Nobles and knaves

Nobles: Pat Tillman, for a life of sacrifice and a death of service.

Pat Tillman had made many sacrifices before he offered his most sacred sacrifice in Afghanistan on Thursday. Like others sent overseas to serve their nation amid fears and firefights, Pat Tillman left behind many loved ones, including his wife, whom he married shortly before enlisting in 2002.

He had also sacrificed his professional football career. A starting safety with the Arizona Cardinals, Pat Tillman chose a starting salary of under $13,000 per year with the Army over a three-year, $3.6 million contract with the Cardinals. He is thought to be the first professional athlete in the modern era to make such a sacrifice.

Fearing that his participation might be seen as a publicity stunt, Pat Tillman took pains to take himself out of the spotlight. He refused all media interviews. He even refused officer training, preferring to start as a private. His worth still shone through. When he graduated from infantry training at Ft. Benning, Ga., he was picked as the standard-bearer for his company. For his service, you chose him as the 2002 Noble of the Year.

Subsequently, Pat Tillman became an Army Ranger and was sent to Afghanistan. He left his life as he had lived it, in service and in honor. As former Arizona Cardinals head football coach Dave McGinnis, a close friend of Pat Tillman, said, “Pat knew his purpose in life. He proudly walked away from a career in football to a greater calling, which was to protect and defend our country.”

For his committment, his courage and his sacrifice, the late Pat Tillman is the Noble of the week.

Knaves: The D.C. Council, for choosing the failed status quo over students.

On Tuesday, the D.C. Council defeated Mayor Anthony Williams’ attempt to take control of the dreadful D.C. school system. Mr. Williams’ proposal would have given him the power to hire — and fire — a superintendent and made the board an advisory body, but it was turned down by a 9-4 vote.

The District spends more money on its students than practically any other jurisdiction, and yet consistently fails to educate them. One-third of D.C. high school students drop out before they graduate; those who stay regularly lag behind their peers in test scores.

The mayor was so serious about fixing those failures that he promised to resign if, having been given the necessary authority, he could not turn the schools around. The council still refused. After the vote, members even had the temerity to blame the mayor for not lobbying hard enough for his proposal.

A few of the nine council members who voted for continued failures might be persuaded to change their minds before the final vote on the measure on May 4. Readers should encourage them to do so: Carol Schwartz, 202-724-8105; Kevin Chavous, 202-724-8097; Linda Cropp, 202-724-8032; Phil Mendelson, 202-724-8064; Jim Graham, 202-724-8181; Kathy Patterson, 202-724-8062; Adrian Fenty, 202-724-8052; Sandy Allen, 202-724-8055; Harold Brazil, 202-724-8792.

For voting to stick D.C. students with the status quo, the D.C. Council is the Knave of the week.