News-Record.com

"Would you want Ayers’ colleague, professor Reitzug, teaching your children?"

THe send your kids to another school. find a real issue to work on. Get a life.

The = Then

Nothing new here, Jason. With government storm troopers in charge of the jr. indoctrination camps yelling at 12 year old girls "Yo daddy will be in Iraq fo a hunnert yeaas" because she said she would vote for McCain, the college level indoctrination is just a continuation of the programming.

This is sooo yesterday, Bush has been defeated.

I feel honored to be the subject of the News & Record letter to the editor by Jason Barbour. However, I find it odd that Mr. Barbour questions my fitness to teach and that he now feels like he “knows me a little better”, since he has never met me, observed my teaching, nor even asked me why I signed the Bill Ayres petition. Apparently it is acceptable in his brand of politics to demonize anyone who disagrees with his personal views and doing one’s homework is not a requirement. Had Mr. Barbour done his homework he would realize that the U.S. Constitution protects the right of individuals to hold and express opinions that differ from those he personally favors. Indeed, the exchange of different opinions is an essential component of our democracy. Had he done his homework, Mr. Barbour would have discovered that while my overall values and beliefs certainly impact my teaching, out of respect for students who may have different political persuasions than mine, I do not discuss my political beliefs during class time. Indeed, respect and compassion for students are two of my core educational beliefs. Had Mr. Barbour done his homework, he would further have discovered that I do not teach “children” at UNCG, but rather adult students, most of them in their 30s, 40s, and even 50s--students fully capable of sifting through diverse perspectives on an issue. No disrespect to Mr. Barbour’s eminent wisdom intended, but I will let the students I have taught at all levels of education for the past 34 years be the judge of my fitness to teach. As for Mr. Barbour, he needs to stay after school to complete his homework.

Rick Reitzug

"Apparently it is acceptable ... to demonize anyone who disagrees with his personal views and doing one’s homework is not a requirement."

Apparently so:

"With government storm troopers in charge of the jr. indoctrination camps yelling at 12 year old girls "Yo daddy will be in Iraq fo a hunnert yeaas" because she said she would vote for McCain, the college level indoctrination is just a continuation of the programming."

... which is not to say there are not [blond and non-blond] bimbos out there, including some teaching 12 year-olds .. but let's just stereotype and catagorize and dramatize and put all faults in one neat pile ... OK ?? Yea that'll advance society.

The problem is there are enough examples that allow the righteous to proclaim, as when Sandy Beach posted on November 27, 2008 7:42 PM:

"The demoRATs don't want educated voters. If voters were truely educated on the candidates the dems would lose everytime. The dems also don't want people to be OFF of welfare. They actually would like to have MORE uneducated voters dependant on goverment . The only way they can get votes to to promise more goverment give-a-ways. As long as dems platform consist only of "vote for me and I'll give you something for nothing" then the un-educated will continue to vote for more dependence on goverment . Sorry if you libs don't like this, but sometimes the TRUTH hurts."

http://blog.news-record.com/opinion/letters/archives/2008/11/the_illinformed_should_not_be.shtml#comments

Rick,

Tell us if you will why you did sign the petition since you ducked that point of Mr. Barbour's letter and instead whined like the usual liberal as victim. You cast your vote for Obama but 58 million of us didn't. William Ayers is still relevant as explianed by Nicholas Guariglia in: " A QUESTION OF MANHOOD"

http://papundits.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/why-william-ayers-is-still-relevant/

"Ask yourself: if a man who bombed the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol, police stations, declared war against the United States, told children to kill their parents, wanted to bring upon a communist revolution across the country, only to get off on a technicality — and today says he wishes he bombed more — was in your company, would you look him in the eye? Would you shake his hand? Would you launch your career from his living room? Would you serve on multimillion dollar boards with him? Would you keep in frequent and friendly contact with him via phone and e-mail until 2005 — at the least — four years after 9/11, when Ayers asserted he was unrepentant for bombing whom he bombed?

Do you know anyone who would have behaved like that? Do you know anybody like our next president?

