A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
I’ve gotten a lot of comments – positive and negative – about the post I wrote about the teacher at Langley High School using a doctored image of the Iwa Jima flag raising in a disrespectful manner to engage students in a graded “discussion.” I wanted to do a follow-up because I don’t think the principal and the school board have adequately responded to the outrage. I have gotten a lot more information from parents and others at the school that I want to share and sort of close the loop on this. I didn’t intend for the post to be a drive-by shooting of words, but follow through on it.
If you haven’t read the post yet, go back and read it before continuing.
Here is what happened in the classroom that day and for the first time I’m going to out the actual teacher involved in this controversy because I don’t think she should be spared from accountability. The teacher’s name is Tonetta Landis, a dreadlocked uber-liberal who supposedly teaches English when she’s not bastardizing history with photoshopped images of important historical events in which thousands of Americans gave their lives..
According to more than one of the students in class the day this photo was used, Ms. Landis held up the real photo of the Iwo Jima flag raising and asked the students if everyone knew what she was holding up. A few students were aware of the photo. While some students were trying to explain the significance of the image, Landis decided that reality didn’t fit her skewed revisionist history. She said that the famous photo depicting five brave Marines and a Navy Corpsman (now pronounced “corpse-man” according to the latest edition of the White House dictionary) was the beginning of “it”. What was “it”? At that moment, she switched the historical photo with this one:
Unfortunately, there was never any discussion or education in the classroom about the original image despite the fact that most of the students in the class had no idea what the picture was of! Instead, they began discussing the significance of the altered image and a book called Fast Food Nation. After calls from this blog and others, school officials began responding to irate Americans locally and from around the nation.
Fairfax School Board member Elizabeth Torpey Bradsher even went so far as to say that the discussion was only “controversial to an extent” until it “made it into [my] blog and hence the controversy.” Yes, that’s a quote from the Ms. Bradsher to me directly before going on to insinuate that it was okay because her father served on General MacArthur’s staff, as if that made the discussion less controversial.
Principal Ragone responded to emails with a similar lack of understanding on the issue and why veterans find it so offensive. He stated plainly that “there was no attempt by a teacher or anyone else to promote the political sentiments expressed in this image as in any way positive.” No? That’s not what students are saying.
According to students and parents I’ve spoken with. Mr. Ragone also left out that when a student was trying to explain the meaning of the photograph, that student was interrupted by the teacher and presented with the more offensive image.
As part of his response to a few concerned citizens, Mr. Ragone shared an email that expressed a view contrary to mine and linked to this blog as support for his argument that he MUST be right because he actually found someone else that agreed with him. Unfortunately, it turns out that the person he was quoting was a former Soldier of mine and falsely claimed that I refused to approve his comment. He even called this site an “overly-aggressive” and “close-minded forum”. Right to the heart! After explaining my moderation policy to him, he retracted his initial claim in a subsequent email to the principal. I was a little put off since he knew the kind of person I am.
Mr. Ragone, the principal of Langley High School (for now) bent over backwards to support his teacher. As seems to be the norm in today’s totalitarian education system, the parents and citizens are all wrong and the teachers are all knowing! He found ONE person that disagreed with me publicly and used it to bolster his support for Ms. Landis’ use of the photo.
Ms. Landis sent the following explanation on how she views the incident to the board:
At the beginning of the class period I put up a journal entry that asked my students to react to the photograph, “Raising the Arches.” I first showed them a photograph of the soldiers [sic] “Raising the Flag” at Iwo Jima and asked for a bit of background from the class about why that was so important. I then showed the image, “Raising the Arches,” and asked them to think through the perspective of the image. I also asked them to include a personal reaction to the image in general. We have just finished reading two chapters from Fast Food Nation and I expected them to make connections to this reading. I gave them about eight minutes to write, after which I took several students thoughts on the perspectives of the image. Following that I asked specifically if students felt the image was disrespectful in any way and in general what they thought of it on a more personal level. I closed the discussion by affirming that the perspective of the image is very similar to that of Eric Schossler’s in Fast Food Nation.
I assigned the journal hoping that it would fuel critical thinking and oral debate.
What “Fast Food Nation” is doing being used in the classrooms to begin with is beyond me. The book skewers the fast food industry for what author Eric Schlosser claims are “discriminatory practices”. It blames the industry for obesity. I couldn’t find the chapter in the book that discussed how McDonald’s forced them into their restaurants at gun point and forced them to stuff their faces with Big Macs and Super Size sodas! No mention of individual responsibility and accountability either. I wonder in which part of the “discussion” in Ms. Landis’ classroom this was discussed. The book talks about illegal immigrants working in a fast food meat packing plant while ignoring the fact that the employees were ILLEGAL! And this is what these kids are being taught.
And the principal is okay with this because a commenter on my blog disagreed with me. Good defense, Mr. Ragone.
I’ve sent an email to the School Board Member asking for a follow up to her email. In it, she told me that “during the next several days I hope the School Board members will be briefed further on this matter so I can understand the situation that took place in its entirety.” That was on March 29th. It’s now April 29th and they never followed through with me. Any guesses as to why? I have a few ideas.
[Author's Note: The OPINIONS expressed here are solely those of the author and do not represent those of any agency of the United States Government, expressly including, but not limited to, the Department of Defense or the United States Army. This site is not designed, authorized, sanctioned, or affiliated, by or with, any agency of the United States Government, expressly including, but not limited to, the Department of Defense or the United States Army. This post is in accordance with DODD 1344.10, which expressly permits me to "express a personal opinion on political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of the Armed Forces." Therefore, I hereby declare that I do not write this post as a representative of the Armed Forces. Since I no longer own this site, consider this post also in compliance with the provisions of paragraph 4.1.1.6 of DODD 1344.10.]
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to Anonn, thank you. i thought so. i just want a clear picture of his
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New Scam to be aware of……….I am 2LT. Anderson Darrell Clinton , an off
Bob The American
You’re just pissing off school boards left and right, aren’t you?
GOOD!
They deserved to be pissed off. School boards have always been like these little fiefdoms independent of any control by the people.
