I think he might have meant that comment in a slight sarcastic way.
My understanding from reading the entire thread is he did.
That said to those with all the "man up" comments here I'd just say I think you are are being a little naive here. As noted it's not like back in the day when we went through a "regime change" once every 5 years or so ....
Also though to those commenting about how you hope the Class of 2013 and 2014 don't totally get callous, sort of alluding to you think they might have cause, and stop supporting or never donate, etc in the future ... I'll just say, personal opinion as a current Class Gift Chair: they should not do so - it's (giving) not about "you" it's about affording others the same sort of opportunities that you have been and/or were afforded or better. That said I've rambled on this before I hear all sorts of reasons as to why my classmates choose to give, not give, restrict their donations, etc. I suspect ten, twenty and thirty one years from now the Class of 2013's gift chair will hear them all and many of the same ones I hear today as well - regardless of whether they and their classmates feel good or not this week, month or year and/or remember how they felt today when they are being asked to give.
The bizarre thing to me is that apparently some members of the current Class of 2013 feel for whatever reason they can and should advise others not to follow in their footsteps to and through the USMMA, no because of the options and opportunities they are seeing the recently graduated Class of 2012 have but because they are unhappy about such transitory things as the liberty policy and/or backpacks, etc. The reason it's bizarre to me is I look at the academic and test score profile of these young men and women's entering class and it would seem to me they would approach this whole current situation a little more unemotionally and logically - looking at the prize not the current challenges. I'd also suggest that in whatever way that each family and parent - those who best know the young men and women who may feel this way - do their best to help in enabling them to get through it. The prize is worth the journey, it really is.
That said telling them to "man-up" oversimplifies the entire situation. There is no doubt that for them once again the rules have changed. For the most part we who are parents of the recently graduated Class of 2012 , and 2011 saw, dealt with and had to help our children deal with it. As individuals there were changes we agreed with and/or didn't agree with. To a fair degree I think it is fair and smart to point out to those living through this, the situation is not unique to USMMA or Service Academies - look at the recent situation with the President of UVA, etc. There are lots of things in life where you do indeed have to plow through it. My opinion, and what I passed to my son and his 2012 Classmates when these sorts of things came up (between 7/7/2009 and 6/18/2012) was, as long as what you are driving towards in the way of goals and the likelihood of ultimate success is there and worth it to you find a coping mechanism or release that works for you and plow on.
Maybe that's saying man-up maybe it's not, I don't know, but not my point or suggestion. I do think it was presenting them an understanding and sympathetic ear and offering the only real support I felt I could that might help them get past it all to and through graduation. Thankfully, they all did and now are onto the next chapter of what look like they will be successful, happy lives.
Just one man's opinion/suggestion and we all know what those are like