On a personal level, if a punk like Ayers requested my services, or wanted to further advance my career, I’d do some serious soul-searching. I don’t care if he wanted to begin a joint-venture to help old ladies cross the street. I would very impolitely point my finger in his face, tell him what I thought about him, and walk out of the room — all out of solidarity with the fellow countrymen he bombed and doesn’t feel bad about bombing.

That is how most Americans would react. That is how most men — real men, self-confidant and aware of their surroundings — would react."

Go ahead , Rick, please tell us.

Professor Reitzug, perhaps you misread my letter, because you failed to even address my central point: your solidarity with and support of unrepentant terrorist William Ayers. You are correct, I have not met you or asked you why it is important to publicly support Ayers. I did however read your direct quotes in the 11/14/08 article in the Carolinian as saying, “I don’t condone violence of any kind…I consider myself a pacifist…bombing and violence is wrong.” Yet, you chose to make a public statement of support for a man who bombed the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, and the New York City Police Headquarters and who is unrepentant of these terrorist acts to this day. Contradiction? Professor Reitzug, by all means you have a right to express your opinion, this is America. But, as a professor employed using our tax dollars, I also have a right to express my outrage to the Greensboro community concerning your judgement to publicly support a terrorist. I consider my letter a public service announcement for those who are considering enrollment in your classes or the department you chair. Buyer beware.

Yes, please tell us, Rick.

What great accomplishments has Ayers given us that merits support?

What goals did he have for his work at the Chicago Annenberg Challenge? What type of message did he want those teachers who fell under his influence to give to their students?

How did Arnold Weber, President of Northwestern University and early supporter of the program, later describe Ayers' efforts?

Tell us a little about the reading list and his course description for "On Urban Education".

How about the course "Social Conflicts of the 60s", and the source of materials used in that offering?

How would you describe the series of books that Ayers and Maxine Greene were were instrumental in starting up and editing through Teachers College Press?

And, to sum up, tell us just how much corrupting influence Bill Ayers' insidious presence has inflicted on the American education system via the incredibly wrong-headed and political bastardization of "social justice" he promotes?

The philosophies he supports are inflicting wide-spread permanent damage to our education system, and to our society.

Apparently, Rick, all that is just fine with you.

Mr. Cunningham and "Bubba" apparently were never brought up with any manners. You don't address someone by a first name unless you know them personally. Seeing as neither of you do, start showing some respect.

This letter is a laughable attempt to make the proverbial mountain out of the molehill, to fan the dying embers of a pathetic Republican dig at Obama in the run up to the election. God help all of you who are carrying on Palin's claims attempting to tie terrorism to the Democrats.

Mr. Barbour, I sincerely hope you wrote 3,999 other letters to the editor concerning the other persons who signed that Statement, because otherwise there is no alternative but to believe you are out to get Dr. Reitzug. People are asking what his reasons for signing the petition are. I'm asking YOU what your beef with him is.

And the rest of you who have posted, the same goes for you. You're demanding an explanation from a single person when you should be asking for a collective explanation from all concerned. Perhaps instead of stirring up drama you could check and see just how many terrorists have graduated from UNCG in the last twelve years. The list is unsurprisingly short, and this alone should speak for itself.

Take your conservative paranoia elsewhere, perhaps put it to use worrying about REAL terrorists.

"You're demanding an explanation from a single person when you should be asking for a collective explanation from all concerned. Perhaps instead of stirring up drama you could check and see just how many terrorists have graduated from UNCG in the last twelve years."

Here's a clue, Spectre: Sometimes, "terrorism" is a mindset, not a physical act.

By the way, Rick signed in as "Rick".

Deal with it.

"Sometimes, "terrorism" is a mindset, not a physical act."

Wow, did you even read my whole post before responding? For your benefit, I'll repost:

Perhaps instead of stirring up drama you could check and see just how many terrorists have graduated from UNCG in the last twelve years. *The list is unsurprisingly short, and this alone should speak for itself.*

If you're going to quote me, please quote me in entirety.

Thanks.