Steve
Where I live school board members are elected by the people. I don’t know where you get this idea they aren’t accountable to anyone.
Why are there Burger King, Pizza Hut and TGI Friday’s at military bases in Afghanistan? And why were they recently ordered closed? It’s not about spreading democracy or even protecting America, it’s about securing natural resources and opening new markets for American corporations.
CJ
Steve, please point out where I said school boards aren’t accountable. I said the teachers aren’t accountable.
As for the fast food issue, I’m going to attempt to respond to your ignorantly loaded questions.
Why are there Burger King, Pizza Hut and TGI Friday’s at military bases in Afghanistan? First of all, there are/were also Burger Kings and other fast food restaurants in Iraq too. Not sure if you knew that. They are located on military bases, not on the economy, in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are run by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). When the troops leave, guess what? They leave. The AAFES motto is “We go where you go!” Why else are they there? So that troops can a small slice of home while deployed in a combat environment. Guess what else. There were restaurants set up by AAFES during WWII as well.
And why were they recently ordered closed? So that you’d have something to ask me about. Have you even read why they were closed or just heard some passing moron complaining about it? I’ll save you the time and tell you, since it’s not difficult. They were closed because it became an issue between bullets or burgers. Bullets won out in the logistics war.
It has NOTHING to do with “securing natural resources and opening new markets for American corporations” and even if it did, so what? That is what the free market economy is about. The Chinese sell here, we sell in Afghanistan. Afghanis sell to the South American drug traders. Would you rather we just clamped down our free markets and go into a protectionist posture? What exactly are you suggesting?
Steve
I never said you said school boards aren’t accountable. Bob said school boards a fiefdoms independent of any control by the people.
An issue between bullets of burgers? really ? We’ve been in Afghanistan for nearly ten years and now there are suddenly logistical issues so severe it necessitates closing down fast food outlets! BS on that story. The only thing wrong with the photoshopped picture is the McDonalds sign. Everyone knows back in the 80′s Burger King one the AAFES contract.
Do you really think using the military to secure natural resources and open new markets is how the free market economy is supposed to work? We are in a protectionist posture, it is being done with the military instead of tariffs. If it has NOTHING to do with natural resources and securing markets, what does it have to do with?
CJ
Steve, your Alzheimer’s is setting in. Let me just quote YOU for a sec: “I don’t know where you get this idea they aren’t accountable to anyone.” Yes, you said that I don’t think school boards are accountable. IF that was a typo, fine, but you said it. It’s there for anyone to read and doesn’t mince words. You didn’t respond to Bob because your comment was indented under his. It was a direct response to the post.
“An issue between bullets of burgers? really ? We’ve been in Afghanistan for nearly ten years and now there are suddenly logistical issues so severe it necessitates closing down fast food outlets!” Come on, Steve. Seriously? Are you really asking me this question? Do you follow the news? In the past ten years, has everything been steady in Afghanistan? I’ll answer this question, but I really think you are smart enough to know why they only recently made this decision. It’s not BS.
Burger King IS still the AAFES contract. McDonald’s has the Navy Exchange Service contract. Burger King = Army and Air Force bases. McDonald’s = Navy and Marine Corps bases.
“Do you really think using the military to secure natural resources and open new markets is how the free market economy is supposed to work? This is the same dumbass argument I was railing against the school for. THE MILITARY IS NOT BEING USED TO SECURE NATURAL RESOURCES AND OPEN NEW MARKETS!! Good Lord, that is just the dumbest thing to say. You know damn well why we went into Afghanistan and it sure as hell wasn’t to install restaurants. Reread my comments. WE…DO…NOT…HAVE…RESTAURANTS…IN…AFGHANISTAN…OTHER…THAN…ON…MILITARY…BASES.
“If it has NOTHING to do with natural resources and securing markets, what does it have to do with?” Now, you’re just being intentionally moronic. I’m not going to play your unintelligently petty little game.
Steve
Well your reply to my post doesn’t have a reply link thing on it so now I am replying to my own post!See, for some reason, on my computer, Bob’s post is all scrunched up on the right side of the screen, it’s one word wide and the reply link is blended in with the military support groups links and I didn’t see it. How does that fit into your conspiracy theory?
“I’m not going to play your unintelligently petty little game” No you’re playing an even pettier one based on “you didn’t respond to Bob’s post” whine, whine. And “you’re wrong because MCDONALD”S has the Navy contract!” Wow you really got me there.
So you are saying that after nearly 10 years of being in Afghanistan, our position there is so tenuous that they can’t continue to supply these establishments that have been there for years. Logistically, it’s the same amount of provisions, if a soldier eats a hamburger in the chow hall or if he buys one at the Burger King, it’s still a hamburger that had to be flown in. Are you telling me our situation in Afghanistan is so desperate they can’t even fly in food? Because if it’s “They were closed because it became an issue between bullets or burgers. Bullets won out in the logistics war.” as you say, then this is sounding like Bastogne in 1944!
They might be run by AAFES but Burger King and Pizza Hut are still there to make a profit, if they weren’t it would be back to the days of “AAFES Burgers”. Remember them?
“They are run by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). When the troops leave, guess what? They leave.” Well, AAFES might leave but they sell the franchise to local concerns and a new market is opened.
CJ
Sheesh, its like trying to teach color to a person born blind. I’m at an air show and this reply needs a ton of attention, its so convoluted. I’ll reply more in depth when I’m home and not on my phone.
Steve
“THE MILITARY IS NOT BEING USED TO SECURE NATURAL RESOURCES AND OPEN NEW MARKETS!!”
Really? Then why is the Pentagon doing studies of natural resources in Afghanistan?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14minerals.html
Oh yea, it’s about the freedom.
CJ
Oh, I don’t know, Steve. Something about assisting Afghanistan to become a self-sufficient nation so we can leave… This from a man that complains about changing the subject.
Steve
George Bush said the US military would not be used for nation building.
