spenser rapone parents

Theres no doubt that some of the generals and higher ranked retired officers and defense contractors had avoice in this. On Monday, Rapone tweeted another picture of himself in his West Point uniform, exposing a Che Guevara T-shirt underneath with the caption In case there was any lingering doubt, hasta la victoria siempre.. Of the people who go into the military, not many people go with acomplete political formation of the world and, unfortunately, being in that world steers them acertain way. There is no better way to support this workand no better time to join. hJHICB&Y'8erMr=31yfk|17~c}\T_* 9?V{9,'Y\%?MX}'ZI#B?9`V;&sI$nx6/ 2S&D#K2:3+5,YSa1a"7'+ZvvYnzlJScC)f$':AIR1>?"b May 29, 2018 Admin. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. The saga of the commie West Point graduate took a rather strange twist yesterday when the officer who achieved a degree of fame for his scorching sworn statement about then-Cadet Spenser, with an 's,' Rapone's epic insubordination and disrespect, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Robert Heffington released a letter calling into question what is actually being instilled in young men and women . [7], Members of the Democratic Socialists of America Wholesome Meme Stash closed Facebook group, accessed November 14, 2017 included Spenser Rapone. The appropriate Command authorities are reviewing the situation, an Army spokesman said. Communist ex-Ranger and West Pointer receiving a other than honorable discharge. Prospective Students; Undergraduate Students; Graduate Studies On March 24, 2014, Rapone posted a picture of himself and Hosein in front of the Taj Mahal. New cadets hold and read booklets called 'Cadet Knowledge' during Reception Day at the United States Military Academy at West Point, June 27, 2016, in West Point, New York. One of six children growing up in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Rapone said he applied to West Point, which is tuition-free, because he couldn't afford college. So, for me, Iwas trying to resolve this contradiction because no one over here was threatening freedom or democracy or anything like that. The two apparently traveled together to India together in 2014 and maintained a close relationship until Rapone graduated in May 2016. At the time, the Army confirmed that he had previously been an enlisted soldier and a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, with one Afghanistan deployment, but that he had been removed for standards.. You have permission to edit this article. Theyre not designed to achieve any sort ofobjective. Yes, Spenser "with an s" Rapone is now a Ph.D. candidate at that hotbed of communism, University of Texas-Austin. The Navy, on the other hand, readily releases full investigations into rank-and-file sailors when their cases have become infamous. The Saga of the Commie Lieutenant Comes to an End. Theyre designed to be profitable. (Chicago), Nazir Khan (Twin Cities). The newest class of cadets enters the academy on the heels of the school graduating a record number of black women in a single class, which occurred in May. "We have averaged 290 female cadets, or 23.3 percent of the class, over the last four years and continue to strive to increase the diversity through programs like Leadership Ethics and Diversity in STEM workshops and others.". Iread anumber of his books and he helped me understand my experience. There are a lot of veterans both active duty and not that feel like I do.". Its a call for action beyond the scope of the US colonial state. S5: Episode 31 - Mike Prysner & Spenser Rapone (Podcast Episode 2018) Parents Guide and Certifications from around the world. In June, Rapone resigned and now hes out with an other-than-honorabledischarge. A search of Rapones page shows they are still Facebook friends. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. West Point first admitted women in 1976, with 62 women graduating in the class of 1980. Soon after getting to West Point, Isaw that this was astructural problem across the military and that the military itself, its material relation to power, serves the capitalist class. Then there was the move to an all-volunteer force and thats interesting because asubstantial number of Vietnam resisters were volunteers. Top brass at Fort Drum accepted Rapone's resignation Monday after an earlier reprimand for "conduct unbecoming of an officer." As a Sustainer, you'll never have to worry about renewal notices, or fundraising appeals. Its out there now and Ithink the narrative of this is starting to shift alittle bit, which is good because people are starting to understand my experience. Iwasnt quite asocialist yet, but Iknew Iwas against the war. As a reader-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit, In These Times does not oppose or endorse candidates for political office. When you study the role of the United States and the British and the French pre-dating them, you start to