Dear Jason, Bill & Bubba,

You are entitled to believe as you like about Bill Ayres—it’s your Constitutional right. Similarly, it’s my Constitutional right to believe as I choose. I do not owe you an explanation for why I signed the Bill Ayres petition any more than you owe me an explanation for why you hold conservative political beliefs. Although I do not owe you an explanation for my support of the Bill Ayres petition, since you asked nicely and I’m sure you are sincerely trying to understand other perspectives, I’ll provide you mine.

I do not condone, nor have I ever condoned violence of any sort, including violence against people or property. Thus, I do not support any violent actions the Weather Underground took in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I do, however, believe in the Christian principle of forgiveness. Bill Ayres has spent the past 35 years as a law-abiding citizen, making significant contributions to the educational sector and serving as an advocate for children who often come out on the short end of educational services. During that time he has written or edited 15 or so books on educational topics, including the following:
- The Good Preschool Teacher: Six Teachers Reflect on Their Lives
- To Teach: The Journey of a Teacher
- To Become a Teacher: Making a Difference in Children's Lives
- City Kids, City Teachers: Reports from the Front Row
- A Kind and Just Parent
- A Light in Dark Times: Maxine Greene and the Unfinished Conversation,
- Teaching for Social Justice: A Democracy and Education Reader
- Teacher Lore: Learning from Our Own Experience
- Teaching from the Inside Out: The Eight-Fold Path to Creative Teaching and Living
- A Simple Justice: The Challenge of Small Schools
- Zero Tolerance: Resisting the Drive for Punishment
- A School of Our Own: Parents, Power, and Community at the East Harlem Block Schools
- Refusing Racism: White Allies and the Struggle for Civil Rights
- On the Side of the Child: Summerhill Revisited
- Teaching the Personal and the Political: Essays on Hope and Justice
- Teaching Toward Freedom: Moral Commitment and Ethical Action in the Classroom
- Handbook of Social Justice in Education
- City Kids, City Schools: More Reports from the Front Row
Ayres is also the vice-president elect of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the largest organization of educational scholars in the U.S., numbering in the tens of thousands. In 1997 he was named the Chicago Citizen of the Year for his work in helping improve education in that city.

Ayres has explained that his remarks in late 2001 were misinterpreted and that what he said was that he regretted that more was not done to stop the Viet Nam War since thousands were being killed in that conflict every week. He has also explained that this does not mean that he wishes that the Weather Underground had done more bombing—just that he wishes more would have been done to stop the war. Whether he is sincerely contrite, only he knows. I simply have to believe him at his word.

Ayres life as a citizen was disrupted during the 2008 presidential campaign when he was used as a political pawn, initially briefly by Hillary Clinton and later more extensively by John McCain and Sarah Palin. His life was thrown into turmoil He received death threats and had to get additional security for his home. You are free to believe that he deserved such treatment now, almost 40 years after his Weather Underground days. I believe such treatment was not justified, but was merely a desperate political ploy from a presidential campaign that was rapidly self-destructing. Bill Ayres was merely a convenient dupe. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Please note that I will not comment further on this matter, but feel free to blog about my response all you want. It’s your Constitutional right.

Rick Reitzug

Wow, you must be a product of the educational system that's been corrupted by people like Ayers.

If you're going to respond to me, you need to think with a little wider understanding than the tunnel vision you revealed from your failure to comprehend what I actually said in my last post.

Perhaps you should respond to what I actually said, rather than what you think I said.

Or perhaps it's just your libthink paranoia that causes you to do that.

"Please note that I will not comment further on this matter, but feel free to blog about my response all you want. It’s your Constitutional right."

Of course you won't.

You're incapable of rationalizing your viewpoint, from an academic and intellectual standpoint, and like many others of your ilk, you won't even acknowledge it.

Why am I not surprised?

This is why I say not one cent of tax payers money should be wasted on college education.
You want to go be brain washed, and hate America, do it with your own money.

Interesting, first time I remember the author AND the subject of the letter both replying in the same thread. Yet the subject has bailed out.

"I do, however, believe in the Christian principle of forgiveness."

