Thanks to Bob McManus for his article, “Columbia’s Dishonor” (PostOpinion, Feb. 22).
It’s shocking to know that our brightest students — many of those at the prestigious Columbia University — are a collection of shameless and delusional ingrates.
Many thanks to Anthony Maschek.
Douglas D. Olson
Washington, DC
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I guess the memo about the new era of civility did not reach the students at Columbia who decided that jeering and booing an Iraq War veteran wounded in service to his country was proper behavior.
What a pathetic, despicable display by those students.
Do you think their parents are proud of their infantile children today?
Robert Stiskin
Stamford, Conn.
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Please invite Bill Maher, Nancy Pelosi and Chris Matthews to lecture the rabble at Columbia about proper civility in public discourse.
Thomas Rooney
Perrysburg, Ohio
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If we are a country of freedom and choice, why would you not give the students who want ROTC the ability to participate in the program? Apparently, freedom of choice is available only to a select population, at least at Columbia University.
College is supposed to prepare you for life and educate you with the knowledge to make your own choices.
Why would a university be so closed-minded as to tell people what they should or should not do? This indicates an institution of propaganda rather than an educational institution.
I am glad we do not have to depend on the majority of students and faculty from Columbia University to protect our freedom.
George Tortorelis
Windham
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Obviously, these students don’t realize that their free speech is possible thanks to the sacrifices of Maschek and all of the other brave heroes who have defended this country.
Thank you and God bless you, Anthony Maschek, for your service and sacrifices.
Pack the future Bill Mahers up and send them to Iran to see what happens when they express themselves freely there.
Hugo Bozzarella
Yonkers
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These kiddies haven’t begun to pay their dues and, if they had a modicum of sense, would not be afraid to hear people out in a civilized, intelligent manner. What are they so afraid of? Hearing the truth?
I am a vet who has taught high school students for over 20 years. I have never encountered such immature, unintelligent behavior as what was demonstrated toward Maschek.
These overgrown tots are undoubtedly influenced by weak, unpatriotic and socialist teachers at Columbia who don’t have a clue about the real world.
Shame on the intolerants, shame on their professors who indoctrinated them and shame on Columbia. I feel nothing but disdain for this so-called bastion of higher learning.
Patrick J. Moran
Leonardo, NJ
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If Columbia President Lee Bollinger has a fraction of Maschek’s courage, he will not only personally apologize to him, but he will also appear in a forum with him to make sure his opinions are heard with civility.
He did exactly that for Iran’s President Ahmadinejad. He should not do less for an American soldier.
Seymour Yusem
Manhattan
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The Columbia students are entitled to protest, as all veterans, including myself, have fought to protect that right. However, to heckle a disabled veteran is wrong.
Let these idiots fight for their rights like we did, and then they can heckle.
Jeffrey Karpen
Staten Island
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I thought liberals were in favor of civil political discourse.
Pat Noonan
Brooklyn
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The problem is that today’s college students have it too easy and never had to experience life during a real depression, be drafted to fight in a world war or live under a Communist regime.
Peter Rosenstein
Manhattan