Marine two-star under investigation for using a racial slur
Maj Gen Stephen Neary
ninja sent in this news;
The two-star general in charge of U.S. Marines in Europe and Africa is under investigation for allegations that he used a racial slur during a recent training event with his troops, the Corps said Friday.
“We are aware of the allegations,” said Capt. Joseph Butterfield, a Marine Corps spokesman. “The Marine Corps takes all allegations of misconduct seriously, regardless of rank, and appropriate actions will be taken if the allegations are substantiated.”
The Marine Corps confirmation came in response to questions from Stars and Stripes about whether Maj. Gen. Stephen Neary, who commands Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, used a derogatory term for Blacks in the presence of other Marines.
“When allegations are made against a Marine, each Marine is afforded due process,” Butterfield said. “There is no additional information available at this time pending the conclusion of the investigation.”
Multiple Marines in the Stuttgart area, where MAFOREUR is based, brought the matter to the attention of Stars and Stripes after talk of the incident swirled throughout the headquarters during the past week.
The Marine Corps did not go into detail about the nature of the incident, but did not deny the accusation against Neary is that he used a racial slur. Neary remains in command, Butterfield said.
Seems odd that a two-star would use a derogatory term as part of a large training lecture. I’ll put my money on he said it, but when viewed in context it’ll be totally appropriate and understandable. Even if it is an unfounded complaint, the General’s career is likely done. Judging by his bio and fruit salad, he’s done plenty of shit worth his current assignment. His bio says he commanded 3/8th Marines, leading them in combat during OIF III in Fallujah and OIF V in Ramadi.
Source; Stars and Stripes
Category: Guest Link, Marine Corps, Marines, ninja
As a fellow NDSM brother I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
If General Neary said “******,” then, goddammit, say that he said “******.” Follow that up immediately with an explanation of how and why he used that word. Don’t use euphemisms. Don’t sugar-coat it. Say it like an adult.
I can’t find a single news source that will quote, exactly, both what the general said and why he said it. So I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume he was quoting some piece of popular culture, likely a song that he happened to hear.
I’m further assuming that he then used the word in a teaching point as an example of something that should be universally objectionable and unacceptable in the US military.
If so, Kudos for General Neary, despite the fact that he should have known better than to put himself at risk the way he did.
On the other hand, the brass that relieved him and probably ended his exemplary career can kiss my ass.
If I’ve gotten the gist of the situation right, all I can say is, what a bunch of pussies we’ve turned into.
And if I’ve gotten the story wrong, I apologize.
Name edited to protect PII. Offensive content edited.
AW1
John T:
The REST of the Story.
You Be The Judge.
Perhaps the update to Mason’s post can become another post for possible comments?
“Marine Corps General Under Investigation For Using Racial Slur Is Relieved of Command”
https://www.stripes.com/news/marine-corps-general-under-investigation-for-using-racial-slur-is-relieved-of-command-1.649236
“The incident occurred in August on the parade field outside Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa headquarters in Boeblingen, Germany.”
“A lance corporal who was present told Stars and Stripes that Neary used the N-word while Marines were doing physical training outdoors with loud music playing.”
“Some of the rap music incorporated the word, which prompted Neary to ask the junior Marines how they would feel if he said it, the lance corporal said.”
“The Marine, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said Black, white and Latino Marines were jolted when the general said the word.”
“Even if Neary was attempting to be instructive about the taboo nature of the word, it came as a shock to hear it from a white general officer, the lance corporal said.”
“He lost respect right there,” the Marine said.”
Okay, so what “word” did this fellow allegedly use? Was it the “G” word, or the “N” word, or the “BB” word or….. I’m out of ideas here.
I’m getting tired of the “I’m special” spoiled brat attitude bubbling around these days. Most of the butt-hurt stuff is made up out of dust bunnies and apple peels, and those who shout the loudest are the ones who always bring it up first.
“You bunch of Crackers!”
probably not … but that would be funny.
Tell us what the word-that-shall-not-be-named is and we’ll figure it out, Stars and Stripes.
Although I can understand the offensiveness involved, on the surface some things are weird in today’s society.
Blacks have appropriated a certain word and tonal inflection and if used by someone else there goes their job, career, and life. Apparently, it is fine to use that word as a noun, verb, adjective, pronoun, and insert it 2-3 times into every sentence, or lace it into rap lyrics if you are black. As blacks put it – they own that word.