Perhaps Bill Ayers, or Ayres as Rick spells it, has led an exemplary non-violent life since his radical past. However I don't recall his regrets regarding his participation in a domestic terrorist group. I thought forgiveness involved acknowledgement of wrongdoing and an apology.

So Bubba has done nothing more than proven he's a creative parrot. He's either reworded any conversation directed at him and used it for himself or ignored it altogether. He has yet to have any creative ideas of his own. You're not expressing your opinion, Bubba. You're trolling for more drama and spouting insults. Give up unless you have something constructive to contribute. Climb out of the hole you've dug for yourself before you're buried in it.

"Mr. Cunningham and "Bubba" apparently were never brought up with any manners. You don't address someone by a first name unless you know them personally. Seeing as neither of you do, start showing some respect."

Just curious here. Since you are new to this blog, is that Mr. Spectre, Ms. Spectre, Mrs. Spectre, Dr. Spectre, Prof. Spectre, Miss Spectre or what?

Spectre means ghost in French. Can we translate and call you Mr. Ms. Mrs. Dr. Prof. ghost? Again just curious. BTW, just call me Dan, I'm ok with that.

I have known Rick Reitzug for more than ten years, watched him teach, followed his trips with UNCG students to do Katrina relief, and read his research. I would be happy to let him teach anybody, and in fact he has taught me a thing or two about being a thoughtful, caring person with an abiding interest.

As for Bill Ayers, his notoriety in this Presidential campaign led me to look into who he is and what he did. I'd suggest his detractors do the same. Like Rick, I do not condone his actions as a member of the SDS or Weather Underground, but it does appear to me that he has contributed to American society since then. Whether his actions constitute redemption is between him and his God, but it appears that law enforcement is no longer concerned, since he has been able to lead a very public life without being arrested or charged.

Going through the record and finding out the facts is the homework that is required. I think it is fair to say that in the Ayers controversy there isn't a clear-cut determination to be made.What is most disconcerting is that an incidental connection between Ayers and President-elect Obama has become such an inflammatory issue. Goodness knows we have plenty of important things to be concerned about--two wars, a free-falling economy, and improving public education just to name three.

Someone once said that the only way to really show that an idea is a bad idea is to shine the light of day on it--that is, to put it out there for everyone to see and to find out whether it stands up to scrutiny. That's what we try to do in schools when we introduce students to the world around them. Let's see what's pout there and whether it is of value or not. The Bill Ayers controversy has been subjected to the light of day, and it hasn't shown itself to be very useful. The process worked--just as it did in November when once again this country changed its government through a democratic process. Rick and Jason Barber and Bubba and all of the other bloggers have played a part in it. For that above all, I am thankful.

"You're trolling for more drama and spouting insults. Give up unless you have something constructive to contribute. Climb out of the hole you've dug for yourself before you're buried in it."

(yawn)

Do tell.

You still haven't figured it out, have you?

Here's a hint: I'm not responsible for your inability to comprehend.

... but you are responsible for your never ending ability to hate.

How's that bubba-blog working out for ya?

PSA for Jason, Bill, and Bubba:

I am a registered Republican, and I find these insults slung towards Dr. Rick Reitzug to be offensive to me as a former student in his class. I earned four degrees from UNCG, and have certainly heard professors in other departments who expressed political beliefs during class (one was in the school of business). I had the opportunity to take a graduate class with Dr. Reitzug during my doctoral studies, and he NEVER revealed, much less emphasized, his political beliefs in class. If you go to scholar.google.com, you’ll find articles written by Dr. Reitzug, none of which are written about how to warp the political thinking of students.

Dr. Reitzug is a respected faculty member, a consummate professional and, throughout my four degrees, was one of my best professors. My doctoral degree was earned through the school of business, and Dr. Reitzug’s guidance on my dissertation was invaluable. I find it interesting that you emphasize that his political beliefs would interfere with his teaching. He could easily have declined my request for help if he wanted to avoid working with people outside of his department (and he could easily have stereotyped me as a capitalist conservative and chosen not to work with me).

