<p>Boss was born in the 20th century...all his kids are graduating in the 21st century...and he's still cooler than ol' 69.</p>
<p>Boss51, you must continue to visit us when your Cadet graduates :)</p>
<p>Jamz...well girlfriend you know how I feel :)</p>
<p>Kathy...great post...spica yea, we let our babies do their own thing, but it is through the support of parents AND the midshipmen on this site that have helped a lot of us parents to deal with the "empty nest" and first kid to college thing! Trust me, I know all to well that you cannot protect your kids and do things for them. I've had one of mine in a war zone with the Marines, with no contact for months on end but it was because of the support of other moms, dads and family members in the same boat that helped me deal with that. So,,,this is an important tool for everyone and lastly I'm just really really glad that my son choose KP over USNA and I know he'd do it again if he had to!</p>
<p>I will kick ass and take names in defense of the mighty MMA...unless they meet CGA on the field of competitive battle. Carry on boys nothing to see here.</p>
<p>"MAY THE GREAT GOD, whom I worship, grant to my country and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious victory: and may no misconduct, in anyone, tarnish it: and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British Fleet. </p>
<p>For myself Individually, I commit my life to Him who made me and may His blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my Country faithfully. To Him I resign and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend.</p>
<p>AMEN AMEN AMEN”-Adm. Nelson before going down at Trafalgar...I was named for my GF who was a salty merchant mariner originally from England...he was named for HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship. Uncle Vic as I called him always quoted Lord Nelson: "Every Englishman Must Do His Duty." Rule Brittania!</p>
<p>Vic's wife was my mom's mom, better known as Ol' 85 around the CGA...she was the hit of Parents Weekend, all 4 ft 5 of her.</p>
<p>Her mom was a slightly earthier version of 85, a gal who smoked two packs of Viceroys a day, loved her Manhattans, and ran a cocktail lounge in Miami Beach. She lived to her 80's so I hope to inherit those genes. Carry on. :D</p>
<p>BTW my son also chose CGA over USNA and USMA if you must know...he said Pops I'd rather save people's lives than take em.</p>
<p>Also Vic used to tell me stories about "ghost ships." Anyone familiar with that nautical term?</p>
<p>I should take over for Paul Harvey when he retires...I'm that good.</p>
<p>Thanks for so eloquently pointing out examples of my disrespect, naysaying, and mudslinging. However, they were slightly clouded by your inclusion of some of the following comments:</p>
<p>\
[quote]
Tailhook …………..a Jen u Whine Annapolis grad………………………. grace our presence with your lofty responses………………. You are a god.. ……………… The only interaction that I have on ships with the Navy usually involves VHF radio calls asking if they require our assistance to get them off the rocks or help rescuing teenage Japanese fishermen…………………………I am sorry you were unable to get into KP and were forced to go to Annapolis……………………………………..from lonely retirees with no life
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
..."Oh wait, this is the MMA forum standard procedure." Really? Not disrespectful?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The above example is exactly to which I am referring. I ask a legitimate question and get your snide mudslinging response. You have just provided another perfect example of the MMA forum standard procedure to which I was referring.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Bystanders who have taken neither path. Bystanders with only second-hand limited knowledge of what lies ahead..." I believe we are slinging mud
at cadet parents at this point.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You may call it mudslinging. Had you been around and read the threads of my past forays onto the MMA forum, perhaps you might understand the cause for my comments. Nevertheless, I did get a BZ from a USMMA midshipmen for this so it was not all wasted. We could rehash all our old discussions but let’s simply go to the most recent and combine your two examples:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Your response to Drab's statement that he is tired of the Naval Aviation stuff..." Great post. Thanks. As should be all those who are associated with USMMA." Are you implying that KPers should not pursue Naval flight?