understand what imperialism really is. He applied to be a West Point cadet and at that time he as not selected. The day after Iposted the pictures, my chain of command approached me, read me my rights, and told me Icould talk right now or wait for an attorney, so of course Iwaited for an attorney. Vice President Mike Pence called the class of 2019 the most diverse in West Point's history during the commencement address. But Iwas kind of stuck at that point because after your second year, you have to do whats called affirmation. If Idropped at that point, Iwould either be kicked back into the enlisted ranks or be forced to find away to pay for West Point. A spokeswoman for the 10th Mountain Division confirmed that Rapone had started Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia near Columbus in February 2017 but did not complete the course. Previously, he served as the director of Public Education for the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago. Inspired by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who famously took aknee to protest police violence, Rapone wore aChe Guevara T-shirt to his West Point graduation in May 2016 and turned his cap over to reveal the hand-scrawled message, Communism willwin.. So, Istarted reading theory. So, theres this combination of an all-volunteer army, the post-9/11 era further instituting our religion of civic patriotism, and then the anti-war movement getting co-opted by liberal movements not interested in structural change. It seeks to create astateless, classless, moneyless society. Of the incoming class, 180 were African American, 145 were Hispanic Americans, 99 were Asian Americans and 19 were Native Americans. When the U.S. invaded Iraq, there was an anti-war movement, but when Obama ran as anti-war candidate, his election took the wind out of the sails. =Vj)G+1dv @(V(%4=}Xlp$*NIS[1#J G>2_#bS *GKACk{:XV%3,AKej QUI>0!v mR Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com. 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Most of the guys Iwas witheven and especially the leadershiprelished in the fact that we could kill human beings. Rapone came under fire last year for his social media posts of socialist and communist content. One of six children growing up in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Rapone said he applied to West Point, which is tuition-free, because he couldnt afford college. But then Igot deployed to Afghanistan, and my experience overseas showed me that if anything, Iwas making adifference for those with power and wealth. His Facebook, where he goes under Giuseppe Impastato, was private. Sign up to become a Sustainer before the deadline and take advantage of our best offer ever. SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Parents Allowed to Collect Sperm From Son Killed Skiing, 'Commie Cadet' Spenser Rapone Discharged From U.S. Army, West Point Marries First Active-Duty, Same-Sex Couple, Trump Ramps up Attacks on DeSantis: 'Dropping Like a Rock', Russian Strikes on Pavlohrad Aim to Hamper Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low', Democrat Sold First Republic Stock, Bought JP Morgan Before Collapse, Conservative Influencers Struggle With Countering Biden's Messaging. Spenser Rapone, a former second lieutenant whose Communism Will Win photo rocked the internet in 2017 after being featured by this publication, has received an Other Than Honorable discharge from the U.S. Army. I started to think, If Iwere aguy in Afghanistan, how would Ifeel about this? Ithink its no secret that many people in America would take great umbrage if someone was walking through their homes. In regards to my son Spenser Rapone, I disavow his political views and overall politics. His expulsion came after a viral tweet showing him clad in uniform, fist raised displaying a hat reading, "COMMUNISM WILL WIN." No political movement can be healthy unless it has its own press to inform it, educate it and orient it. Despite his growing disillusionment about the military, he applied and got in. Some of the people who respect the troops are also the ones who most want to privatize the VA. Are there more restrictions against certain kinds of speech after 9/11? Join our brand new verified AMN Telegram channel and get important news uncensored. Im amember of the DSA, so Iwant to get involved with socialist politics and affect some change. Yes, Rory Fanning Ive had correspondence with for awhile. Copyright 2023 by the Institute for Public Affairs (EIN: 94-2889692). Right: Army Private First Class Spenser Rapone receiving his "Ranger Scrol" patch after completing Ranger Assessment and Selection Program in 2011. . As described by The Red Nation, The Red Deal is not a counter program of the GND. However, the percentage of female cadets has remained largely unchanged for the past four years, averaging between 22 and 24 percent of the class. The so-called Commie Cadet was anything but acommunist at the start of his militarycareer. Now through Monday, sign up to become a Sustainer for just $5 a month and you'll receive your choice of one of three booksas well as an ongoing subscriptions (10 issues a year) to the print magazine. They compiled all the things Ive said, the subversive things Ive said about Trump and various elected officials like General Mattis, and essentially gave me anumber of options. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, West Point said in a statement released Tuesday. Similar to me, after he did his training and found himself overseas, he realized the harsh reality of what the American military was and formed his own opinions. Click here for reprint permission. A review of Rapones Facebook page shows that over time, since 2014, his posts became increasingly anti-racism, anti-Israel, pro-Muslim, pro-Communist, anti-military, and anti-police. <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> racist or sexually-oriented language. Spenser Rapone, a former second lieutenant whose "Communism Will Win" photo rocked the internet in 2017 after being featured by this publication, has received an "Other Than Honorable" discharge from the U.S. Army. Rapone is listed as one of the speakers for Socialism 2018, which is slated for early July in Chicago. Ill probably be doing some learning and listening to some activists who have been doing this longer than Ihave to find my place inthis. You start to see why these wars are endless. [8], DSA Veterans Working Group Statement on Afghanistan. Army." It was more about taking pleasure in going out every night and killing people with impunity. West Point released a statement after Rapone posted the photos, saying his actions in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army. And U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, called on the secretary of the Army to remove Rapone from the officer ranks. Back in 2018, images of Spenser Rapone at his West Point graduation went viral. Then, Iwant to get active. Among other activities, Soldiers are encouraged to vote in elections and express their personal opinions on public issues. Along with domestic cadets, the newest class includes cadets from more than a dozen countries, including Columbia, Egypt, Rwanda and Thailand. Today, his Twitter account is again public. "I knew there could be repercussions," said Rapone, who is scheduled to speak at a socialism conference in Chicago next month. So Istarted to think of what Icould do and then 10 months after Trump was elected, Colin Kaepernick lost his job essentially. Hosein was tagged in the picture, suggesting they were Facebook friends at the time. Another figure whos had abig influence on me was Stan Goff. He ultimately resigned his commission, and was separated from the Army in June 2018 with an Other Than Honorable discharge.. Helicopters crashed in mountains, fair weather, Army says, Army Special Ops Command welcomes first female command sergeant major, Army identifies 3 soldiers killed in Alaska helicopter crash, Army grounds helicopter fleet for force-wide safety stand down. Contents 1 Austin academic 2 DSA resolution on Red Deal 3 Socialism 2018 4 Radical soldier 5 DSA solidarity 6 DSA Veterans Closed Facebook Group 7 DSA Veterans Working Group Statement on Afghanistan 8 Altmire support 9 Socialist Punk Caucus This public. On March 23, 2014, Rapone posted about anti-corporatism and racism. West Point graduate and now former Army infantry officer Spenser Rapone has been processed out of the U.S. Army and received an other than honorable discharge from the military after a photo he posted with his West Point cap and the words Communism will win went viral. After the photo garnered widespread attention on Twitter, West Point quickly issued a statement distancing itself from Rapone. %PDF-1.7 Use the 'Report' link on In total, this signified about a four percent increase in minority enrollment, equal to about 43 people, compared to the previous year. The Army wont say. In fact, Ididnt really find what we were being told in America to be reflective of what was really going on in Afghanistan. Rapone had previously deployed to Afghanistan where he received a Combat Infantryman Badgemeaning he has fought in active ground combat. On the other hand, many people reached out and showed me support. The military began investigating Mr. I have not been in touch with him in the years since the appointment, and I was shocked and extremely disappointed in the recent reports of his indefensible actions.. Uz\`QT2#!dkscS. I was still idealistic, he said. I figured maybe I could change things from inside.. Ithink thats acrucial part of it and why Idid what Idid. In my own unit, Isaw no commitment to learning about the Afghan people or trying to understand them or their culture. This time Rapone's father himself publicly weighed in on his son's gross comments and anti-American sentiment, according to the Daily Caller. "While in uniform, Spenser Rapone advocated