Our DCG has been doing a series of satirical posts on the idiocy and know-nothingness of the iY Generation — Americans born after 1990 whose world is all about the latest technology of iPhones and iPads, thus the “iY” Generation. (See the most recent post here.)
It’s one thing for the iY to be stupid and woefully ignorant, but some of them have crossed the line when they insult, spit on, and hurl objects at America’s wounded military veterans.
That’s precisely what happened last weekend in Panama Beach, Florida.
Chris Martin reports for IJReview, April 23, 2015, that the semi-annual Warrior Beach Retreat was held in Panama City, Florida, to honor American veterans who were wounded in battle, as well as their families and caregivers.
Many were staying at the Laketown Wharf Resort hotel.
Members of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity from both the University of Florida in Gainesville and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, were also at the hotel for their spring formal.
There were numerous reports of college students:
- Making inappropriate comments toward veterans and their spouses.
- Disrespecting and defiling the American flag by urinating on the flag, breaking them off of vets’ vehicles, ripping them out of the ground.
- Throwing beer and other objects off balconies at veterans and their vehicles.
Linda Cope, the founder of Warrior Beach Retreat, said some of the students “were urinating on the American flag.” Nicholas Connole, a wounded veteran who attended the retreat, said “They actually spit on me, and my service dog as well…. It hurts.”
After the incident, Cope received letters from both universities’ administrations.
Emory University denied any culpability on the part of their students, saying in their letter that “To date, no evidence has been found to implicate Emory students in these reported incidents.”
But Cope is not convinced by Emory’s denial. She points out “There were too many students from Emory for none of them to be involved… This denial is a slap in the face of veterans.”
For his part, University of Florida President W. Kent Fuchs promised in a letter to Cope that “We are pursuing an investigation of the matter to learn… whether disciplinary action will be needed.” To which Cope replied, “Do your investigation, but I want to know what you’re going to do… I’m hoping that this will make a dramatic change in their life to realize they do not need to take the sacrifice and the service of these men and women in vain.”
In contrast to the administrations of the two universities, the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity was more forthcoming. In a letter to Cope, the fraternity states:
We have suspended the operations of the chapter until close of this investigation. Individuals found to have violated our membership standards or our values will be removed from the organization effective immediately.
No criminal charges for the incident have been filed, nor student suspensions issued, thus far.
~Éowyn