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I agree with a KP grad and you say that I am disrespectful to the academy. Kind of a far stretch by my thinking. A parent, with less than honorable motives, I think, was attempting to paint me into a corner with a scenario which, since it had absolutely no relevance to a Naval Aviation career, I attempted to ignore. In that you have risen to her bait, she has obviously succeeded. I did not initiate this discussion. She asked my opinion. I stated it. The Merchant Marine Academy should be to the merchant marines as West Point is to the Army and the Naval Academy is to the Navy. Secondary missions are a compromise. If I chose to respond to your comment about Capt Kelly in that the only logical conclusion would be that it is not impossible to become an astronaut by attending USMMA and Drab tells me to stop, I would agree with him. It too is irrelevant. Purdue has had 22 astronauts from it’s ROTC ranks. Do they graduate 22 times as many officers as USMMA? I doubt it. Does this prove anything? Again, I doubt it. Hundreds of astronauts from ROTC, USNA, and USAFA. Does this make these sources hundreds of times better than USMMA? Probably not. We don’t have the statistics, which, if we did, would be meaningless. So, MMA grad, let’s drop it. Disrespectful? Nope. Irrelevant? Totally. I would however hope you would agree that if some young candidate came up to you and stated that their one burning ambition since the age of six was to be an astronaut, you would not advise them initially that the USMMA was their only option.</p>
<p>And you are also correct in that every couple of years one or two individuals will turn down USNA for USMMA. I am not home this week so I don’t have my notes but of the 3 or 4 years of which I have statistics, approximately 40 or so, if I remember correctly, each year turn down USMMA for USNA. USCGA ratios are similar. It’s hard to make up stuff here. The academies do keep statistics. I don’t know where you got the impression that I was not accepted at USMMA. Since I wanted to serve my country in the military and had no interest in a civilian merchant marine career, I did not even apply. It actually never crossed my mind.</p>
<p>
[quote]
”This thread seems to imply that I am an elitist. I am being despaired because I have stated that USNA is the BEST Academy for those wishing to become Naval Officers.” </p>
<p>Did the flying monkeys make you say that? LOL It reads like you are being despaired because of your own said statement. No kidding! Reread it & see for yourself. I don’t think its what you truly meant to say so I won’t pick it to complete death. I’ll just say that surely the KP kids aren’t wasting their time running around in those dress whites all the live long day just for looks.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, I normally reread several times before I post. It is full well what I intended to say. USNA is BEST for the Navy. USAFA is BEST for the Air Force, USCGA is BEST for the Coast Guard, West Point is BEST for the Army, and USMMA is best for the merchant marines. Between flying monkeys, parrots, cake baking, and your inconsequential personal attacks, I really do have a problem understanding where exactly you are coming from and what your issues with my statement are. Do we have a problem with the definitions of “best”, “better”, “good”, “fair” , “poor”, “only”, etc.? I am really shocked that there is any discussion about this at all. “Best” implies tops, number uno, none better, none on the same level. The Navy has conducted many studies and the Naval Academy is by far the most cost effective (read ‘cheap’) source of officers. If one factors in quality of the officer combined with length of service, the cost per unit time served of the Academy grad is less than any other source. Fact. I would imagine it is the same for all the services. If not, back to my original statement, if the excessive costs of the Academies are not warranted, we taxpayers should not stand for it. So, please, pick my comment to death. What about it offends you? “Kids are running around in those dress whites” in many different programs all over the US. That, to the best of my knowledge, is not the sole criteria for the ‘best’ source of Naval Officers. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Hey, any of you guys have the number for Chuck Norris? </p>
<p>It’s been too silly all over the place for so long.</p>
<p>About 20 of 69’s last 30 posts are in the KP threads. </p>
<p>69 seems to martyr himself for the sake of a forum’s ratings, “to keep the readers coming in to watch the train wrecks & boost the numbers” </p>
<p>Apparently, common sense isn’t all that common & being mean to people…</p>
<p>well that’s just so easy a cave man can do it. </p>
<p>I appreciate all the pm’s & kudos for sinking down to an unwanted level.</p>
<p>Really does leave bad taste in my mouth. </p>
<p>Its obvious that 69 has “issues” with me, with KP & with some really cool folks on CC per the nasty pm’s he’s sent them but I fear nary a one of us here can help him “get it”. </p>