And, yes, although I received help from Dr. Reitzug; completed the requirements for his course (over 1 year ago); and have graduated from UNCG, I am still a registered Republican. And, I would recommend anyone register for classes with Dr. Reitzug, including my own children. If anything would motivate my move to become a registered Libertarian or Democrat, it's trifling remarks such as yours.

UNCG is an excellent university and the faculty members care deeply about student learning.
Jason, you could genuinely get to know Dr. Reitzug by enrolling for one of his classes: your tax dollars are not being used in this case to teach the ‘liberal agenda.’ Please focus your efforts elsewhere, because Dr. Reitzug is not deserving of your negative, judgmental and petty remarks.

As a senior undergraduate at UNCG, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Rick over the past four years. I initially met Rick during the first of several Katrina relief trips which began during my freshman year. Since then, Rick has become a close friend and role model for me.

I don't claim to know much about Mr. Ayers or the case surrounding him. However, I do realize that Rick's support of Mr. Ayers was a personal decision having nothing to do with how he conducts himself as a professional. Rick shows nothing but respect and compassion for others, regardless of how similar or different their beliefs may be from his own. To propose that Rick uses his position as a professor to turn his students into terrorists or otherwise somehow corrupt their minds is laughable.

From the little I do know of the case surrounding Mr. Ayers, it appears quite obvious that he has contributed much more to society than a columnist who spreads petty gossip about one of Greensboro's finest citizens. Perhaps Mr. Barbour will consider making a real contribution to our fellow Americans by working beside Rick and me as we use our Christmas vacation time to, once again, rebuild the homes and lives of those who lost everything to a storm nearly 4 years ago.

I would be honored to take a class offered by Professor Reitzug and hope that my children will, someday, be blessed with a professor as remarkable as he.

I too am an undergraduate student at UNCG who has worked with Rick as a fellow volunteer, and also as an education major. I have sat in many classrooms over the years, but I have never met a professor who I admire more than Rick Reitzug. Rick is a role model for professors and the community of Greensboro. Rick supports the students of UNCG through his work with hurricane relief trips, advising volunteer-focused student organizations, and the wise mentoring he gives to the education students at UNCG.

Although I have worked closely with Rick in the professional classroom setting and in the real world during hurricane relief trips, I have never felt that he used his political views to persuade my own. On the contrary, I have always felt that Rick supports an open mind and encourages students to stand for their beliefs.

I also do not know every detail concerning Mr. Ayers’ past, but I do know that people can change, and it is one's present contribution to the world that matters over your past mistakes. There should be no reason why an outstanding professor and individual such as Rick cannot personally exercise his Constitutional rights and support another great educator.

I am honored to count Rick as a mentor, friend, and teacher. I sincerely hope to one day run my classroom as well as he, and to be such an outstanding citizen, community member, and service-minded individual.

I am a graduate student at UNCG, and I feel compelled to comment on the assertion that Professor Reitzug "hates America."

I had the honor of participating in one of the service trips that Stuart and Amanda Bregel mention in their posts. Professor Reitzug and I spoke at length, and my impression of him was that he is a person who cares very deeply for the United States of America. He and I walked through the Ninth Ward, where many homes were completely obliterated by Katrina. I could see that the loss and tragedy of the event had deeply moved Professor Reitzug, and that is the reason he has participated in multiple clean up efforts.

Professor Reitzug is the kind of person we need in our higher education system. He is committed to supporting his fellow citizens in times of need, and he is willing to back up his ideals with positive action.

I feel most honored to have had the privilege to work alongside Dr. Rick Reitzug, my friend and colleague. I first met Rick while planning UNCG’s first Hurricane Relief Trip. I can attest first-hand that Rick is a very giving and talented educator, who does not promote any personal, political agenda with students. Instead, he embraces every student, mentoring each to realize his/her full potential, while gracefully promoting a life of service. He is exactly the kind of teacher I would want my children to encounter in their education.

I am a 51 year-old student who is a registered Republican and a doctoral candidate in the Educational Leadership Department at UNCG. I have been either a graduate assistant with Dr. Rick Reitzug or worked with him in a research capacity for over five years. I have also taken several classes with him, as well as traveled to MS and LA on seven UNCG service trips where Dr. Reitzug worked with students to help rebuild the gulf coast.