They don’t have the infrastructure to exploit those natural resources. The contracts to build the infrastructure will go to American contractors. Maybe a few warlords who control the region where the mines are will profit but for the regular Afghani these natural resources will mean being paid slave wages while living in a shanty town.
But since you are so interested in fact checking, did you fact check the Langley High story before you published it? Because even when students who were actually at the school commented, you seemed pretty dismissive of them.
CJ
Oh, snap! You’re right. I completely forgot Bush is still president and directing Afghanistan strategy. My bad.
Bob The American
Here, they’re elected as well, but nobody seems to care, so if the candidate’s has a big enough family, they win the election.
And as far as Burger King and such, let them stay. Its a familiar sight for troops so far away from home. If it provides them comfort, all the better.
Geo
“Controversial to an extent”…What does that mean? Maybe it’s like the question “if a tree falls and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Or perhaps she means it’s not so bad…there are more controversial things in the world. It could be she’s giving the kids the benefit of the doubt…believing they realize they’re being made to read an overly opinionated piece of drivel (“Fast Food Nation”) and lead by the nose (discussion wise) to the tune of their teacher’s obvious prejudices.
Or maybe she just doesn’t give a sh**.
Regardless, it is insulting and extremely biased. Will Mrs. Landis be assigning some right wing reading and defaming some image the left wing considers sacred to the tune of a “lead” discussion to balance things out or is her “English” class just a chance to guide her students towards her world views?
CB
Where do you get off commenting on something that happened clear across the nation in a classroom that you have never been in??? Your attacks are disgraceful and your understanding of the public school system and the teachers that promote open and honest discussions from a variety of persepctives is ridiculous. Whether you agree with the image or not is not the question, I teach History and show images of African Americans lynched in trees and Abraham Lincoln as a negro, am I promoting the KKK or attacking the “white culture” that dominated the U.S. for centuries, NO! In fact there are lots of pieces of propaganda and visually compellinig images that may be contoroversial but still need to be seen and discussed in an open forum like our public schools. This teacher needs to be commended for her efforts and the next time any of you have an issue with something like this quit your job and become a teacher or keep quiet.
CJ
Where do you get off commenting on something that happened clear across the nation in a classroom that you have never been in??? Ummm, I don’t know, the First Amendment? Maybe? Maybe you should try teaching about the history of the Constitution and you’ll understand, Teach.
Do you teach about Christ in your history classes? Why or why not? Is it because true “open and honest” discussions of a “variety of perspectives” really isn’t welcome in the school system? What about the Ten Commandments? Since you are a part of the Fairfax County School District, I guess I don’t expect you to agree with me, but just so you know my knowledge comes from those that ARE in your pathetic school district! So, how would you classify their opinions of the public school system?
This teacher needs to be commended for her efforts and the next time any of you have an issue with something like this quit your job and become a teacher or keep quiet. I’ll become a teacher when you become a Soldier, how’s that? Better yet, maybe I’ll become your next superintendent.
CB
CJ – you are obvioulsy an angry man. I am aware of the Constituion and my first amendment rights which give me the opportuinity to dicsuss a wide variety of topics in and out of the classroom as well as protect others when attacked by extremists. If you spent 1/2 your time trying to better the world as you do taking up radical causes shelling out rude comments we all would be better off.
I know the STUDENTS you have talked to about this issue, you are still ill-informed and have no knowledge of what goes on in VA classrooms let alone this classroom. You have never met this teacher yet you have attacked her and put her at risk by posting a picture. If there were better resources available you should be sued for slander, defamation of character and endangerment.
FCPS is consistently ranked as one of the best school systems in the nation and Langley HS as one of the top 10. Where are you from, not Virginia. Keep your comments to things you have first hand knowledge of, things in Texas.
You stick to your job and I will stick to mine. I pray you are a better soldier than you would be as a teacher, you certainly would never be considered for Superintendant, at least not in VA.
CJ
You’re damn right I’m an angry man. I’m angry that our public education system is brainwashing our youth with skewed history and drivel. It pisses me off that teachers and educators think they know more about what is best for our kids. Stick to the facts. Teach, don’t indoctrinate. I find it hard to believe you know the students. I never outed them, but I like that you use “Students” with plural.
For the record, Langley is NOT one of the top 10 schools in the nation, so please don’t overestimate your school’s importance. It is, however, number 47, so I’ll give you that. Please stick to the facts, the Langley spin. Thomas Jefferson High School is the best in the nation. That’s gotta hurt.
CB
CJ – check the basis of the founding of our country, separation of church and state, there are some things we can not dicsuss in the classroom. Nor do I want to open up the controversial topic of justifying the war in Afghanistan, Iraq or Vietname for that matter.
I did not judge those involved with Abu Ghraib, please do not judge FCPS teachers on such trivial matters.
With this I move on, never to read this blog again, I hope you can do the same.
CJ
CB, please quote for me where in the Constitution the phrase “separation of church and state” is located. I’ve never been able to find that. Thanks.
aqc
CJ you’re an asshole and an ignorant person. You have no idea what happened in the classroom, you trusted some 16 year old kids to tell the truth. why would u ever use the teachers name. she wasn’t promoting the image, just asking us what it meant to us(the students). obviously we disliked it. I have the utmost respect for all military personnel. but it’s not fair to denounce the teacher when she did absolutely nothing wrong. It’s not like she actually made the picture. go to hell for slandering my teacher. i hope i put it in clear enough words for ya
CJ
Wow! Did your teach to speak with that mouth? Do you not understand how to engage in educated conversation without the use of profanity? Using your logic, why should trust “some 16 year old kid” like you? You can’t have it both ways. I never said she was promoting the image, I said she was using it and it was disrespectful. Why would I use the teacher’s name? Because she’s a public official responsible for the education of our children and people deserve to know what their children are being taught in the classroom.
By the way, “aqc”, do yourself a favor and look up the term “slander” and then come back here with a little less ignorance. I can argue with a 16-year old all day long, but you if you come – bring it!
aqc
CJ your an asshole. why would you use the teacher’s name? go to hell for slandering her. i’m a student in her class and i am very dissapointed for your misrepresentation of her class. thanks for deleting my last post by the way.
