AMHERST, Mass. -- A University of Massachusetts student has openly criticized Pat Tillman, calling the former NFL player a Rambo-like idiot in the school paper.

 

The column in question was submitted by graduate student Rene Gonzalez and published Wednesday in the Daily Collegian. It was titled "Pat Tillman is not a hero: he got what was coming to him."

 

Gonzalez writes that Tillman was a "Rambo" who probably acted out of "nationalist patriotic fantasies." In his own neighborhood in Puerto Rico, according to Gonzalez, Tillman would not have been considered a hero, but a "pendejo," or idiot.

 

The column drew harsh criticism from many on campus. University president Jack Wilson says the op-ed piece was "disgusting, arrogant and intellectually immature."

 

Tillman, who gave up his NFL career to join the Army Rangers in 2002, was killed in combat one week ago in Afghanistan. The military announced on Wednesday that he has been posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal and awarded the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

 

"You know he was a real Rambo, who wanted to be in the 'real' thick of things," Gonzalez writes in his column, which is posted on the collegiate paper's Web site. "I could tell he was that type of macho guy, from his scowling, beefy face on the CNN pictures. Well, he got his wish. Even Rambo got shot in the third movie, but in real life, you die as a result of being shot. They should call Pat Tillman's army life 'Rambo 4: Rambo Attempts to Strike Back at His Former Rambo 3 Taliban Friends, and Gets Killed.'"

 

Gonzalez also says that Tillman's service was not "necessary."

 

"It wasn't like he was defending the East coast from an invasion of a foreign power. THAT would have been heroic and laudable," Gonzalez writes. "What he did was make himself useful to a foreign invading army, and he paid for it. It's hard to say I have any sympathy for his death because I don't feel like his 'service' was necessary. He wasn't defending me, nor was he defending the Afghani people. He was acting out his macho, patriotic crap and I guess someone with a bigger gun did him in."

 

In a letter to its readers Thursday, the Daily Collegian says Gonzalez' opinion in no way reflects that of the newspaper's editorial board. A column by one of the editors praising Tillman's sacrifice ran in the paper next to the one by Gonzalez.

 

"We do not hold back from printing news stories, columns or editorials that may upset our readership -- instead, we seek to both inform and stir debate through our publication," the letter, also posted on the Web site, reads. "Our decision to publish Gonzalez's column -- an opinion piece written by a member of our campus community -- is the only way for us to live up to this ideal."

 

Tillman will be eulogized at a public memorial service in his hometown of San Jose, Calif., early next week, and funeral arrangements are pending.

 

The body of Tillman arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Monday. His brother, Spc. Kevin Tillman, also a Ranger with the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment, was expected to accompany the body to the funeral home, Lawrence said.

 

Tillman was killed in a firefight on a road near Sperah, about 25 miles southwest of a U.S. base at Khost.

 

After coming under fire, Tillman's patrol got out of their vehicles and gave chase, moving toward the spot of the ambush. Beevers said the fighting was "sustained" and lasted 15-20 minutes.

 

The Cardinals said they will retire Tillman's No. 40 and name the plaza surrounding the new stadium under construction in suburban Glendale the "Pat Tillman Freedom Plaza."

espn.com

 

 

 

this is quite possibly the sickest thing i have ever read

How the hell would he be a "pendejo"? The real "pendejo" seems to be this Gonzalez kid. To me, Tillman was seriously a TRUE American hero. I don't know anyone who would turn down a large amount of $$ to play football to go to war and fight for their country.

What a god damn moron. He gave a money and fame to protect his country. He's a true hero...like Rambo is in Rambo 2 and 3...not First Blood, he's evil in that one.

renegonzalez7@hotmail.com

 

i had some nice words for him lol

I read this earlier, and man did it piss me off.

 

This just shows how ignorant this person is.

I could tell he was that type of macho guy, from his scowling, beefy face on the CNN pictures

 

This guy is basing his opinion on Tillman on the way he looked in a picture.

