Army responds to comments by author King

[CommunityEditor]

BANGOR, Maine — The Army is weighing in on writer Stephen King’s remark about literacy and the military that drew the ire of conservative critics this week.

King came under fire from a blogger for what he told students while stressing the importance of reading at the Library of Congress on April 4: “The fact is if you can read, you can walk into a job later on. If you don’t, then you’ve got the Army, Iraq, I don’t know, something like that,” King said.

The ensuing flap drew a response Wednesday from Army spokesman Paul Boyce, who said most soldiers are avid readers. Military recruits test above the national average in reading and vocabulary skills, he added.

“America’s soldiers are proudly serving and fighting for us all. We can be proud of our soldiers’ selfless service, their skill and their ingenuity. They certainly are role models for every high-school student in America considering a noble career ... and many book authors,” Boyce said.

King’s office couldn’t be reached immediately for comment Wednesday.

Previously, King said Monday that he supports the troops but believes the war in Iraq is “waste of national resources ... and that includes the youth and blood of the 4,000 American troops who have lost their lives there and for the tens of thousands who have been wounded.”

“I live in a National Guard town, and I support our troops, but I don’t support either the war or educational policies that limit the options of young men and women to any one career — military or otherwise,” King said.


Article: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/0...g_army_050708/
Video: http://www.breitbart.tv/html/90023.html

[TJMAC77SP]

Let’s face it folks, this is the opinion held by a lot of Americans. I won’t spout percentages because I don’t think anyone has ever done a poll. It is way too politically incorrect. Kerry and now King. Truth is that I don’t hold these remarks against these gentlemen. Not that it is true but it is certainly a long-held belief in this country. I was once complemented by a senior officer because I am “articulate”. Some might take that as a left-handed complement. The unspoken “for an enlisted person” was quite evident. Sort of like the ‘clean’ comment made about Obama by some white person that quite frankly I forget. During a recent series of postings I was accused of studying a thesaurus. The poster was obviously and officer and when challenged as to why he/she would make a comment such as that the backpedaling answer was quite lame.

Again, I really don’t hold these kinds of comments against their authors. It may not reflect the current reality of the military but it is certainly still the perception.

Don’t take it to heart. Drive on……….

It certianly doesn't help when the Army continues to lower their standards. While the vast majority of military enlisted members are relatively intelligent, what message does the Army put out when they accept someone with an ASVAB score in the teens? That doesn't scream genius to me.

[TJMAC77SP]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It certianly doesn't help when the Army continues to lower their standards. While the vast majority of military enlisted members are relatively intelligent, what message does the Army put out when they accept someone with an ASVAB score in the teens? That doesn't scream genius to me.

No, it doesn't it but you know that people tend to paint with a very big brush. When you see a comparatively small number fit a certain people tend to think everyone in the whole group fits that mold. Faulty logic but very typical.

The Army (and the rest of the military) is a great way to get college degrees though eArmyU (and similar programs), tuition assistance, the Montgomery GI Bill, and more.

The Army sent me to the Naval Postgraduate School for my master's degree as well as provided me with plenty of opportunity to take classes locally (and I took those opportunities).

I love to read, but probably not Stephen King (any more). If it were not for the Army, I might be sleeping in my car, just like Stephen King did.

THANKS ARMY!

J. Wendell
MacDill AFB, FL

[The Universal Curmudgeon_guest]

Originally Posted by TJMAC77SP

No, it doesn't it but you know that people tend to paint with a very big brush. When you see a comparatively small number fit a certain people tend to think everyone in the whole group fits that mold. Faulty logic but very typical.

If I could remember where I read it, I'd give you a link to it (but I can't).

However, the gist of what I read was that, if ~10% of a group have a certain (negative) characteristic, then the whole of that group tends to be labeled as having that (negative) characteristic.

Strangely enough, 10% is generally considered an acceptable cutoff level before something is considered "statistically significant" on a "One-Tail Test".

Unfortunately, Mr King is just another lemming of the left who follows in goose-step with the standard liberal blather. He needs to stick to writing fiction novels, which seems to be his calling in life. He is certainly not aware of what soldiers know and how their education program works.

I'm actually surprised at his comments as I had in the past held more respect for him. Well, another one bites the dust as they say. He needs to read Laura Ingrams's book "Shut Up and Sing" and apply it to his profession and shut up and write cheap dime novels.

Kimett N Geist
CW4, USA
Retired

[MACHINE666]

Well let's face it folks, the military is scraping the barrel to meet recruiting goals. You don't need to be a genius to be a trigger-puller in Iraq. While the military affords people the opportunity to pursue a college education, let's face it - we're not becoming Wall Street Journal affecionados dressing in Brooks Brothers suits, attending power-lunches at the Radisson. We're sticking to our NASCAR/Hip-Hop roots and creating all sorts of embarassing situations from Marines in Okinawa doing inappropriate things, to Air Force aircrew members getting nabbed transporting drugs in a C-5. If the public percieves us to be uneducated or at the very least on a lower social strata, I hate to say it but we've earned it. Don't blame the thermometer if you don't like the weather.

I can say that this is one time that I have forced myself to sit through any CSpan show, but I viewed the show where Mr. King made these remarks, and, of course, the media has taken them out of context.

His statement was in response to a question regarding the value of reading, and he was trying to stress that those who make reading a habit are going to be more successful in life. Those who do not, will not.

As years of military service have shown me, we have people in our ranks that are the very brightest (and the very dimmest) that the country has to offer. I know that the author's comment about the military is not true. However, for those who have never been in the military, they have not encountered the variety of personalities in uniform.

Yes, it is very likely that his comments are probably tainted by his political beliefs, but we are all entitled to an opinion.

“War is a trade for the ignorant, and a science for the expert.” --Chevalier Jean Charles Follard

Honestly! A handful of well-publicized criminal acts and we're all bad? When looking at the population as a whole, I guess we're doomed.

With regard to education and literacy ...
Thanks to the Army, I could afford a bachelor's degree and master's degree. I'm looking toward pursuing a PhD, as well. I'm a published writer of numerous articles that have added to the public's understanding on issues or continued research in an area that will benefit at least a portion of society. I've told the stories of real people struggling with a variety of difficulties to garner support and develop understanding of those who may be different from us.

I do recall reading the first few chapters of a King novel about a dozen years ago. Thankfully, I realized I had much better things to do with my time, and the Army helped me achieve those goals. I look forward to continually striving to make a positive difference in this world.

(Chief Geist, With all due respect, I really don’t think King’s comments are representative of the left as a whole. With each side, there are always some who disgrace the party. As a liberal myself, trust me, I do not want to be grouped with him.)