Stephen King Gaffe
Wednesday May 7, 2008
You'd think Stephen King would be smarter than to say something like this, but in a lecture at a Washington, DC high school the author told the audience, "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."
None too happy about being painted as illiterates, the Army responded:
"America's Soldiers are proudly serving and fighting for us all. We can be proud of our Soldiers' selfless service, their skill and their ingenuity. They certainly are role models for every high-school student in America considering a noble career - and many book authors."
[ full story ]
Comments
He’s not saying that everyone in the armed forces is illiterate. He’s just saying that if you can’t read, your options in life are more limited. The armed forces have repeatedly lowered their aptitude standards, though.
How is it appropriate that About.com’s guide to Contemporary Literature became part of the right-wing echo chamber?
Thanks for your comment, Bill. I’m not sure what you mean, though. I actually just felt the Stephen King story was worth blogging about.
I don’t think King was trying to arouse controversy, just that his remarks were careless enough to do so.
Of course King wasn’t “trying to arouse controversy.” His remark was neither careless, controversial, nor even remotely disputable. From the way I read Bill’s comment above, he was suggesting that it’s actually the ones describing King’s remark as a “gaffe” who are trying to stir up controversy.
As a recent military retiree I take offense to King’s comments. He clearly meant that troops are less educated than their civilian counterparts. The military is full of intelligent individuals who serve not because of their lack of education; but because they feel the need to serve their country. I am proud of my 21 yrs of service and wish Mr King would spend just one week living the life of a soldier. I also have several military manuals that I’d like for him to read. Afterward I’ll test his comprehension of the material.
It was a dumb thing for a famous person to say out loud in public.
I tend to agree with him some, and would even go one further:
It’s amazing that the military is able to recruit anyone in today’s world, with two wars raging and the deceptive stop loss policy keeping people in longer than they expect.
I know I won’t sign up voluntarily and if they reinstitute a draft I’m running for a foreign country that doesn’t maintain an extradition treaty with the States.