Barron Letter on Presidential Election
- Thread starter psufan1
- Start date
Glad you felt the need to opine with such an insightful comment, Fenchak.
Please stick to what you do best: Bitching about everything while adding nothing to the world, and being a washed up ex-professor.
Americans don't talk to their kids, they don't make them work, they don't discipline them, they don't spend time with them.
On another note, Barron wants democrats in power, they take our money and give it to these colleges.
On another note, Barron wants democrats in power, they take our money and give it to these colleges.
Notice that Centre County went blue in the election. It stood out in a "sea" of red.
My grandparents' struggles were similar to yours. I often say to my wife, thank the lord that wars are so different today, because we (America) lack the intestinal fortitude to win another one like that. Taking nothing away from those who serve today, because they often do not get the respect they deserve. As the father of 10 YO, it's a struggle to protect her, but at the same time teach her to be tough.
Exactly, been saying for years that the AFT is a freaking PAC (Political Action Committee) claiming to be a "Union" so they can force their own members to give them $$$ and fund their bull$hit against much of their memberships' will.
If you going to quote wars as evidence of why kids now are degenerates, why not consider Vietnam? Fact is the guys that drafted into Vietnam were drafted into a much more dubious war and went. There was little disagreement that we should enter WWII after Pearl Harbor, but defending America in a time of crisis unifies people. Its not an accurate or fair comparison and I doubt that any millennial is going to the counseling PSU offer. The problem is that Barron, who is not a millennial, felt it appropriate to stand on his soapbox and opine because he thinks he is a "leader" in the community.
Wars are different when you are starting them versus defending yourself. The resolution is much greater when you are defending, because everyone can agree as it is not optional as to what to do. Looking at the public response to wars is not an accurate gauge of the public's mettle.
I am a Penn State Grad and I am sure there are a bunch on here and we stand together to say we don't give a shit on Barron's thoughts about the election.
What wars did the U.S. start nimrod? This re-creationist history ought to be good........yawn!
Considering how Trump ripped these wimps running the school, I can see why they are in fear right now.
bwifan
Well-Known Member
Guess he took a break from reviewing the Freeh Report to write this letter with the utmost urgency...
Not only do I not give a $hit what Barron's thoughts are on the topic, I find it offensive that he is using the "PSU Bully-Pulpit" to effectively attempt to speak for me and all Penn Staters. Barron does not speak for me as PSU Alumn.....nor does he speak for the PSU Community on such topics that accrue to the "free thinking" individual and have nothing whatsoever to do with PSU or any of our association with PSU. Barron should STFU and stick to do what he was hired, and is being PAID, to do - which is not to act as a political grandstanding, rhetorical and demogoguing drama-queen!
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nothing wrong at all with this letter. some will complain about everything
Lion, thanks for the note above. Great stories about families who served on this Veterans' Day.
I completely agree with your last paragraph. The need for a day off over the results of the election, when there was plenty of time ahead of the election to discuss and gain more understanding, is a strange concept to me. Or... use the day for productive discussion rather than suggesting everyone take to their beds.
One thing about the WWII Vets and WWII Labor force, who imo rightly earned the designation as The Greatest Generation.... while counseling was not common and was perhaps thought of as a crutch of last resort, I'm not sure that we just didn't know what we didn't know at the time. While the post-war trauma and mental illnesses became more well known and studied post-Vietnam, I doubt that was the genesis of those symptoms and was unique to that time. Certainly more prevalent, but unique? Not sure.
My father and uncles all served in either WWII or Korea. One uncle in particular was considered a war hero, as he was a nose gunner over Italy in WWII. He flew dozens of missions, and a couple times was on the only returning plane after a mission. He was very intelligent, very pragmatic, very reasonable.... but a few years after returning, suffered what was then called a 'nervous breakdown' (now PTSD). My father, his brother-in-law, and an officer in the European theater, tried to explain the circumstances to me as a young kid when I first learned about it.
My point is, while the horrors of war grew as war technology grew, those who served in WWII saw enough horror and devastation that it had to impact a good number of them, and the symptoms and resulting actions were just not recognized at the time, nor did anyone really know what to do about it if they saw it. So while none but a relative few received any counseling, my guess is that many returning Vets needed it or could have benefited from it, but no one realized it. Coping skills were no doubt stronger overall, many just by sheer will, but others coped in less desirable ways, like via alcohol, physical outbursts, etc.