What if someone was a geography teacher and mispronounced a country in Africa? Gone.
What if a black person asks a white person if they want to go eat at Cracker Barrel? Is that grounds for them having their lives ruined?
No, it is context and context is reserved for a privileged few to evaluate but not everybody is granted this. Notice I used the word ‘privilege.’
Then, the other irony in today’s society is someone could sit at a keyboard and based on a unique combination of keystrokes could have men in black crash through their apartment windows and haul them off to jail kicking and screaming – later charged with hacking.
What if my cat walked across my keyboard and hit a unique combination of keys and spelled out a word everyone takes exception to – and they come after me? What if they knock down my door only to discover I’m black and I was experimenting with lyrics to a new rap song?
It is wrong to degrade other people. But where is the line drawn in regard to promoting words to sell music or enhance street cred and using those same words to make a point or describe a restaurant?
The answer is I don’t know where that line is drawn but there are more than enough people out there willing to enforce that line.
What’s to stop me from saying “Cracker, please.” or “Come’on man, help a cracker out.” Does that mean I own that word?
KITTY – GET OFF MY KEYBOARD!
words are not offensive. They remain and will always be just words. Although words may be the annunciation of truth, they can also be nothing more than sound in the air…
However, any word, idea, or action can be “offensive” if I choose to be offended.
Which is the real heart of the problem. There is big money in being offended.
Which is sad.
the real question–what is meant by the use of the word–well that matters little if the word itself is the sole focus or if the intent and meaning are to be provided by those raking in those big offended bucks.
This guy may be a schmuck with bad intent…but that would likely have been revealed long before now.
And of course, the offensive word or remark may be a correct understanding of the actual enemies we might face in the Levant or Eastern Europe…because (cover your ears, darlin)…Yes, the Russians and Ukrainians are corrupt and deceitful, the Turks are becoming jihidists, and Syria is a shithole.
“What if my cat walked across my keyboard”
Butt dialing 911 is a major problem for LE.
Or is it a feature?
There is no excuse, no explanation, no force on earth that is
going to keep them from paying you a visit. And the more you
beg them not to the more assetts that will show up.
State police, county sherrif, game wardens, fire wardens and
a host of other assets are coming to “make sure you are safe”.
I hear it on the scanner daily.
God forbid you use a racial slur during the process.
That will bring out even more assets such as Dept of human services
to remove the children from the home. While they are on the way a “history”
of “contact” with the subject will be done. Is he code “F”? Does
he have any weapons in the house?
“Be advised subject has history of night hunting violation”
Ok, I’m done.
And if you are in Group W…
. . . where they put you if you may not be moral enough to join the Army after committin’ your special crime . . . .
Or have 57 8×10 color glossy photographs, with circles, and arrows, and a paragraph on the back of each one!
…father rapers!
So I can’t call an Italian a dago, huh? I can’t use the term “Johnny Crapaud” around soldats Francais? It’s verboten to refer to a German troop as a böser täuschen?
Well, that just takes the fun right out of slang.
Something very similar happened to this guy:
https://reason.com/2020/09/03/usc-communications-professor-on-a-short-term-break-for-giving-chinese-word-neige-as-example/
From what I’ve read about the case, he’s not only not wrong about the use of the word “neige”, he’s also pronouncing it right. UFB
I’m confused. In French, “neige” means snow and is pronounced “nehzh”. In Mandarin, it means “cabinet” and is pronounced “nay-gyuh”.
I’m sure there are other examples of words spelled alike, pronounced differently, and all offensive as Hell to the ignorant and intentionally uninformed twerps who refuse to learn about anything outside their corrupted view of life.
What a pity that they can’t expand their brains a little. They must have cement encasing their tiny minds.
How sad.
Oops, left out this additional Mandarin meaning for ‘neige’, which is “government”.
My bad, sorry.
Yeah, I was thinking about him too! Several black students who claim they have been to China say he mispronounces something to make it sound like an offensive term to them. However the Chinese students who attended the class all said he pronounced it spot on, and don’t understand where the black students could have mixed the two up!
Since I am white, apparently I can’t be offended when appropriates some of my culture, or takes offense at it!
About as ignorant as few other posters here. Sounds like you would like permission to use words because some dumb fucking rapper used it.
