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The Original Post That Started It All ...
Dear NU Daily,
I would just like to extend my opinion of the recent posts on your blog. I have read all the post’s and find your step back approach refreshing. It is nice to see that someone in the world still lets all sides be heard no matter ones own views.
First let me give you a little background on myself. I have volunteered, worked and live in the emergency services community for the past 10 years. I have seen many people die along the way in the back of my ambulance while I was responsible for their lives. To this I would like to say I feel that it has matured me somewhat faster than that of my generation. I have many good friends, no not friends, brothers, who today serve the United States of America in one form or another, i.e. armed services, police, fire, ect. I started my Norwich career as a traditional student, and then moved on to the corps of cadets. I still have friends living both life styles here at Norwich.
I must say when I read the article in the Guidon I had my own opinions as I’m sure all of us did. However, when I read the two posts made by Jason Grupp and Drew Dilley I was a little surprised, I always thought that Norwich students were a step above the average college student. Norwich was a place where you could express your opinions freely and openly without direct hate for another, or group. There are a few things that I would just like to point out to all your readers.
Yes, the corps is not the real military and not all the cadets will move on to become a part of the armed forces. However, how dare you attack an institution in which you know nothing about. How dare you disrespect the ideals and choices of others. The fake corps as you put it has a line of young men and women that extend 187 years into the past. Men and women who have not only become great leaders of there fields, not only have served their nations military, not only have helped to future society as a whole, but have also experienced something that you cannot understand. The corps for you is a thing that you see in your classes, in your dorms, in your daily life. But again it is just a thing to you. You will never understand what it means to the individual who experienced it, who embraced it. You will never know the bonds created here, or the friendships forged. You will never know the passion that one has to knowingly and willfully put themselves through it. You will never know the true person who takes that harder road. That is not to say that you yourself are not the person that takes the hard road, that you yourself have not been through trials and tribulations.
I only offer this to you, don’t make assumptions as to the mindset or the validity of ones opinion just because they choose a life that you yourself have not experienced. It may be fake to you and not a real world environment in your eyes, but to the corps’ cadets it is a living, breathing entity created by the sweat and perseverance of those who came before, and those that continue to come in their place. You may see and hear the corps being trashed by its own cadets however, they have earned their place here; they have endured their own personal hell to speak those words against it. At what point in time have you earned the right to bash my corps? What struggles have you overcome to become a student at this University? What level of commitment have you given to be a part of Norwich? Do you have any idea as to what the history of this place is? Yes you are right, the corps is shrinking, and some day it may be gone, but on that day Norwich dies, it will no longer be the institution it is. It will fall into the vast void of schools across the nation. The corps is Norwich, no one knows Norwich for its great traditional students. Norwich is known by the corps. Like I said I have lived both lives here, I know both ways. Lastly I would like to add I have no problem speaking with you about you opinions and mine. Anytime you want to meet and chat I’ll be there, I just ask that you show a little class. Anyone can rant like and ignorant buffoon, it takes a real man to allow others to speak their mind and not attack it or their ideals. I am curious to see which you truly are.
Stephen Stokes
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