"It wasn't like he was defending the East coast from an invasion of a foreign power. THAT would have been heroic and laudable," Gonzalez writes. "What he did was make himself useful to a foreign invading army, and he paid for it. It's hard to say I have any sympathy for his death because I don't feel like his 'service' was necessary. He wasn't defending me, nor was he defending the Afghani people. He was acting out his macho, patriotic crap and I guess someone with a bigger gun did him in."

I dunno, maybe I've forgotten something. But isn't/wasn't the Taliban and al-Qaida our enemy?

 

Anyways, I'm pretty against any sort of military conscription, but when people say things like this, I kinda wish they would go over and fight themselves. This is obviously some 20-year old punk who has absolutely no right saying anything like this. This is horribly disgusting, because I don't care if you're for the war or against the war; show some freaking respect to those who have died.

In his own neighborhood in Puerto Rico, according to Gonzalez

once again.....

 

enuff said

In his own neighborhood in Puerto Rico, according to Gonzalez

once again.....

 

enuff saidMy mother and I were talking about this. "This is gonna be GREAT for Puerto Ricans." And sure enough...thanks, Gonzalez! :thumbup

 

Also, I love how you felt you just HAD to restate your comment in the dupe post. Really. Class all the way.

In his own neighborhood in Puerto Rico, according to Gonzalez

once again.....

 

enuff said What does that mean? No there is not "nuff" said from anything. Id like you to elaborate.

 

 

Rene Gonzalez is an idiot and he accomplished EXACTLY what he wants. He wants big time publicity and he gets it from idiotic people who will jump up and down like gorillas and make it into an incedent it really isnt. Then the real special people come and start pointing out their political and ethnic stereotypes.

 

 

Listen, Pat Tillman is a hero. Thats all there is to it. Don't give this idiot a chance to ruin Pat Tillman.

In his own neighborhood in Puerto Rico, according to Gonzalez

once again.....

 

enuff said What does that mean? No there is not "nuff" said from anything. Id like you to elaborate.

 

 

Rene Gonzalez is an idiot and he accomplished EXACTLY what he wants. He wants big time publicity and he gets it from idiotic people who will jump up and down like gorillas and make it into an incedent it really isnt. Then the real special people come and start pointing out their political and ethnic stereotypes.

 

 

Listen, Pat Tillman is a hero. Thats all there is to it. Don't give this idiot a chance to ruin Pat Tillman.Exactly. The article is an abomination and disgrace, not to mention incredibly petty and unfounded. What this man did for his country?what countless other men and women are also doing?is so selfless, noble, and honorable that it should only be commended and respected. Regardless of how you feel about why they're there. Gonzalez's remarks were trivial and completely despicable. It is easy for anyone to run off at the mouth like this, but you know what? It's people like Pat Tillman who defended Gonzalez's right to do so. And I don't think that he, or any of our troops, have died in vain as Gonzalez suggests.

 

The bias AJB34 could only imply, because he wouldn't even come out and say it, is just as ignorant, I believe.

Why do we care about a neighborhood in Puerto Rico anyway? In my barrio (the polish district I reside in), he's a hero. I bet he's a hero in a lot of places. The arrogance of the statement is rather obvious.

Ahh grad students. I wonder what his thesis is in, Post-Modern Gender Paradigms in Sub-Dominant Queer Literature or Farting: Pro or Con?

What does that mean? No there is not "nuff" said from anything. Id like you to elaborate.

just like you said, no need to comment much at all, so i just threw out a stereotype thats all.

what an a**hole

Well its America the land of the irony. One guy can call him a hero and another can call him the most vile, disgusting piece of crap ever. Just like the Constitutuion can allow for Nazi's to march in Skokie, Illinois, terrorize the Jews there, and do nothing about because its free speech. Sigh, the wonders and the paradoxes of freedom of speech.