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More to ROTC than meets the eye
Your article in the April 13-19 issue on opponents of ROTC ("Opponents of ROTC Up in Arms About Military Presence in Schools") was worthless. Andrew Miller should be disciplined by his superior for enabling these idiots to voice their antimilitary/antigun stupidity.

Anyone who has experience with kids and guns knows that the best way to keep the wrong kids from using guns is to educate those who show an interest in shooting or hunting. When the bad apples find out that there is responsibility and actual skill needed to fire a gun, they ALWAYS quit.

The new Missouri state gun control laws require military intervention and education on firearms and how to use them properly. Maybe the young Emiliano Huet-Vaughn wants this law repealed?

Reading the adolescent rants of an "antisocialite" made me realize that the kids who oppose the ROTC are the exact types of people who shouldn't have access to guns -- ever. How many school shootings were committed by ROTC cadets? I'll tell you: zero. Now, how many school shootings were committed by people like the ones in your article? Every high school and junior high shooting was committed by antisocial dolts like Mr. Huet-Vaughn.

These kids are wasting time getting petitions signed and alienating themselves instead of studying. If they are thinking about going door to door and getting people to sign their little petition, they better change their clothes and clean up their appearance or no one will ever sign. Would you? Looking at the picture of those kids, it could be said that THEY are the reason there should be a ROTC program in every high school.

It is plainly evident that these kids have not thought about what they are standing for. Someone needs to remind them about how this country got started (war), what has happened in our history (war), and what a whole bunch of our tax money goes to (war).

Trojan condoms should use the picture you printed (of the protestors) in the Pitch for advertising. -- Kelly Olinde

Belton, Mo.

I am a senior at KU, and yes, I am in the Naval ROTC here. I understand Emiliano Huet-Vaughn's feelings with respect to weapons in school. I was saddened by the events at Columbine High School too! But I would venture to say that students who bring weapons to school and shoot up the place are probably not in the ROTC.

Huet-Vaughn maintains that our military education is one-sided and that we never discuss our war crimes. He is quite mistaken. We study such atrocities as the My Lai Massacre, where American soldiers entered a Vietnamese village and began killing men, women, and children, ignoring their obvious pleas for mercy; 400 to 500 innocent Vietnamese lost their lives that day. We study these atrocities so that we never make these mistakes again.

One last word to Mr. Huet-Vaughn as he continues his crusade against the military and the ROTC: The men and women in the military are willing to give their lives so that the citizens of the United States are free to express themselves in ways not open to the people of the more oppressive nations of the earth. Because of sacrifices made by these men and women, Huet-Vaughn and his friends have the right to wear dreadlocks, the right to petition their school, and the right to live their lives however they choose. Before he criticizes the military and the ROTC so harshly, he should consider whether he would be willing to make a similar sacrifice in defense of his constitutional rights. -- Ron Mihordin

Lawrence, Kan.

I normally do not read the Pitch for its articles, but to look at events in the area. The ROTC story drew my attention.

Emiliano Huet-Vaughn is protesting something that has been around for ages and will most likely not be affected by his petition. However, the United States government has, since the country was founded, taken its youth under its wing and has provided guidance for youths who want to make a change and excel in government politics. I commend him on his effort, though, as he is the type of person that the military is looking for. Someone who is willing to take up a challenge and make change.

He argues that (referring to quotes in ROTC textbooks) "the leadership component of the class is questionable. 'Followership' is the first subheading in the chapter, and then there's a quote such as 'The key to being an effective leader is being an effective follower.' These are all highly objectionable points." Like most groups in high school, if you don't fit in or want to do what the group does, don't join that group. Therefore, his point is moot. At the same time, he needs to look at the people he himself is leading. Are they not followers?

As badly as he wants to change, to be different, and to stray outside the social norm, his actions are well-founded in what makes this country what it is: giving him the right to assemble and to petition the government. There are classmates of his who might not have the ability or money to attend a military academy or are unsure about what they want to do in the military. Many students enjoy the opportunity to see what the military is all about and to see whether they want to be leaders. Not only do his classmates want to experience the military, but also some of them have bigger dreams than just knowing how to fire weapons. The government has more jobs in military roles that never see a M16A1, or even have to qualify with weapons, than you can swing a dead cat at.