<p>This whole ugly thread really does distract from what KP folks try to do here & that’s help each other with support. </p>
<p>If it continues, I hope it stays contained in this one thread so nothing else turns so vile. </p>
<p>When it started to go down hill in our threads, </p>
<p>when a dubious outsider comes in spewing bilge,
[/quote]
</p>
<p>And I am accused of spewing bilge? And I have “issues” with you? This is nothing but a vile personal attack and it has absolutely no merit? I am sure if you provided them, we would find my downhill, sinking, bad taste, caveman, mean, nasty PM examples even more ludicrous than kawalla’s examples of my disrespect, mudslinging, and naysaying.</p>
<p>Please allow me to present a few ideas as I see them:</p>
<p>The primary purpose of these forums should be a place for our young people wishing to serve their country to come and gain insightful knowledge to assist in their informed decision making process.</p>
<p>It is a public forum where anyone should be able to express their opinions. Should those opinions come from someone with almost a half century of service academy and military experience, and the purpose of those opinions are to assist candidates in gaining insightful knowledge in making informed decisions about service academies and military careers, that person has a moral and ethical obligation to express those opinions.</p>
<p>Should a member of the forum misrepresent another by misquoting or misstating information, either by accident or intentionally, that individual should have a right to correct said misinformation.</p>
<p>With that said why do you feel the above personal attack is necessary when I was simply attempting to correct a statement which Spica made on the initial post on this thread about me which is in no way what I have ever said or ever believed? Is the MMA forum “way” truly to first unjustly attack a person’s personal opinions and then vilely attack them personally when they attempt to set the record straight? Apparently so. Why do you feel the need to stoop to such levels? And honestly, the monkeys, parrots, pirates, cakes, etc. do nothing for my ability to understand where you are coming from.</p>
<p>Will you please just go back to USNA site and leave us alone? It sure would be nice if you would. As helpful as you are sometimes, this really is unnecessary. I can assure you that we do not come over to the USNA site and post lengthy, needless posts. We are here to help other parents and potential candidates about Kings Point.......NOT USNA!!!</p>
<p>I will be more than happy to stay away so long as no one makes any unsolicited disparaging remarks about either myself or makes incorrect posts about what I have said.</p>
<p>I will be more than happy to stay away so long as you paint a true picture of the USMMA. That you do not portray it as something it is not. That you be aware that when you use terms such as "better" or "best", you are inviting comparison. That the MMA is to the merchant marine what WP is to the Army and the Naval Academy is to the Navy will receive no argument whatsoever.</p>
<p>However, cross the above lines into irresponsible postings as has been the case every time I have been here and, rest assured, I will be back. I owe it to myself not to be dispared and I owe it to the candidates to receive a fair portrait of their possibilities.</p>
<p>You say you are here to help other parents. There is a parents forum below. This forum is about the candidates. Maybe the parents should go away.</p>
<ol>
<li> My son did turn down USNA for USMMA.</li>
<li> You type really fast.</li>
<li> Are you a parent or a candidate?</li>
<li> Who died and left you boss?</li>
</ol>
<p>Hey Boss--Seton Hall '78! Go Pirates!!!</p>
<p>PS--KP Rugby coach is a "Hall" graduate too!</p>
<p>(You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl!)</p>
<p>I knew I liked you for a reason; I have a bumper sticker, "My divorce settlement and my daughter go to Seton Hall." Were you Alphi Phi? Best sorority on campus I'm told...little first-hand knowledge. I figure the week my youngest graduates from Wellesley I can start collecting Social Security. I had her when I was 42...damn that Enzyte stuff...ha ha...isn't this better than listening to a certain blow-hard pontificate? I ask you now.</p>
<p>Jersey girls rock...other alums of SHU: Dick Vitale, Moe Vaughan, Crag Biggio, John Valentin, various indicted politicians and many priests.</p>
<p>Quote from 2012kpmam: </p>
<p>"We are praying as hard as we can that our plebe gets through, but if that doesn't happen, we have been blessed to have been a part of this special place. So, in no way were we put off with these discussions. To the contrary, it helped us make a more informed decision."</p>
<p>Ditto!! and well stated!!!!</p>