Just a thought on all of it, and I am not comparing post-war stress to the self-imposed 'stress' of a person's preferred candidate losing an election. What it points out, though, is the real need for open, ongoing dialogue about issues that are critically important to a large number of Americans, and the need for our leaders on both sides of the aisle to listen and approach the issues and potential solutions with an open mind. Imo, both sides tend to shut down and turn off the others' opinions and input. We need real leaders who will 'peel back the onion' and get into the meat of the matters. The surface-only talk lends itself to nothing more than ridiculously broad generalities that are easily dismissed. We end up not understanding what the root cause issues are, so we cannot solve the problems.
they are precious snowflakes. you are attacking their safe space. your comment is a micro aggression.
I sort of disagree. I think it's a generational thing that we're getting increasingly soft. Look at 9/11 for example. We as a country were "all in" for about 12 months, until it got dirty.
Well, I for one, would be happy to wait in line for hours to have Anna Orso tell me about how I should feel about the election.
Some of what you say is true. But remember, these are kids. I recall when Obama won his first term in 2008, Mitch McConnell's first words were something on the order of that the Congress' job was to make sure this man doesn't get reelected. Not to do their job and govern mind you, but obstruct. Talk about whining. What excuse do you have for him and many others in the House? Very mature, I must say. And BTW, I'm not a Democrat.
P.S. And I noticed President Obama took a higher road yesterday and did not set the same tone as the Republicans did in 2008.
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Didn't mean to imply that the need for dialogue is a new thing. It's been a dire need for a long time. The actions of the last few days merely highlight the ongoing urgency of the need. The extremes brought out by the rhetoric in the debates alone highlighted the chasm. Can't bridge that without reasonable and responsible dialogue. And again, that is nothing new.
Open and ongoing reasonable dialogue is the key to closing the gaps.
Just my opinion.
Really? So, you're sitting at a Penn State game, and the "WE ARE" cheer starts. You get physically ill? Do you crap your pants? Throw up on the person sitting in front you?
Again, I'm pretty sure you are not "totally serious".
so sick of all these precious snowflakes feeling put upon
Texas State University "Tar and Feather" Vigilante Squads
Texas State University "Tar and Feather" Vigilante Squads
I know what you mean in a totally serious sense. Literally.
How does a Penn Stater totally seriously go about not liking the "WE ARE" cheer or "Happy Valley", let alone twice claiming that both make them physically ill? Come on. Don't make silly statements just because hating on Penn State is the thing to do around here.
As Penn Staters, we should show empathy towards Texas State. Like us, they have been through a lot.
As Penn Staters, we should show empathy towards Texas State. Like us, they have been through a lot.
you know one of those actors modeled his performance after JoePa?
Back to the serious topic, let's hope that these fliers are just a joke. It obviously isn't funny, but hopefully there aren't people on and around the campus who intend to see this through. Ugly stuff.
"Just last month, thousands of Penn State students, faculty and staff joined together to embrace the vision for a just and unified university. In the historic All In kick off, WE AFFIRMED THE VALUE OF A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE UNIVERSITY." Inclusive, diverse?Just this month, they eliminated public streaming of "public" comment" in an ongoing effort to silence diverse opinions. Old Main and the BoT talk the talk, but they sure don't walk the walk. What hypocrites. Do what I say, not what I do. What a farce!
A woman's right to choose what? Where to send her kids to school? Nope, school choice gets voted down repeatedly. If you're so proud of it, why can't you say the word?
I know the next response is usually, there's nothing saying people can't send their kids to whatever school they choose, they just have to pay for it and not use my money. To which my response is "exactly. Now practice what you preach."
Its a great point....perhaps Barron's session should be closed to anyone who doesn't think exactly like he does. The hypocrisy on college campuses is so think...
Here is the response:
Dear Mr. PSUFBFAN,
Thank you for your email. As Vice President for Administration and Secretary of the Board of Trustees I help President Barron and the Board respond to emails and important issues. President Barron’s letter was prepared after the election results were public. Regardless of the outcome, he sought to speak to the need for mutual respect.
Sincerely,
Tom Poole
Thomas G. Poole, Ph.D.
Vice President for Administration
Secretary of the Board of Trustees
I know what you mean in a totally serious sense. Literally.
How does a Penn Stater totally seriously go about not liking the "WE ARE" cheer or "Happy Valley", let alone twice claiming that both make them physically ill? Come on. Don't make silly statements just because hating on Penn State is the thing to do around here.
He's trying out for "drama queen in waiting" behind Mr. Hands-Up, oooohhhhhh the horror of it all, Barron.....
My contribution to this insanity going on in our universities and ours as well are our younger generation is behaving as emotional hemophiliacs. "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country". Wait, someone one else said that. Wonder if the protesters even know who? It would serve them better than a cry in at Cornell. Perhaps they should be told about the 18 year olds who stormed the beaches at Normandy in 1944 this Veterans Day. Doubt they ever had a cry in.
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