I have never once heard Dr. Reitzug make known his political beliefs in class or on the UNCG sponsored service trips with students, nor has he ever tried to "brainwash" or persuade students in any way to embrace his political views. Dr. Reitzug is a professor who is well-respected and well-loved by students of all beliefs and backgrounds, and I have never once heard a student say an unkind thing about him. He is a gentle soul who truly demonstrates "respect and compassion" towards students.

Mr Barbour, to question Dr. Reitzug's professional integrity publicly and unprovoked where potentially thousands of readers will be persuaded by your accusations is unjust (and if it applies, a disregard for the ninth commandment--"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor")!! Your motives are suspect in your attempt to quash the character of a professional with whom you know nothing certain but his name. Could it be that you seek to "brainwash" the community to serve your own political agenda?

After reading the above posts by Barbour and his blog puppets, and the posts of those who know Dr. Reitzug, I am extremely proud to be a graduate student in the Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations Department at UNCG.

Wel, la dee dah!

Looks like Rick called out the Hallelujah Chorus for us.

I'm ....ummm, impressed.

Rick expresses support for an unrepentant and violent terrorist from years ago who now helps wreak havoc, destruction and corruption in our nation's classrooms, but according to Clockofelter, *I* am the one who hates.....

Too funny.

Here's what Sol Stern said in the WSJ:

"In fact, as one of the leaders of a movement for bringing radical social-justice teaching into our public school classrooms, Mr. Ayers is not a school reformer. He is a school destroyer.

He still hopes for a revolutionary upheaval that will finally bring down American capitalism and imperialism, but this time around Mr. Ayers sows the seeds of resistance and rebellion in America's future teachers. Thus, education students signing up for a course Mr. Ayers teaches at UIC, 'On Urban Education,' can read these exhortations from the course description:

'Homelessness, crime, racism, oppression -- we have the resources and knowledge to fight and overcome these things. We need to look beyond our isolated situations, to define our problems globally. We cannot be child advocates . . . in Chicago or New York and ignore the web that links us with the children of India or Palestine.'

The readings Mr. Ayers assigns to his university students are as intellectually diverse as a political commissar's indoctrination session in one of his favorite communist tyrannies. The list for his urban education course includes the bible of the critical pedagogy movement, Brazilian Marxist Paolo Freire's 'Pedagogy of the Oppressed'; two books by Mr. Ayers himself; and 'Teaching to Transgress' by bell hooks (lower case), the radical black feminist writer."

My opinion stands, whether Clockofelter likes it, or not.

The Chorus' loving accolades for Rick have nothing to do with the subject at hand.

Dear Mr. Bubba,

Two points:
1.I would never solicit a student letter of support.
2. Had my name and reputation not been challenged in Mr. Barbour's letter then you would be the only one engaged in this conversation. In that case the "subject at hand" could be whatever you wanted it to be.

RR

"hates America"

I find it hard to understand how this statement could be made about an individual who has devoted his life's work (education) to bettering the future of our country.

I met Dr. Reitzug while on a week-long service trip to New Orleans to help 'muck' houses that had been ravaged by the hurricane. I've only gone once....Rick has gone at least 7 times (it may be more) to New Orleans and Mississippi to help with the rebuilding effort. I want to give a little background for what "mucking" houses means. The houses we worked on (in St. Bernard's parish) had been flooded for weeks...sometimes up to 10-12 feet. Our work consisted of hard manual labor--tearing down rotted, moldy walls, dragging out rusted, broken fridgerators, furniture, etc, sometimes finding snakes or rats, or avoiding stepping on rusty nails, all done in 90 degree weather, 8 hours a day. This wasn't something we were paid for or rewarded for. In fact, we had to pay to make the trip down there....whether driving (gas) or flying. We worked in teams, and the individual who worked the hardest and longest each day was Dr. Reitzug...covered from head to toe in sweat and insulation and mold and I'm sure sometimes tears. The families whose houses we worked on were always very overcome and so thankful.......and (the ones I met) all individuals who worked blue-collar jobs. If I were to speculate (though politics was never something discussed) I would guess they were pretty conservative.

