How exactly do you “misspeak” on an editorial? What happened with the editors at The Tennessean? They got inundated with angry calls and emails and lots of subscription cancellations I’m sure. Just like John Kerry, they believe what they wrote and aren’t really sorry, they’re just sorry for the consequences. You know, kind of like the Dixie Chicks. They still believe those in the military are too stooopid to do anything else and have this bizarre belief (like John Kerry) that only a person with a college degree has any intelligence. And yes, the Tennessean editors do believe that those who join the military are disadvantaged and ignorant. The typical attitude of liberal elitists who are always saying “we support the troops but not the war”. This quite simply is a slur on our great Americans serving in the US Armed Services.

Here’s the original editorial from Thursday, Nov. 2nd:

The sharks — or are they Swift Boats? — are circling. Republicans are feverishly seizing on Sen. John Kerry’s remark about President Bush’s Iraq policies and trying to distort it into a slap against U.S. troops in order to sway voters in next week’s elections. The Massachusetts Democrat apologized for his statement yesterday, but he needn’t have, because he said nothing to offend soldiers or veterans. In the speech to a group of California college students on Monday, Kerry said, “Education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. And if you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.” On Wednesday, Kerry said that he erred by changing the prepared text, which said, “I can’t overstress the importance of a great education. Do you know where you end up if you don’t study, if you aren’t smart, if you’re intellectually lazy? You end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq. Just ask President Bush.” The sad fact is, young men and women without a college degree usually earn less, as much as $23,000 a year less, according to a recent U.S. Census report. And many of those have-nots, lured into the military by enlistment bonuses, find themselves in Iraq. Then, in many cases, their tours of duty have been extended, because the U.S. military is currently overextended with troops needed on numerous fronts. “Stuck in Iraq” says it pretty well. Don’t expect to hear that from a soldier who has experienced it, but they have little choice. The Uniform Code of Military Justice prohibits active-military officers from criticizing the president, and other young service members will feel it prudent to follow the same course. Kerry, the Vietnam War veteran and hero, knows this all too well. His apology, coupled with cancellation of campaign appearances on Wednesday, are probably an attempt to help fellow Democrats who are locked in close races next Tuesday by distancing himself. He would do better to ask the White House and other Republicans how they can continue to wage this senseless war at the risk of so many American lives. •

Now here’s The Tennessean’s flip flop on Friday, Nov. 3rd:

Even people who make their living writing can let their words get away from them. When we editorialized yesterday about Sen. John Kerry’s comments about our troops in Iraq, we in no way meant to imply that they weren’t bright, or that the U.S. military was the only home for kids who can’t make it to college. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, our newspaper’s editorial board has legitimate concerns about the war in Iraq, as do many Americans. Yes, we have concerns about the public schools and about the economic prospects of kids who aren’t successful in school. And yes, we strongly support our troops, respect them, and pray for their safety and their success. All of those points got lost in our use of words yesterday, and we’re sorry. And many of you were quick to let us know. You have reminded us how powerful our words can be, and how much care we must take in using them. Here’s a sampling of what you told us. (Please click on related story.)

I suggest you peruse the comments from Nov. 2nd. This fixation on a college education needed by everyone is doing harm to those with an advocation toward the trades. We need more skilled tradespeople along with the fact that many in the trades can make significantly more money than college degreed people. They have the advantage of working for themselves and I think have a level of job security most of us non-trades people will ever have. Our schools do not do enough to encourage high schoolers with an aptitude towards the trades rather focusing on college degrees.