Also sound as if you never had a black friend in your life but you would be willing to sa: “I am not a racist, my best friend was black!”
Just crawl under a rock and die already. Might be doing the world a favor when you look for justifications to use a word that seems to had a negative connotations for quite some time.
RE: “Sounds like you would like permission to use words because some dumb fucking rapper used it.”
Wrong. If you are offended by it, don’t promote it was my point. It would be forgotten if not kept alive.
Classy *cough* comeback. So what about you? You’re the appropriate police, I take it? The voice of reason. The defender of all things right and good. Pack sand.
Nope some of you are just closet racist waiting to direct that misguided anger against your fellow black and minority soldiers. Let us not pretend there are not racist Confederate losers or actual rapist and murderers in the military.
What? Just because black people use that word, doesn’t give others the right to. White people created that term. Cracker Barrel is the name of a restaurant. It all comes down to knowledge/intent. If someone legitimately does not know how to pronounce Niger, that’s an honest mistake (unlikely). I don’t know what is to stop you from saying cracker, other than wanting to sound stupid. Comparing the two words is ridiculous.
Name edited to protect PII.
AW1
Oh Lawd, halp! Did the Gen’ral Culturally Misappropriate a word? Is the 55 gallon drum of butt hurt cream not big enough now-a-days? Do we need to be ordering it by the tanker truck load now?
No matter how the “investigation” turns out the Gen’ral’s career is gonna be toast. After what all he has seen and gone thru, I would doubt that he is skeered. Pissed off, yeah. Screw ’em Good Sir, and go and enjoy your retirement.
In keeping with the same thought processes that tshe has above, back about 20 years ago, the Company set up a Conversational Spanish Class for a number of us who had to come in contact with Hispanic Customers that spoke very little or no English. The Instructor was a true Mexican of mixed Spanish, Indian (Apache), and black descent from the Chirihaura(sp?) State. Pretty little fun sized gal, smart as a whip lash. Anyhow, since the class was to be taught 100% in Spanish she made Spanish translations name tags for everyone. Oh the hue and cry when two of the class females got their name tags with the Spanish version of Mrs. ____ Brown and Mrs _____ Black. Was one of my FIRST (ht 2 R-D) intros to the whole SJW Butthurt crowd. And nope, when the end of the class graduation dining in was decided on we didn’t go to Cracker Barrel.
No, he didn’t, 5th/77th. He had a class populated with people whose brains are frozen into something the size of a pea, who are unwilling to learn anything new and who are offended by every living thing on earth. They will NEVER get out of kindergarten and will throw perpetual screaming fits over nothing, until some day, no one wants to have anything to do with them.
They need their own island where they can communicate with each other in words of one syllable or less.
I’m offended that they are offended and refuse to learn anything new.
Okay, 5th/77th, which offensive Spanish word was used for brown?
Was it marrón or pardo or castaño?
And what came up for black?
Was it negro, ennegrecido, or funesto?
You see, there are so many choices in other languages that I sometimes feel that English has limited itself somewhat.
She used Color’ Cafe” (sp?) for brown and Negro’ for black. The offended party Brown got a little over it all, Ms Blk used a magic marker to strike out the last name.
One of the more humorous aspects of the classes was most people were thinking it was just going to be learning different phrases. Nope. It was up to and including diagramming sentences, the Spanish version of nouns, proper nouns, verbs, adjectives, Castilion Proper Spanish if you will. And yep, I usually left my participle dangling.
Lot’s of folks dropped out during the course, I tuffed it out. Bless her, as she lost more and more students (she was paid the same whether they completed the course or not), I ‘splained to her my need to make basic conversation to folks, so she would stay after class, help me build phrases, and practice the proper pronunciation. It worked. Helped keep my crews and the neighborhood folks safe. Good Times.
Well, actually, cafe means coffee, same as it does in French, so she was linguistically incorrect. Cafe marron would likely be coffe with no cream (crema) or milk (leche) in it.
En serio, algunas personas necesitan aprender a usar un diccionario. Eso es.