for communism and political violence, and expressed support and sympathy for enemies of the United States," Rubio said Monday, adding "I'm glad to see that they have given him an 'other-than-honorable' discharge.". At West Point, Irealized Imight be asocialist. U.S. Army spokesperson Valerie Mongello stressed this point to American Military News, noting, Both the Department of Defense and the Army have long-standing policies encouraging Soldiers to participate in the democratic process. Then American society and political culture influences you because we are constantly slapped with patriotism and respecting the troops. What does that even mean? Imean, he had acorrespondence with NoamChomsky. The Army confirmed that Rapone graduated from West Point in 2016 and is now serving as a second lieutenant with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based in Fort Drum, New York. 7hVccY[2a/;#mD.RA$1Q2J&`"(P&UX IdYFajS0 Odu&3 ofc,bc1RJfb{w5!s/d J/dSDi(hED1+@Iw/[6[*A|lx=` = _s[}ec88vvW='H(}edW+],stTCbe_X^AjQ@&=62ccl/vo`S!ds^"Mc!dfFfYZmg;Xyx@n#|1_P ~io Ux!ZZ{g+vN=;+t~:!Q]xIBUp^f+m`3T-(X'3wpdE]2 ^ n@]fn`7|E Trump and other right wingers also still trot out Pat Tillman as asymbol. Low around 35F. Richard L. Rapone explained that Spenser tried to join West Point straight out of high school but was not accepted. At the time, he was an outstanding, well-rounded student who came from a good family. "I would encourage all soldiers who have a conscience to lay down their arms and join me and so many others who are willing to stop serving the agents of imperialism and join us in a revolutionary movement. Spenser Rapone, U.S. Army. Top brass at Fort Drum accepted Rapones resignation Monday after an earlier reprimand for conduct unbecoming of an officer., Rapone said an investigation found he went online to advocate for a socialist revolution and disparage high-ranking officers. In another, he raises his fist and flips his cap to reveal the message: "Communism will win." The Army Times reports in 2018: that is degrading to another person. Rapone has also tweeted a number of provocative statements, including calling Defense Secretary Jim Mattis the most vile, evil f*ck in the current administration on June 7 from Columbus, Georgia. Spenser is my son and I love him dearly however I do not like nor condone his politics, his actions or behavior., Rapone has a long background of support for far-left extremism, even going so far as to promote communism while in uniform. Rapones Twitter account, where he tweets as @punkproletarian, was previously set to protected while the investigation ran its course. Hoseins bio on the West Point website lists Rapone as one of two cadets he last advised at West Point. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. Throughout this whole process, the military has certain ways of coercing you, so there was always athreat of morepunishment. The class of 2022 included 400 minority cadets, among them 186 African Americans, 104 Hispanic Americans, 99 Asian Americans and 11 Native Americans, according to West Point. There were no red flags of any kind.". But he wasnt accepted to West Point, so Rapone enlisted in the Army. Follow him on Twitter: @punkproletarian. He completed Air Assault School and then applied successfully to West Point.[2]. Don't Threaten. Rapone has admitted being a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has even posted pictures showing his membership card alongside his military name patch. Rapones activism while in uniform appears to be much broader than those two photos. The U.S. Military Academy strives to develop leaders who internalize the academys motto of Duty, Honor, Country, and who live the Army values,West Point said in a statement released Tuesday. Be Truthful. The two appear to have traveled together to the Taj Mahal in March 2014, according to pictures posted on his Facebook page. Two weeks later, they issued me my discharge papers and Ileft. Spenser R. Rapone Graduate Student, Department of History, University of Texas at Austin 128 Inner Campus Dr. B7000, GAR 1.104, Austin, Texas 78712-1739 p. (512) 471-3261 e. srrapone@utexas.edu Education University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas (Via Twitter). At West Point, Hosein had mentored Rapone. As of Friday, his account was public again. In the simplest of terms, Ifelt like we were the big bully and the purveyor of violence. Army Commie Cadet Gets Promoted to 1LT. The saga of communist sympathizing Second Lieutenant Spenser Rapone keeps on going, and with every turn it looks worse for Rapone. Several years ago, I met Spenser Rapone when he was a high school student seeking an appointment to West Point, Altmire said. According to photos on Rapones Facebook page, he became close to Hosein, a Ph.D. in Islamic history from the University of Chicago. An other than honorable discharge means Rapone will not be entitled to VA benefits or the GI Bill. He went viral after posting