CJ
aqc, your comment wasn’t deleted. It was moderated. EVERY person who have never posted a comment here before gets moderated. You abusive language is what would have gotten it deleted, but you amused me with your stupidity so I approved it.
GruntforLife
As a Marine, I can safely say that the desecration of what some call the most recognized picture in history is something that is viewed with utter disgust by many.
Those who don’t understand why people would be upset by this picture are most likely in that category of people who will “never get it”.
Walawala
As a current junior at Langley high school, i know about much of the situation at hand because i have numerous friends that were in her class room. The entirety of the Junior class read Fast Food Nation at some point in the year, but the ways in which the classes discussed it varied. Landis’s was the ONLY class to view the image, the majority of the others either spoke or wrote about the book. My class, and I’m sure many of the others, never brought the military into the discussions in any way, shape, or form, except for the very brief bit of influence the defense contracts post WWII had on the growth of the California/west coast economy. The ways in which the rest of the teachers and students analyzed the book should be taken into account when reviewing Landis’s actions, showing that there were indeed other alternatives to her image.
CJ
Walawala, thanks for your well thought out comments. I agree with you with exception. The problem with Landis, as you illustrated, is that it was this ONE teacher it seems. You said that in your class it never came up. The problem is that the other “alternatives to her image” aren’t available to children she teaches. The issue isn’t even that there were alternatives. The image should have never been used, period. It’s simply disrespectful of the teacher to the veterans that fought and died on Iwo Jima. 26,000 Americans – mostly Marines – lost their lives to raise that flag. How many of Ms. Landis’ students know that? I’m willing to bet almost none! How many students know that the Marine losses on Iwo Jima were the ONLY battle in which Marines lost more lives than the Japanese (22,000)? I’m willing to bet even Ms. Landis doesn’t know that. Therein lies the problem, not that there are alternatives out there.
However, again, a very well put comment and I appreciate you dropping by.
Walawala
I used the word “alternatives” attempting to convey that yes, there were other options, thus meaning that the image was indeed completely and totally unnecessary to employ in the classroom setting, or anywhere else. Many of the military’s historical battles are overlooked by the younger generations, evidenced by this incident. Hopefully sometime in the near future people will start to appreciate all that it does for our country.
Wahbegan
Christ.
First off, as one of Tonetta’s students I can safely say that several claims made in this article are blatantly false. I’m sure this is not your fault, exaggerations were probably made, as many students dislike Tonetta and would give their left nut to have her fired. Second, we were doing a sort of muck-raking unit and reading Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. The point of Fast Food Nation and Raising the Arches was to provide a modern link to the movement. We never discussed the military in any great length at all, and the picture wasn’t that offensive. You people need to learn to be able to laugh at yourselves.
Look, call me un-american or disrespectful ignorant or whatever you please, but freedom of speech is one of the most important things you people are supposed to be defending. Nothing should be off limited, and i DO NOT subscribe to the notion that blind respect should be given to soldiers simply because they are soldiers. Look, the military is necessary, it is useful for defending our country, it’s very nice of you that would give your lives to do that. That doesn’t mean you’re better than anyone else, please, you would see the funny side if you only tried. Besides, Ms. Landis wasn’t changing anyone’s opinion with this photograph. Those who agreed with her point of view agreed, and many more openly mocked her for being so gratuitously ostentatious in her political tendencies. There’s no reason to get your panties in a bunch about this lil old photograph. If it was a photo of like some Muslims depicted as slobbering, horrible monsters nobody would care. Cause they’re the bad guys, right?
You’re just people. Just human, just like the people back home who aren’t in the military, just like the people who you liberate, and just like the people you kill. And just like them, we should be able to laugh at you. I’m not gonna go apeshit and call you an asshole or a baby killer or a closed-minded tea partying prick or anything like that, I would just ask that you please take yourselves only a bit less seriously. You only have so long on this planet, and one day you will probably wake up and realize how cosmically worthless you are in the scheme of things, just like everyone else. Please. Nobody is being brainwashed. No graves are being shit on. IT could be worse, man, right? She could have like put a soldier at Iwo Jima’s name and picture on the internet for the entire damned world to see and openly slandered what an ignorant prick they were.
Oh wait.
My point is simply this, I’m sure you’re a nice and wonderful person. Or maybe not. Either way I’m not trying to insult or verbally abuse you, I’m simply informing you that you’re drastically overreacting, please get off your high horse.
Wahbegan
Okay, even I admit the hypothetical Muslim picture would piss people off. Let me change it to a hypothetical picture of like Nazis or Terrorists, and the point remains the same
CJ
Freedom of speech does not equal freedom from consequences for using that freedom. You just stated that you “never discussed the military”, but admit that the photo was used. That’s the problem! You use a military photo to make an ignorant point and think that’s okay not to discuss what the true meaning of it is.
Your comments about the military pretty much prove the successful brainwashing that seems to be pervasive at your school. If respect for the military weren’t so sorely lacking by the faculty, its students would probably have more respect. It’s not your fault. It’s the fault of our liberal, anti-military slant of our public school educators, especially in the state of Virginia.