Want me to translate that into Irish? 🙂
Had to scratch my watch, wind my azz and think for a bit Mi’Lady. Keep in mind that happened 20 + years ago. Might of been Ms Brn was upset that the name tag said marron and was being pronounced moron and it was changed to Color de’Cafe’ Marron or some combination there of. They were the only two out of a multitude of ethnic different folks that had any issues with their names. Since their Mama’s had been part of the big push to hire based on gender and ethnic genes, they both grew up in that entitled sense.
I guarantee he used the term in context of a larger point.
Sad what the DoD is coming too these days.
And this dude looks like the fucking real deal who should be leading and training Marines.
Whatever.
I’m offended that DofD is offended, GT.
Such a narrow view of things is not what I expect from people who are supposed to be mature… or something.
My take:
Man up, wuss.
General Neary – then Captain Neary – was my SPC at The Basic School. I can tell you he was a Marines’s Marine then, and I’m sure has continued that through his career.
I don’t know what he said, but I find it hard to believe his intent was malicious.
Name edited to protect PII.
AW1
He likely wondered why his staff was being niggardly with the morning coffee.
(see what i did there!!)
Yeah, saw that word used in COL Charles Beckwith’s memoir ‘Delta Force’. Yikes. I assumed it meant stingy, but had to look it up in a dictionary.
I remember this being mentioned on the Limbaugh show some 20+ years ago:
[From Wikipedia]
On January 15, 1999, David Howard, an aide to the mayor of Washington, D.C., Anthony A. Williams, used “niggardly” in reference to a budget.[6] This apparently upset one of his black colleagues, who misinterpreted it as a racial slur and lodged a complaint. As a result, on January 25, Howard tendered his resignation, and Williams accepted it.[7] However, after public pressure, an internal review into the matter was brought about, and the mayor offered Howard the chance to return to his position as Office of the Public Advocate on February 4. Howard refused but accepted another position with the mayor instead, insisting that he did not feel victimized by the incident. On the contrary, Howard felt that he had learned from the situation. “I used to think it would be great if we could all be colorblind; that’s naïve, especially for a white person, because a white person can’t [sic] afford to be colorblind. They don’t have to think about race every day. An African American does.”[7]
NO Report….UGH!!!Quit it.
So, are we losing a good combat leader to the PC crowd or is the good general just another political animal eaten by his own?
Most general officers get corrupted by politics, regardless of how good they were when junior.
Well, he IS,from Boston, Massachusetts.
Based on his Boston accent, perhaps he was misunderstood.
One can hear his accent at the link.
The interview was conducted in
Hell, Norway (yes, you read that correctly):
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/634015/brig-gen-stephen-m-neary-interviewed-media-personnel
😎😉
So, in summary: It doesn’t matter how offensive language used in public might be – you are supposed to just tune it out if it offends you and never use those offensive words no matter how many times you’ve heard them or been desensitized to them from overuse by others. If you require knowledge of how and when words may not be used correctly then you are obviously stupid for not being able to discern the neo-meaning which is something other than their actual meanings. Woke folk are magically able to justify their uses of words others are not allowed to use and act in ways that offend normal people.
You should have known all that. Just because.
If that makes no sense to you then you probably are also not on the approved list. And may care no more than do I.
Maybe if “offensive words” are translated into a language that no one on the “hearing end” can understand, it won’t matter quite so much?
The REST of the Story.
Perhaps the update to Mason’s post can become another post for possible comments?
“Marine Corps General Under Investigation For Using Racial Slur Is Relieved of Command”
https://www.stripes.com/news/marine-corps-general-under-investigation-for-using-racial-slur-is-relieved-of-command-1.649236
“The incident occurred in August on the parade field outside Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa headquarters in Boeblingen, Germany.”
“A lance corporal who was present told Stars and Stripes that Neary used the N-word while Marines were doing physical training outdoors with loud music playing.”
“Some of the rap music incorporated the word, which prompted Neary to ask the junior Marines how they would feel if he said it, the lance corporal said.”
“The Marine, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said Black, white and Latino Marines were jolted when the general said the word.”
“Even if Neary was attempting to be instructive about the taboo nature of the word, it came as a shock to hear it from a white general officer, the lance corporal said.”
“He lost respect right there,” the Marine said.”
[…] We talked about General Neary when the story first broke about his alleged use of a racial slur. We now have a bit more on the topic amid news that the Commandant of the Marine Corps has relieved Maj Gen Neary from his command of US Marine Forces Europe and Africa. He’d only been in the billet since 8 July. […]