Officer: racism has no place in our military
LETTERS In response to racial slurs directed at black
cadets, the Air Force Academy’s superintendent, Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, said, “If you demean someone in any way, then you need to get out. And if you can’t treat someone from another race or a different color skin with dignity and respect, then you need to get out.” He added, “The power of diversity is what makes us powerful.”
Poppycock! The culture is why the racist cadets felt emboldened to disrespect black cadets. Racism’s dominant role in American history and culture will not be mitigated by well-meaning rhetoric. Since its founding, America has been a breeding ground for racists. Even the Founding Fathers crafted a Constitution with racist sentiments when it reduced African slaves to threefifths of a human. The racists of today are the offspring of the racists from yesterday.
Martinez, Ga.
FACEBOOK FACEBOOK.COM/ USATODAYOPINION
It still is shocking to me. The military -- which is typically hidebound, stultified and regressive about everything -- is by far the most socially progressive institution in this country.
The military doesn’t care what color you are or what your sexual preference is. As long as you are ready to fight and die, you are good enough.
That’s a pretty simple standard. One we would all benefit from learning.
So many want to politicize what should be common human decency.
Silveria was making a fairly simple statement. Nothing to do with whether someone is a Democrat or Republican, black or white, man or woman, what their sexual preference is, etc. He simply said that if you cannot treat your comrades with respect and dignity, then the Air Force is not for you and you should get out.
Pretty simple, right?