a photo to Twitter of himself in support of professional football player Colin Kaepernick, where Rapone is seen in his West Point uniform at graduation holding his cap that contains a piece of paper that says Communism will win.. The United States Army is so impressed with Spenser Rapone, they decided to promote him to first lieutenant. U*Z|rqO Officially, the Army said in a statement only that it conducted a full investigation and appropriate action was taken., An unrepentant Rapone summed up the fallout in yet another tweet Monday that showed him extending a middle finger at a sign at the entrance to Fort Drum, accompanied by the words, One final salute., I consider myself a revolutionary socialist, the 26-year-old Rapone told The Associated Press. Local man, West Point grad talks about ouster from Army, Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. [6], Members of Democratic Socialists of America's Socialist Punk Caucus closed Facebook group, accessed November 24, 2017, included Spenser Rapone. Im probably going to take some time to decompress and process all Ive been through. <> Money Minute, What's next for experimental AI projects in the C4ISR sphere. Many other military personnel also tweeted in favor of Kaepernick, although most were supporting free speech, not communism. Rapone, whose Twitter handle is punkproletarian, recently retweeted posts from Rory Fanning, an ex-Army Ranger who says he will be interviewing Rapone at the conference Socialism 2018., At Socialism 2018 Ill be sitting down with with Spenser Rapone, the US Army Ranger, Afghan-war combat vet, recent West Point graduate, and now war-resister, who sparked nation-wide fury after publicly supporting Colin Kaepernick and Socialism during his West Point graduation. At worst, however, Cadet Rapones statements bespeak either a severe mental or psychological disorder, or a genuine commitment to values and ideals wholly at odds with those of West Point and the Army, he added. Spenser Rapone was like a character who stepped out of a Bruce Springsteen song. In addition to classic socialist theorists such as Karl Marx, Rapone says he found inspiration in the writings of Stan Goff, a retired Special Forces master sergeant who became a socialist anti-war activist. The Intelligentsia, the caption read. He is also a teaching assistant, which gives him a platform to inflict his twisted worldview upon students who might think that if they don't go along, their grades could suffer. On August 7, Rapone posted a photo on his Instagram account of himself in his Army uniform wearing a Democratic Socialists of America Membership card that says, official socialist organizer.. Hes an exceptional soldier, the Twitter account, @DSAVeterans, wrote. He was an idealistic teenager from the rural Rust Belt town of New Castle, Pennsylvania (literally the Fireworks Capital of America), who embraced patriotic jingoism and enlisted in the army straight out of highschool. There were no red flags of any kind.. Oops, this content can't be loadedbecause you're having connectivity problems, - The Washington Times - Friday, June 8, 2018. The class of 2023 saw about a four percent increase in minority representation. Robert Heffington, a former lieutenant colonel and West Point instructor who met Mr. Rapone, told the website that his online ideological screeds reveal the philosophical infatuations of a precocious adolescent in a best-case scenario. With all their political gamesmanship, lawmakers forget that real human lives are often on the line. At that point, again, Iwanted nothing to do with the military because Ifind their rule morally reprehensible and ethically unsound, so Isubmitted my resignation. ;Z*A.,Gr+UYn>SYQel:2>pUpk'+0?@t %*-m,}'~3tWhWwOVM81&:OFGy]$F%xG7*8QjVy(q\-`m'ge(|bUWn`K.O;wu^+r>;Y?^Uba-g2Ia$qYXP}mjCGNq0sy5ElUAiWe -H/r| >a~SuPc;*}{Mf.B@I}\)T|] 3 0 obj He posted January 18 on Facebook, May we all learn from her example of what integrity and strength of conviction truly entails.. Rapone was an infantry officer in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y. ", "I consider myself a revolutionary socialist," the 26-year-old Rapone told The Associated Press. ", An unrepentant Rapone summed up the fallout in yet another tweet Monday that showed him extending a middle finger at a sign at the entrance to Fort Drum, accompanied by the words, "One final salute. Take the story of Gas Turbine Systems Technician 3rd Class Peter Mims an E-4 whose disappearance sparked a massive man overboard search last year. Rapone is scheduled to speak in July at a Socialism 2018 conference in Chicago, where he and fellow far-lefty Rory Fanning, an ex-Army ranger, will appear together in a "War Resister in the . Applicants to West Point must receive a nomination for their applications to be considered. Id have to file aFOIA request to figure anything out, but Ithink he may have moved the needle alittle bit.

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