www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-oped-1223-rumsfeld-20101222,0,5189780.story
chicagotribune.com
Grumpy old man or kitten with a whip
By Cory Franklin
4:57 PM CST, December 22, 2010
New Trier High School has outraged a lot of people with the nomination of Donald Rumsfeld for its new Hall of Honor.
Some students and New Trier grads say that the two-time U.S. secretary of defense should be denied the recognition because he was a principal in the Iraq War and architect of a controversial foreign policy.
The Facebook-based petition "New Trier Alumni Against Rumsfeld's 'Achievement Award'" has drawn more than 400 digital signatures.
"As a 1970 alumni (sic) of New Trier West, I oppose Rumsfeld getting this or any other award," wrote one woman on the group's wall. "He is a liar and warmonger."
Me, I'm outraged at the exclusion of one of New Trier's finest graduates.
How you can leave out Ann-Margret?
Let's compare the qualifications of Donald Rumsfeld and Ann-Margret:
College:
Ann-Margret — Northwestern (left to go into show business, good career move).
Donald Rumsfeld — Princeton.
Military Service:
Ann-Margret — several USO tours entertaining front-line troops in Vietnam, during height of war.
Donald Rumsfeld — peacetime duty only, limited to the United States.
Key Points on Resume:
Ann-Margret — "Viva Las Vegas," "Bye Bye Birdie," "Carnal Knowledge," "Tommy" and "Kitten With a Whip." Also played herself as Ann-Margrock on "The Flintstones."
Donald Rumsfeld — Iraq War, Abu Ghraib.
Nominations:
Ann-Margret — nominated for two Academy Awards, six Emmys, two Grammys, 10 Golden Globes. Won five Golden Globes and an Emmy.
Donald Rumsfeld — nominated for vice president at 1976 Republican convention. Got one vote.
Notable Admirers:
Ann-Margret — John Kennedy, Elvis Presley.
Donald Rumsfeld — Richard Nixon, George W. Bush.
Relationship With Military:
Ann-Margret — a favorite of the troops, did an encore show in 2005 at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, refers to veterans as "my gentlemen."
Donald Rumsfeld — several generals and admirals disliked him so much they asked him to resign as secretary of defense.
Relationship to Grumpy Old Men:
Ann-Margret — starred as object of desire in the movie.
Donald Rumsfeld — played one in real life.
Important Factoid:
Ann-Margret — ranked No. 10 by Empire Magazine in rating of 100 Sexiest Stars in film history.
Donald Rumsfeld — had to be persuaded not to edit his own Wikipedia entry.
Telling Quote:
Ann-Margret — married to her husband, who has the neuromuscular disorder myasthenia gravis, for 43 years, on the joy of her private life: "I've always wanted to entertain people. And I have been married for 43 years. That's what I'm so proud of."
Donald Rumsfeld — on the press: "If I know the answer, I'll tell you the answer. And if I don't, I'll just respond cleverly."
New Trier students and grads can argue all day about whether to include Rumsfeld.
But deny Ann Margret? That's a crime.
Cory Franklin is a New Trier parent who lives in Wilmette.
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
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Being happy–is it good for the Jews? "Before Professor Dershowitz accused me of being an anti-Semite (news to me), I was a happy person. Since then, I'm still a happy person". –Michael Santomauro
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