<p>OT sorry this is for kathynp:</p>
<p>Annick Routhier-Labadie '08, Seton Hall's first Rhodes Scholar, heads to the University of Oxford this fall.</p>
<p>At first blush it was like a moment you might catch on ESPN's SportsCenter. A group of basketball players burst into a spontaneous locker-room party, screaming with joy and enveloping a teammate in hugs. These women weren't celebrating a key athletic victory, however, or applauding a player for a great game. They were congratulating teammate Annick Routhier-Labadie '08 on a different kind of victory; just minutes before the start of a game, she learned she had been awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.</p>
<p>“It was so cool,” recalls Routhier-Labadie, who is Seton Hall's first Rhodes Scholar. After finishing her Seton Hall coursework in just three years, Routhier-Labadie decamped to her native Quebec where she embarked on graduate studies in applied ethics at Université Laval. There, she played basketball, as she had for Seton Hall.</p>
<p>Just before a Laval game last November, Routhier-Labadie's cellphone rang. It was a representative of the Rhodes Scholarship selection committee, calling with good news, which the startled player immediately shared with her teammates. “I didn't have a really good game,” she jokes.</p>
<p>Routhier-Labadie can be forgiven for having an off day on the court. A chronic overachiever, she maintained a perfect grade-point average as a physics major at Seton Hall, worked for The Setonian, and tutored fellow students -- all while playing basketball, a commitment many have likened to a full-time job. “She is a young lady who took great advantage of the college opportunity,” says Phyllis Mangina, the University's head women's basketball coach, who recruited Routhier-Labadie from Rochebelle High School in Quebec. “It wasn't just about basketball.”</p>
<p>The diversity of Routhier-Labadie's activities and interests at Seton Hall -- she also draws and writes poetry -- reflects her status as a sort of modern-day Renaissance woman, exactly the kind of person the Rhodes Scholarship Trustees seek to reward. Cecil J. Rhodes, the British colonial pioneer who initiated the scholarships, wrote in his will that he wanted applicants who were more than “mere bookworms,” and who excelled in school, sport, fellowship and “moral force of character.”</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Ever since I read this, a visual keeps replaying in my mind. A Coast Guard cutter, on the high seas, hails a ship highly suspected to be crewed by notorious drug smugglers. The 1MC call goes out to man the boarding party. In lieu of going to the armory, they all go down and break out the humanitarian supplies, food, medicine, clothing, and maybe even a blanket or two. As they board the small boat, several of the members grab an extra life ring or two just in case one of the poor smugglers should happen to fall overboard.</p>
<p>Perhaps we can all say a little prayer tonight and be thankful there there are those who are willing to attend USNA and USMA and take lives if necessary so that we may all sleep better.</p>
<p>Well you guys, I like many others who tried, have searched & searched for where anyone in the KP community said that KP was the "best" over USNA. Nope. Nada. Nothing. I did see many many many times where it was said that KP isn't for everyone. I did see where it was often agreed that KP was a great option and that it fit some young people better per their goals. I did see much encouragement for kids to apply to all that interested them. I saw the many times that 69 would disagree with pretty much anything said. Its interesting to go back & read past postings over a period of a long time. Its pretty understandable why this thread is what it is. Maybe 69 can find us the comments made that bother him so much & post them up cause I just haven't been able to find anything like to what he refers to. We could discuss them & see what all the lather is about. </p>
<p>Kathy, I just plain ol like you.</p>
<p>Jamzmom. I am sure USNA69 can show us the link to the quote that substantiates his claim...
So, where is it? I can find the other discussion link, so that doesn't need to be reiterated. But the first one?</p>
<p>Kawalla, you questioned my statement referring to the "MMA forum way". Please go back and read the last ten or so posts. This is a perfect example. Absolutely nothing constructive. Baiting, provoking, belittling, making fun of, etc etc. Convoluting the issues. Anything but dealing with the truth. Apparently dealing with the truth is too difficult for even the most ardent parent.</p>
<p>I am not going back and wasting my time providing you with the past threads. Find them yourselves. Actually, some threads were deleted so some of them may not be there.</p>