Anna
Whoa whoa whoa there CJ. I know Wahbegan personally, and they are one of my good friends. No one brainwashed them to take that side of things and/or to have that opinion, that just IS their opinion. It’s what view they decided to take themselves with what they’ve observed during their time on this planet. I myself find it hard to respect the military. I try, b/c it should be respected, but it’s difficult for me, b/c all I see in it is a death machine. It’s ugly. I try to see the benefits of our military, but all of the negatives that I see stand out to me even more than the benefits. As a result, I tend to dislike the military. I have a good friend of mine who enlisted and is now in the military. He loves it. I don’t see why, but he does, and I try to support him b/c serving this nation makes him happy. Despite my own opinions about the military, I still support him, try to commend his efforts, and hope that he makes it home safely. Maybe you could take the same approach w/ Ms. Landis? I don’t know. Well, maybe not the SAME approach, but a similar one. It’s not like she’ll be “making it home safely” or anything like that, but I’m sure that you see what I mean. Even though she’s doing something that you disapprove of and obviously do not support at all, maybe you should still be thankful that students are getting an English teacher at all. It’s not like all of her lessons are like that. Some people aren’t as fortunate to have a teacher, even in this country. Maybe you should be more accepting and let her do her thing while you do yours? I really don’t know. I wish I could do the same and leave you be, but you’re words have angered me so much. SO MUCH. It upsets me. It upsets me that you aren’t understanding the situation, too. At least, you don’t seem to be understanding it. I wish that I could make you see how it really is so that you aren’t as angry. I’m actually so upset that it’s very difficult for me to articulate in educated terms what problems I see w/ your blog post. Therefore, my arguments seem empty, except for the said “hot air”. My arguments do have substance to them, I’m just having difficulty forming my words in a way that is suitable for debate. Maybe as a writer who is angry, you can relate? Maybe you know the feeling? I also want to say that I agree w/ everything Wahbegan said completely! They are a huge inspiration to me, even if they are my peer, b/c they get their words out so well and say everything in a way suitable for debate while still venting their anger.
Also, they are Jesus. Really. That was an inside joke, and I do not expect you to understand it at all haha. Especially since religion isn’t the main issue here. Also: Why should Ms. Landis have consequences? If you look at it a certain way, a way which I promise you is not skewed or brainwashed, she didn’t really do anything wrong. Another thing: You are making a huge generalization by saying, “If respect for the military weren’t so sorely lacking by the faculty” and “It’s the fault of our liberal, anti-military slant of our public school educators, especially in the state of Virginia.” I mean, “especially in the state of Virginia”? Come on. Firstly, there may be other teachers in other states doing the same thing that Ms. Landis did. As well they should. Secondly, I don’t think that you know how it really is at Langley, and you can’t make a generalization about the entire school over just this one thing that happened. There are many teachers here that not only respect the service and support our troops, but who are also veterans. And Ms. Landis is their peer. I believe that they respect her. Landis felt that we are mature enough to handle it. Also, she started a good discussion and thinking, which is necessary at a school like ours. I liked the lesson, and the discussion had everything that a good discussion should have. I don’t think you know how our school is, buddy. Do you know those types of classes where a teacher will pose a question to the class for discussion and when they ask it, no one answers? It’s just like, say, a field of crickets? It falls flat? Yeah. It’s obnoxious, and quite frankly, it sucks. Especially if you want to get something out of the class or want it to be less painful. If everyone cooperated w/ the teacher, then it would be better, right? No matter what the question was. Also, as unfortunate as it is, there are a lot of people at our school that fit the “dumb jock” stereotype. Topics like this make them think and open up their minds a little bit. The topics do not change the jock’s or student’s (whatever’s) opinion or point of view unless they want it too. Landis was not setting out to influence anyone’s opinion, and she was not really trying to tell everyone that this is how America is. She was just simply presenting the topic for discussion; that is all. Saying, do you think that this is accurate. If so, why or why not? She always leaves both ends of the question open in her journals. Trust me, her journals get really annoying like that, asking such specific/thorough questions and so on. For example, and this is a slight exaggeration: Do you agree that this character in this book displays this characteristic? Why or why not? Support your response with evidence and quotes from the text. Layer your paragraphs w/ the evidence and quotes. See what I mean? So I don’t think that while presenting the debate topic she was expressing her opinion or forcing it on anyone. Ok, I think I’m done venting for now. I’m sorry that I wrote you a freaking essay, but I’m trying to get all of my thoughts out about something that I feel very passionate about.
Anna
CJ, I don’t know who you are, but to me, you seem very ignorant. You are missing the point ENTIRELY. Stop getting your panties in a twist and learn what actually went on in that classroom before you make judgments and accusations. Secondly, the photo is a form of humor, dark as it may seem. It’s called poking fun at society. Many Americans need to buck up and stop getting so easily offended by things like that. Marines especially. If they can take being in a war zone, minimal sleep, watching their friends die, etc, I’m sure that they can take a little photo. I find that so ironic. But anyways…. just many Americans in general get SO offended SO easily, and, in my opinion, really need to buck up.
CJ
Another example of ignorance is your comment. You can me ignorant a claim I’m “missing the point ENTIRELY” and yet fail to provide any idea what “the point” is. It’s called an empty argument. Maybe your school should do a better of job of educating on how life works in the real world and less on semantics and politics.
Anna
ALSO: I know that you may disagree with what I had said about Marines. Another way to look at what I said is this: If Marines are out there doing all of those things, like watching their friends die, etc, then they should get respect for that. But anyways, that’s not why I’m here. I have many opinions about the Marines, as I’m sure you do, but that’s not the issue at hand that I am upset about. Whether you are a marine or not, is not the question. So what if you are or are not? In actuality, you are just another person. What she was doing was just expressing what could be her opinions, just as you are doing here with this blog of yours. It could or could not be her opinion, you have no way of knowing that for sure. The image correlated w/ the lesson very clearly, and that is all. If you were actually there, you’d know what the lesson was. If you can express your opinions or whatever, why are you upset about her doing the same? Oh, I am not finished. I feel sorry for you, b/c you seem to have this all wrong.
CJ
School is not a place for teachers to discuss their opinions. School is a place for teachers to instruct and educate on reality. Using an inaccurate historical photo in which tens of thousands of troops gave their life to make a political statement is ignorant and wrong. You say it correlated with the less clearly. Well, what was that lesson and how did the photo work into it? Don’t give me a bunch of hot air. Educate us.
Please don’t patronize me with your false sympathy. You don’t feel sorry for me. Again, freedom to have an opinion does not negate a response to that opinion. It’s a truly ignorant statement to say so. Just because we have freedom of speech doesn’t mean people should accept everything said. There are consequences for opinions on all sides.
Anna
I agree w/ CB. Also… while your blabbing about “separation of church and state”, the image has nothing to do w/ that, and it’s not taught at Langley.
