parked the way they did. If someone does that to me tomorrow I won't do anything, maybe leave a note to tell them how inconsiderate they are. But the Prof.'s reply to the Cadet was uncalled for. I don't understand what brought upon the reaction to accuse the Cadet of 9/11, etc.

The Professor is just saying the truth. a truth that is known and shared by the vast majority of humanitarian and sensitive people to the foreign suffering over this world. i am agree with him, and i admire his courage.
I hope that he does not receive reprisals because his ideas. like to lose his job, etc.

Originally posted by Giuseppe
The Professor is just saying the truth. a truth that is known and shared by the vast majority of humanitarian and sensitive people to the foreign suffering over this world.

You are a disgrace to this country and I am furious you would even think I would support you and your aggressive baby killing tactics of collateral damage. Help you recruit. Who, top guns to reign death and destruction upon nonwhite peoples throughout the world? Are you serious sir? Resign your commission and serve your country with honour.
No war, no air force cowards who bomb countries without AAA, without possibility of retaliation. You are worse than the snipers. You are imperialists who are turning the whole damn world against us. September 11 can be blamed in part for what you and your cohorts have done to the Palestinians, the VC, the Serbs, a retreating army at Basra.
You are unworthy of my support.

Peter Kristein
Professor of History, Saint Xavier University

I didn't know the US Military, especially this Cadet alone, was responsible for the world's suffering. I can't believe I thought otherwise.

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION FOR ALL OR BUST!

obviously you are not part of that "vast majority" that i mentioned.
ciao ragazzo!