I am always very troubled by individuals who try to win battles by screaming the loudest about others...saying things like "he's unamerican" or "he must hate america" as if by wearing a shirt with an american flag or donning it on your car or saying others are not patriotic enough makes you more patriotic. I can think of nothing more patriotic than volunteering your time and energy (and money) to help others in need...regardless of their or your political (or religious) persuasion.

I am also a pacifist...and do not condone any sort of violence. I think what the Weather Underground did was wrong...violence against anyone is wrong...but let us consider violence to be more broad than bombings...is it not violent to let a significant portion of people to suffer? as happened with Hurricane Katrina...where victims at the Super Dome waited 4 days to receive water from the government.

As I said, I do not condone violence...though as a Christian I know Jesus might disagree with me....one example that comes to mind is Jesus being quite violent and aggressive in the temple incident....and the first testament is chock full of references to a vengeful God and justified violent acts.

Let me be clear and state again...I do not condone violence and think that what the Weather Underground did was wrong...but perhaps before folks throw the proverbial first stone, they should examine their own glass house they live in.....I am certainly curious about what folks who have vehemently come out again Dr. Reitzug on this listserve have done in their lives to be 'patriotic'....apart from wearing an American flag on your shirt, etc.

What has been said about Dr. Reitzug on this listserve is unfounded, unfair, and untrue.

I am a current student of Dr. Reitzug. I have enjoyed his classes and additionally, he has played a major role in my academic and professional life during these past four years, I find it offensive that an individual who has not sat in Dr. Reitzug’s class would comment on his teaching competence. Although teachers and professors do not necessarily check out their values and beliefs at the door when they walk into the classroom, I do not recall any class when Dr. Reitzug imposed his political stance on students or used his classroom as a platform for political game play. His teaching and support to students rises above and beyond the call of duty and to the best of my knowledge, this does not entail political indoctrination but a heart that is given to nurturing and ensuring the professional growth of educators. For Jason who asks “whether you would want Dr. Reitzug teaching your children”, first he does not teach children but adults, and secondly I would highly recommend the courses he teaches. Thirdly, Dr. Reitzug does not need students like us to come to his defense; his professional work speaks for him louder than any words that could be penned. Therefore though you may find it befitting to pen offensive remarks about him, the many lives he has positively impacted through his teaching and service tell a different story.

Bubba,
You may not like what the Chorus sings, but it sings in tune, and you apparently don’t know the lyrics. Your comments are off-key with the context of the original letter written by Jason.
Review his letter: his main premise is that he believes Dr. Reitzug’s political beliefs interfere with his teaching. He says: “Would you want Ayers’ colleague, professor Reitzug, teaching your children? I wouldn’t.”

His purpose in writing the letter is undoubtedly to question Dr. Reitzug’s integrity as a professor. Jason also stated that “as a professor employed using our tax dollars, I also have a right to express my outrage to the Greensboro community concerning your judgement [sic] to publicly support a terrorist. I consider my letter a public service announcement for those who are considering enrollment in your classes or the department you chair. Buyer beware.”

In my view, this is not about whether or not a professor supports educator Bill Ayers and his political/professional beliefs. As a citizen of this country, Dr. Reitzug has every right to hold personal political beliefs that may conflict with yours or mine. As long as any professor is conducting class professionally and not promoting personal political beliefs, there is no basis to question the use of tax dollars (whether you question the support of tax dollars for education is another blog). I was in Dr. Reitzug’s class for an entire semester and didn’t know his political beliefs. Does the fact that I now know he signed a petition in support of educator Bill Ayers nullify what I learned in his class? No, it does not. In fact, the professional, dignified manner in which he has handled your very offensive remarks only solidifies my respect for him.

Those of us who have known Dr. Reitzug as students, colleagues, or even as registered Republicans support him. Please find a new tune and refocus your efforts elsewhere.

http://bubbanear.blogspot.com/2008/12/bill-ayers-shrugs-off-his-past-as-just.html