Wahbegan
Man, please don’t tell me I’m brainwashed haha actually, several teachers in our schools are die-hard veterans. This includes one Mr. Howard who was just as upset by the photograph as you were, and my old geometry teacher Mr. Storm, who castigated me severely in the hallway for not standing during the pledge. Which is odd, because one of the main points against abolishment of the “Under God” bit of the pledge of allegiance is that you aren’t required to participate in it. But I digress, the point is that nothing anti-military is hammered into our heads, and we are taught repeatedly to respect people. Now, I may have a glaring, heinous lack of said respect, but if I do it’s nobody’s fault but mine. I am actually willing to take responsibility for my actions and my opinions and I personally believe, and always have, that military personnel deserve no more respect than like, politicians or cops or people in similarly important power positions, who are lampooned constantly. Like I said, nobody’s better than anybody else simply because of their job description, even if it does entail defense of our country. Actually nobody’s better than anybody else, inherently. Therefore, it’s safe to say that if you can mock one group of people, you can mock them all. Now, obviously the picture was anti-american, but this is a country built and shaped by people’s opinions. When something is pissing part of the populus off, they have not only the right but the DUTY to be vocal about it. That’s how things improve, is through diatribes and protests delivered by dissatisfied citizens. Now, Ms. Landis is vocal about her political opinions to the point where it gets gratuitous and, to some people, obnoxious; but on the bright side, it means you know she gives a shit. Also, I found the picture a little funny. Now, I’m sure this isn’t always true at all, but in my experience military personnel seem to be the only people on the planet who absolutely refuse to laugh at themselves and admit that they fucked up pretty badly every once in a while. So, in conclusion, it’s not even disrespect for you as people that drives me, just a lack of respect based on nothing more than your uniform
The point of the photograph wasn’t specifically anti-military, the way she described it. Just very anti-american in general. Which, as I said, came as part of a muck-raking, political, anti-establishment type unit that we were doing, so it did have context and wasn’t being presented as history or fact. We have an entire class dedicated to that. Which we learned about Iwo Jima in, by the way.
Wahbegan
P.S. I appreciate that you didn’t think my lack of respect was my fault though, I guess
Anna
EXACTLY!!!!!!!! God, I love you haha. That’s what I was just saying, about the teachers at our school. Many are veterans, and are not anti-military. And exactly. CJ, the photo went w/ the unit. Sorry that I failed to mention that and how it correlated. One thing that I think both Wahbegan and I failed to mention was that at Langley, humanities classes work together very well, and the lessons are always related. If I’m not mistaken, we got a lesson on Iwo Jima and that era in History class, either before or after that journal in English class. The History and English teachers at Langley have planning periods together, always have the same set of students for a class period (except for people w/ weird scheduling issues). For example, we have Steele (our History teacher) first period on odd days, and then Landis directly after History and break time. Since freshman year, English and History have worked together. If we are reading a book in English, usually it has to do w/ some historical event or takes place in the era that we are studying in History. Like, freshman year, for example. We read The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck in English class while studying Imperialist China in History class. So, you cannot safely say, “Unfortunately, there was never any discussion or education in the classroom about the original image despite the fact that most of the students in the class had no idea what the picture was of!” w/out backing up your claim w/ evidence, as (haha) Landis likes us to do. You cannot say that and actually know that it is a truthful statement. Not to mention that that image of Iwo Jima is very iconic and legendary. Everyone knows what it is, and almost everyone, by the time they get to be our age, I hope, have an idea of it’s significance. Especially when living so close to our nation’s capital. Der.
CJ
Anna, the photo did NOT go with the unit. Fast Food Nation is about the global influence of America’s fast food industry. That image used was created to make the point that our military is used to spread corporatism and economic imperialism and that’s just plain inaccurate and offensive to the troops who died making their way to the top of Mount Seribachi to put up the real flag.
As for your comment about classes working together, I spoke again with several students and asked that question (which is why it took me a day to respond) and they both said they had no such lesson recently on Iwo Jima. So, my evidence is as good as your evidence. I can say with as much certainty that it’s a true statement just as you can. I’m willing to bet that if I met you on the street and asked you about the image and what was happening at the time it was taken, you would not be able to fully answer my questions. I can’t ask here because you can just Google or open a book.
I appreciate your support, but you assume that I’m ignorant of what happened before writing and I can assure you I am not.
Langley High School Student
This is quite a funny little editorial to me. Maybe I only feel compelled to reply to this one simply because it is a little bit closer to home for me. I do not want to voice an explicit opinion immediately but I would like to introduce some new information. First of all, Langley High School isn’t a bastion of liberalism with an anti military agenda considering that many parents work in the military, for the CIA, or for large businesses as well as the fact that the area is overwhelmingly conservative and many of the teachers come from nearby. Also, we have at least 10 veterans (probably more that I don’t know of) on staff. This isn’t to say that there are no Liberals attitudes around but I think there is at the very least a healthy mix. Secondly, the way in which the picture was presented in the lesson held no qualitative evaluation of the soldiers, the arches could have just as easily been printed on the White House lawn or on a patriot missile, the message would be the same. The picture (regardless of its origins) does not hold a message by itself, the message must be packaged in the context of the discussion and I have it from multiple sources that the discussion was purely about the structure of our government and how things are not always as cut and dry as they appear to be, not about the soldiers or even the war.
Here’s where my opinionated statements come in, let me first preface them by saying that I don’t necessarily disagree with your point of view but I do disagree about the presentation and the way the situation has been handled. There are definite ways that that picture could be used that are innapropriate in a school setting, and you’re right to say that it could be on a Code Pink poster or on a MoveOn.org ad, this is why context is so important as well as motivation. I cannot say that this is definitely true but given the precedent and the evidence I have seen I would say that the outrage over this photo is a little ridiculous. The immediate assumption seems to be that the picture was used for the most nefarious reasons that can be imagined. This can probably be attributed to the fact that teenagers that have families from military backgrounds supplied all the information and in many ways the perspective on this story. Please, take a moment and imagine your ability to reason and evaluate a situation at the age of seventeen, do you think you were as wise and reasoned as you are now? The answer is almost assuredly no, I can promise you that the children responsible for starting this snowball saw this picture and (regardless of context or presentation) immediately grabbed the torches and pitchforks. They reported a very lopsided story to their parents which can be seen by the paltry number of facts that made their way into this post. This is why I focus very little blame on the author, apart from basing a story a little bit more on heresay than fact. I would like to remind everyone that what you are reading (both in this response and in the article) is a high schooler’s side of the tale and that we often judge too quickly without having a responsible number of details.
