May 07, 2008
Stephen King: Thin-skinned celebutante
According to an Associated Press report, author Stephen King reacted badly when taken to task for remarks he made at a conference last month.
A blogger jumped on King’s statement at the Library of Congress about the importance of reading in which he suggested poor readers have limited prospects, including service in the Army.
"I don’t want to sound like an ad, a public service ad on TV, but the fact is if you can read, you can walk into a job later on. If you don’t, then you’ve got the Army, Iraq, I don’t know, something like that. It’s not as bright," King said at the April 4 event in which he was accompanied by his wife Tabitha and son Owen.
Blogger Noel Sheppard likened the comment to former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry’s remarks that if you don’t get a good education, "you get stuck in Iraq."
"Nice sentiment when the nation is at war, Stephen," Sheppard wrote.
King posted a heated response on his website.
A message from Stephen
That a right-wing-blog would impugn my patriotism because I said children should learn to read, and could get better jobs by doing so, is beneath contempt.
Noel Sheppard says, “Nice sentiment when the nation is at war, Stephen.”
I guess he feels ignorance and illiteracy are OK when the country needs cannon-fodder. I guess he also feels that the war in Iraq has nationwide approval.
Well, it doesn’t have mine. It is a waste of national resources. . . and that includes the youth and blood of the 4,000 American troops who have lost their lives there and for the tens of thousands who have been wounded.
I live in a national guard town, and I support our troops, but I don’t support either the war or educational policies that limit the options of young men and women to any one career—military or otherwise.
If you agree, find Sheppard on the internet, and send him an email:
“Hi, Noel—Stephen King says to shut up and I agree.”
Steve
Now, I've enjoyed reading King's novels since I was in junior high (Salem's Lot scared the bejabbers out of me!), but this is really disappointing.
To begin with, the "impugning my patriotism" line is weak, very weak. On the other hand, I think it is fair to question King's purported support for the troops, given that he thinks only unedjimicated, illiterate buffoons, lacking any other possible alternatives, would volunteer to serve in the military.
I guess [the conservative blogger] feels ignorance and illiteracy are OK when the country needs cannon-fodder.
[...]
I live in a national guard town, and I support our troops, but I don’t support either the war or educational policies that limit the options of young men and women to any one career—military or otherwise.
Wow.
"Cannon-fodder"?
"[L]imited prospects"?
Who knew that King held the troops that he supposedly supports in such contempt?
I've spent the last few days working with National Guard troops getting ready to deploy -- many for their second or third trip into the combat zone -- and they don't seem to fit the stereotype that King clings to, that of a loser who ends up in the military because he's too stupid to do anything else.
Many of the GIs I've dealt with are college grads; some have their own businesses; none have been illiterate; and to a man (and woman) have been anything but the drooling, slack-jawed yokels waiting to be marched headlong into the blazing muzzles of enemy cannon that King imagines them to be.
I'm reminded of the soldiers I met during a previous mission
Sergeant First Class C. is a boyish-looking soldier with a ready smile and laid-back demeanor. You wouldn't think he'd deployed twice already, once to Iraq and later to Kuwait.
"Which did you prefer?" I ask.
"Kuwait was like a vacation," he answers.
He pauses for a moment, then continues in a mild tone.
"On the other hand, I got shot and blown up in Iraq, so there's really no comparison."
Did I mention he wears the Combat Infantryman Badge on his ACUs?
That probably explains the jagged scar running from beneath the collar of his blouse, up along his neck, running uncomfortably close to his carotid artery.
He's a CHP officer in civilian life, and we trade stories about DUI arrests and prosecutions in our respective counties.
As he initials the pages of the will I've prepared, I notice the aluminum wristband he wears honoring a fellow trooper killed in combat; I'm curious, but don't want to pry.
Fallen comrades; torn flesh. He seems remarkably angst-free, not at all tormented by his experiences.
And yet -- despite what he's seen and suffered -- the sergeant has volunteered, eager to take part in another mission, leaving behind a wife and two young kids as he returns to hunt down and kill our enemies.
Later, I meet his commanding officer, Lt.Col. T., a man who decided to give up a career in the pharmaceutical industry back in the early '80s, enlisting in the army because he was too old to get a commission. He took his chances as an enlisted man, hoping he'd get the waivers necessary to become an officer. At 32, he was years older than his fellow recruits, but he persevered, earning his commission and serving as an active duty officer in the Regular Army for a few years, before joining the National Guard.
In the ensuing years, Lt.Col. T. founded an environmental consulting firm, raised a family, and always thought about resuming his military career, full-time.
In the days after 9-11, that impulse became more urgent, tamped down only by his obligations to his family.
Not too long ago, his wife told him she knew how much he longed to answer the call to arms ... and that it was okay.
Now in his 50s, Lt.Col. T. is getting ready to lead his GIs into battle with a cadre of experienced NCOs, men like Sgt. C., to watch his back and help shepherd his troops safely through the challenging days ahead.
And the environmental consulting firm? He's shutting it down, so he can do something really important.
Yeah, clearly cannon-fodder, Steve-O, men who joined the Guard for lack of anything better to do, given their horrendous public-school, taxpayer-funded educations.
King ended his spittle-flecked response by asking his fans, "If you agree [with King], find Sheppard on the internet, and send him an email:
“Hi, Noel—Stephen King says to shut up and I agree.”
I'd invite you lend your support to Noel Sheppard, and leave a comment on his site.
As for King, well, I wish he'd take his own advice and just shut the hell up.
Posted by Mike Lief at May 7, 2008 12:17 PM
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Comments
In many a society, the people that were the most revered and respected were the men (and women) who were willing to go out and fight for the interests of that society. What the hell has happened? Maybe it is all of the left wing "intellectuals" who believe that they are smarter than everybody else (yes I am talking about you Steven King, Sean Penn, Alec Baldwin, Tim Robbins, and Susan Sarandon). Because you can act in a movie or write a book (sorry Mike) makes you neither smarter nor more enlightned than anybody else.
People who choose the military as an option deserve, no COMMAND, the gratitude and respect of all Americans. My children live very happy lives because the rest of the world knows not to F--K with us because our military will take care of business. I owe them more than insulting words and backhanded compliments.
Yeah, Mr. King, you are very supportive. Go back to writing books because I liked you better then.
Posted by: RW at May 8, 2008 06:37 PM
Great post, Mike! Thank you for reminding us of the sacrifices these guys are making.
Posted by: Bill H. at May 10, 2008 05:33 AM