[May 20, 2016] Army Vet reflects today on RACISM at WEST POINT.
I’m the kinda guy who is quick to reject with prejudice any idea that the U.S. military is a racist bastion like some of my liberal friends think it is (but won’t say so to my face). So it won’t be surprising that I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with soldiers who will soon enter the fight against the enemies of the United States and I’ll be quick to defend their honor. But when soldiers do something stupid, even cadets preparing to be soldiers, then I’ll say so. Such is the case with a group of 16 black female cadets at West Point who put racism on display. Was it stupidity or was it blatant racism?
The cadets made a photograph of only black women. What made it extraordinary and drew attention to it was that they all had their hands raised, fists clinched in a gesture recognized in several political movements as a power salute. U.S. black athletes did the same at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and it was quickly criticized as derogatory toward the United States’ and its participation in the Vietnam War. Today, the symbolism is associated with the Black Lives Matter movement; the same one that has called for the killing of police officers and white Americans.
My argument … whether it was plain stupidity (probably not) or actual racism (yep) is a mute point. A U.S. Army officer – which they all are aspiring to be – should neither act unprofessionally nor have the appearance of unprofessional behavior. We are taught that from day one and reinforced repeatedly throughout our formal schooling and from our teachers, coaches, peers, mentors, and superior officers that behavior that brings ill repute upon the character or reputation of our institution is very much a non-starter. Those who act that way are told to resign their commissions. Why? You are dismissing your peers as some kind of untermenchen and the U.S. Army as nothing special.
We are taught that joining any partisan or nonpartisan political club and attending its meetings, regardless whether in uniform or not, are highly restricted. The same for displaying of partisan political signs, posters, banners, etc. … your intent about its symbolic meaning is irrelevant. The bottom line is that the military is culturally neutral when it comes to politics. This is a practiced and practical philosophy that is written into its behavioral code of ethics and followed. We generally self regulate. That means whenever any military member sees or hears of another soldier who has stepped over this very clear line, we will say something about it.
There’s also a back-story to this photograph. Apparently these same female cadets had been making their voices heard “behind closed doors” to senior ranking officers and on social media (specifically Yik Yak). Sadly, we are being told that no one dares speak up in public against the black females on the photograph because they might be accused of being racist and therefore risk being expelled from the academy for hurting their feelings … no kidding! And everyone, including those in the photograph, is aware of this situation.
What has the U.S. Military Academy at West Point come to? The very place where cadets are taught to never lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do. Apparently the senior U.S. Army officers running West Point are moral cowards for their part in tolerating the behavior of 16 black female cadets. Good grief … the women are not even commissioned officers yet. The Army says they are “investigating the matter.” Hey, how about this advice – get some balls.
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