The only other thing I will say is that providing personal information about a teacher and inciting people to action without a responsible amount of information is a poor decision in my book.
CJ
I don’t really care what the photo was used for. You mention the arches could have been on a missile or the White House lawn and the message would be the same. What is that ‘message’?
I’m not worried about the students being wise and reasoned. However, as an adult teacher, I expect her to be “wise and reasoned” and using that image was exactly the opposite. By your very words, you insinuate that a 17-year old isn’t those things which makes the use of that photo so much worse. If, in fact, the students aren’t able to evaluate the photo with logic and reason, then why use it? The teacher wanted to create an image that corporatism and militarism go hand in hand. You assume that the students that disagree with the use of the photo are somehow less able to reason or evaluate a situation than those that don’t see a problem with it. Sounds kind of ironic if you ask me.
What you are telling me is no more hearsay than that upon which I based this story.
Langley High School Student
The idea I proposed is that everyone seems to be projecting their own interpretation of the photo based on very shallow grounding without consideration of the context in which it was presented. It was shown to inspire a debate not to provide a definite message as to what is right or wrong. Might it have been inadvisable for the teacher to use that picture for fear of misunderstanding, yes. Was it wrong of her to use it because it immediately intimates a left wing slant and hatred of the military, no. I guess the point I’m trying to make is that while you say that the picture “[creates] an image that corporatism and militarism go hand in hand,” she may have had nothing like that in mind when including it in her presentation and certain individuals should not treat their own interpretation as a final and irrefutable stance. As to the reason “why use it?” most teachers have high expectations for their students, they expect them to be mature and reasonable and most of the time their expectations grow to be a little too large, this is my theory as to why she decided to use an admittedly controversial picture in her slideshow, to hopefully develop a dialogue in class and within the bounds of reason, not to create a large internet fiasco. I trust that there was no agenda with this picture and I think it is rather pessimistic and narrow minded to assume, as I said before, nefarious intentions. Don’t misunderstand me and assume I mean that no one ever does anything without the best of intentions but I think the fact that the immediate conversation was one of catastrophe and maniacal malfeasance jumped the shark, I think a conversation about whether or not showing controversial material such as that in the classroom is appropriate would be more reasonable. At the end of the day I don’t completely disagree with you, I just think that the extreme lengths that were immediately taken was a little much considering the information available; and, considering the fact that we all agree that it was in fact shown, maybe introducing a conversation as to whether or not that is material that high schoolers can handle would be a more logical and reasonable route to take, atleast until reasonable information has been gathered and all parties have had their say.
As to the ironic bit, “What you are telling me is no more hearsay than that upon which I based this story.” that was my point.
CJ
But, you didn’t mention high expectations. You, yourself, said that kids at your age can’t reason or provide accurate analysis. As a Soldier and combat veteran, I think I’m a little more qualified to give an interpretation of that photo. My grandfather fought in WWII and earned a Purple Heart when shrapnel pierced through the hull of his bomber.
My purpose here is to discuss this issue from a Soldier’s perspective. The only acceptable context in which this photo could be used is to discuss how improper it is. But, based on Ms. Landis’ history and political slant (yes, I do my homework) i know that is not what happened. I haven’t relied merely upon a few students to support or oppose my opinions here. I have a LOT more embarrassing information about Ms. Landis that I could divulge if I felt like completely crushing her future at ANY school, but that I not my goal. It is to expose her using a position of authority to influence students using an ignorant photo of a solemn point in American history.
As for the irony you exhibit in the end, I was merely responding to YOUR comment and how you complain that I rely upon “hearsay” and yet you are doing the exact same thing. The irony was in your initial response.
How’s the gaming business going, by the way?
Langley High School Student
My point in the irony is that I know the information I have is not enough on which to base the sullying of some one’s reputation and the admission that your information was of the same quality yet you pursue just that goal was funny to me. Anyway, my point stands that the information presented (regardless of what you cannot divulge) is not enough to assume the worst. I do think that you are perfectly entitled to your own opinion of the image and you have every right to be upset based upon your own perspective, my only point is that saying you alone have the qualification to make an irrefutable say on the appropriateness of the picture is a silly statement regardless of your experience, no man can say he alone understands what ultimately amounts to a piece of art, to be interpreted differently by each person that sees it. As to the assumption that children my age cannot reason as well as the average adult I do believe that but that is also the assumption in this piece, no reasonable adult would be brainwashed if they were shown that picture on the street but they assume that children such as myself do not have the capability to create their own opinion so they assume we simply adopt (in this case) the teacher’s, I apologize if this is not a view shared by you but simply a good deal of your readers who decided to respond. My other point is that while both my grandfathers fought in WWII, one nearly losing his hearing and continuing to serve his country in the CIA for decades following the war that does not make me more qualified to make a call as to whether or not this picture is classroom appropriate. Obviously I cannot say that live combat experience would not enlighten me as to the true intentions of Ms. Landis when she showed this picture, but I doubt it. Instead I think it might make me mad as my immediate interpretation would be that this is photo disrespects our veterans and I would be irate that it was shown to kids at a susceptible age, this would be further magnified by my own self sacrifice as well as my family’s and I would take it as an insult not only to myself and my family but also the country I fought to defend and the brave men and women in uniform, but even that would still be just one man’s opinion and not enough to validate a crusade. Also, I’d like to reiterate, I don’t want to fight you, I don’t even disagree with you, I just want to understand why you feel it’s necessary to attack this woman when I feel that the information you’ve shown is not enough to validate doing so.
CJ
We will have to just agree to disagree. It’s not just Ms. Landis’ use of this image. I have my reasons and this image was basically “the straw”. I don’t appreciate teachers like her and that is opinion people will just have to live with.
But, I do appreciate your perspective and thank you for bringing it to the table. I just choose not to make this a vendetta against her. I wrote ONE blog post and I feel like the faculty has addressed our concerns.
concerned student from Ms.Landis' class
I was there the day she had shown this image and honestly before talking to other people around me I was kind of shocked that she was laughing at it like it was a joke. Yet she gets very serious when she shows us stories from the internet of the Tuskegee Airmen in WWI. Both of these groups of soldiers were brave and I honor them, but if i showed a picture in her class of them with a large Mcdonald’s banner hanging behind their warplanes like an advertisement, satirizing the Tuskegee Airmen she would likely send me to the school’s office or do something outrageous such as giving me an honor code violation, although i don’t know what it would be for but thats what she threatens some students with…
KD
I’ve read a few of your comments and what you said about “choosing not to make this a vendetta against [T.Landis]“, and honestly I’m a little shocked. You state in your blog entry that she is a “dreadlocked uber-liberal” that “bastardizes history with photo shopped images”, I would classify that as a vendetta and a blatant personal attack on your part.
I don’t condemn your assertions that she should never have showed that picture, I’m able to respect your opinion for what it is, but to so thoughtlessly disrespect a professional as you have is shocking and unforgivable. You claim to be a man of the service (even a former Marine!), but your actions speak otherwise. The Marine in me would never treat someone I did not know with such hate and disgust for something so minute.
To me, the image is shocking, yes, but it has it’s ties to Fast Food Nation (which you have clearly never read), but your careless hatred is even more flabbergasting to me.
I’d just like to say that, while I’m sure you are a great man, I would think twice before so disgracefully hurting a woman’s personal image. Semper fi, Kent.
CJ
Ok, KD, you got me. Calling her names is part of my vendetta. The “disrespect [for] a professional” began with Ms. Landis when she disrespected those troops. Unforgivable? Hardly. Please explain to me what the ties are to Fast Food Nation. I’m intrigued.
As I said, this is not only thing that Ms. Landis has done to dishonor our troops. Since the school is taking appropriate actions against her, I have no need to further defame her character.
Anna
And what actions are the school taking? I’M INTRIGUED.
Anna
ENLIGHTEN ME.
Ray McKinnon
I read this post and some of the comments with disgust. You, sir, obviously do not know Tonetta–my friend since elementary school. You are mischaracterizing a wonderful woman. You call Ýourself a hero but your actions are very cowardly. I can attest to her qualifications to teach both History and English. She holds degrees in both subjects as well as a Master’s Degree.
She is a real person with a real life and real passions. As a former Teacher one of our greatest challenges is to encourage our students to think critically. I can assure you that Tonetta is far more than you have made her out to be. She is a great person and it will do you well to remember that.
Shame on you for showing her picture and inciting such anger with your half-truths.
CJ
Ray, the picture I’m showing I got freely on the internet. If Tonetta doesn’t want her image used, she should remove it from the internet. Everything I’ve placed on this site was freely available to anyone wanting to find it.
For the record, I’ve NEVER called myself a hero and consider FAR from it! Please don’t put words in my mouth, ESPECIALLY when they don’t describe me in the least.
Teachers’ greatest challenge IS to encourage students to think critically, but not through partisan and biased approaches or methods. Ray, you claim I incite anger with my “half-truths”. So, tell us all the other half, sir. What am I missing here with respect to this issue? Convince me that the use of the this photo is okay. Don’t just spew rhetoric – inform me!
Anna
Okay. She taught us to think critically and to debate. Rather, she improved our skills in those fields with discussions such as that. What better way to help students improve their debate skills than to start a discussion w/ something that really gets them talking? That is why the photo was used, and that is ok. Photos like that are part of real life, and it would be wrong to shelter us from that. This way, by debating it, we learn how to deal w/ something such as that, and we learn how to discuss things like rational adults. No brainwashing, none of that crap. You’re exaggerating. I know that, if you judge by my responses to you here, that my debate skills seem bad. But when I have time, I’m going to respond much better than I have been, b/c I am obviously waaaay behind here. Also: Langley is a PUBLIC school, not a private school. Things like this happen in PUBLIC schools, b/c they get you ready for the real world much better than private schools. Public schools just make more sense. Trust me, I’ve been in private schools, and what they teach and how they teach it will not ever serve you in the real world. I would have been screwed, had I stayed another year. Totally brainwashed, if you will. Not to mention that the kids are vicious.
concerned student from Ms.Landis' class
I don’t hate Ms.Landis either but just for your information she looks exactly like the predator from the predator movies.
http://downwiththeinternet.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/thepredator.jpg
I just particularly think she is a bad teacher and does not think clearly when she grades assignments. So Ray you can just STFU nao
Anna
Why did you have to bring that into this. Why.
Ray McKinnon
CJ, I apologize for saying that you called yourself a hero when you did not.
Here is the other half of the story:
Tonetta has dedicated her life to educating students. She has given her life to help students to see the importance of History, English and life. Tonetta has a very real and deep relationship with Jesus Christ. She is far from an “uber-liberal” which you assert. She is a woman who has traveled the world learning other cultures and serving the “least of these”. Tonetta is very thoughtful but she is indeed a very tough teacher but her students will thank her for it once they enter college where critical thinking and and ability to articulate an alternative opinion are extremely necessary.
You claim that the school is taking “appropriate action” against Tonetta which is false. Her school supported her because she did absolutely nothing wrong. That, is categorically false and you know it…
Anna, thanks for your support and your thoughtful words of a great woman and one of my dearest friends.
“Concerned Student…”: I am commencing to STFU…now.
Ray McKinnon
CJ,
Don’t just spew rhetoric? My comments were deeply sincere; hence I was not spewing rhetoric.
My suggestion to you: Don’t post caustic blog posts about folks and topics you know not about…
Grinder
Oh, I don’t know, Steve. Something about assisting Afghanistan to become a self-sufficient nation so we can leave… This from a man that complains about changing the subject.