West Point responses: Obama’s true legacy
My first reaction when I saw the photos of the black female West Point graduates in their seemingly defiant, fists-raised black power poses was probably similar to that of a large segment of conservative America: “What the hell is going on here?” That was accompanied by an old Army vet’s revulsion that the barracks, uniforms, and prestige of a hallowed American military institution were being used to showcase support by junior Army officers for what I consider racist black supremacist politics.
Then I started reading reader reactions to the many articles that mushroomed all over the internet, including the one written here at AT. It was while reading comments to this piece that what was bothering me about the hundreds of responses I’d read here and elsewhere gelled in my mind. I’d expected the widespread angry reaction, but what I had not expected was the openly expressed racial bitterness and censure directed at a group of young women who without question had made a very thoughtless and truly dumb mistake. Some of those comments were absolutely venomous and left no doubt that their venom sprang from a very deep racial antagonism. There was much discussion that these young officers were only on that porch by virtue of affirmative action and that their demonstration confirmed a common lack of emotional control among Africans. There were many questions regarding their intellectual qualifications to be there, and only the rare commenter ventured that there might be some very bright young women in that group.
Don’t get me wrong; I was once an infantry NCO, and as such, I would have been furious with any second lieutenant who showed such a poor lack of judgment as to bring such public disapproval on my unit and my soldiers. Were I her platoon sergeant, I’d be having a really intense discussion with that butterbar on the basics of leadership, and if the lieutenant chose to blow me off, then she’d be having a likely more intense discussion with the company executive officer. Similar feelings to mine were expressed by many veteran commenters, both retired officers and enlisted, all of whom are well aware of the foolhardiness of any officer openly demonstrating such political racial solidarity.
But the main takeaway from this incident is that had this same event taken place ten years ago, it would have drawn similar media attention but most likely fewer critical comments by readers, and most assuredly the racial intensity and hostility expressed in those comments wouldn’t have been even close to what they are today. Most certainly a large number of them, especially here at American Thinker, would have been blocked for being too racially insensitive – but now, after almost eight years of a black president, they’re just part of the acceptable racial narrative. It’s no secret that Eric Holder was speaking for his boss and setting out the racial position for the Obama administration when he described black felons as his people. Obama’s recent black college commencement address where he lapsed into black vernacular demonstrates that it’s still in place. Gullible voters put Obama in office and kept him there all this time based on the hope that he would end racial strife. They may as well have hoped for the Tooth Fairy to leave it under their pillows.
If Obama wants to know what his real legacy is, he should start reading web comments.
Crossposted at American Thinker
Category: Politics
I can’t wait to see what the roving asshat, Lars, has to say about this.
Those females need to be recycled, back to 10th grade U.S. history class. Then assigned to a grease trap at a DFAC, if they satisfactorily pass the class.
Those cadets knew exactly what they were doing, espousing “Black Power”. I see no difference between their action and White males giving a Nazi salute. Now that they have seemingly gotten away with it, they will feel empowered. One day, these cadets will be in command positions, let’s hope that they mature and burn their race cards.
Right on, right on, right on Retired & Tired. I have to live that crap here in Pine Bluff, AR dealing with a few that are living and preaching the Theory of Victimization on a too frequent basis. This crowd was banned from all local card games because the only card they can play is the “race card”. It turns those of us who served and saw and treated all equally, and received the same in return. The USMA cadets involved in the black power photo have exhibited traits that if a Caucasian cadet exhibited by giving a Nazi or white power salute would be expelled for doing. It all went downhill when Colonel (then general) Chappie James got away with that crap. Sad, really sad.
There is a celebratory fist raising and there is a power fist raising.
This was the latter, from the facial expressions.
I thought we left that business behind in the 70’s.
It was an ugly time to be in.
what I had not expected was the openly expressed racial bitterness
Unfortunately that bitterness has been long suppressed but never eradicated. I like reminding my upper middle class associates here in New England when they go off on a tangent about how racist it is “down south” that the only KKK rally I witnessed was in Scotland CT as a member of the 2/102 CTARNG….and I spent a fair amount of time at the Ft Benning School for wayward boys…
There are places online where racial prejudice is so openly displayed that I’m amazed at the level of ignorance displayed in 2016.
I think it speaks directly to the idea that diversity is code for separatism. We don’t hear much about the great melting pot of assimilation anymore, we hear an awful lot about respecting other cultures.
Well no offense to those of you proud of some foreign heritage but if that foreign land was so fucking great you wouldn’t be here. That should let folks know right away that what they left should remain behind for the most part. Don’t leave a shithole and come to the US to try and duplicate the shithole, come here to make the world better and start with what you do here.
None of us really have to like each other, but simple understanding that we should be Americans first and last and pretty much forget that other shit would go an awful long way towards easing the tribal divides we all seem far too willing to put on and wear like a hair shirt that irritates us and everyone around us.
well, speaking for the Irish-Americans among us, if the fecking Brits (from one of the OTHER sides of my mutt ancestry) hadn’t starved us out of Ireland, most of us wouldn’t be here and you’d think March 17 was just another day. So there. Many emigrations are not voluntary.
Me, I think the ladies exhibited very poor judgement and will need to be watched closely, but compared to some of the stupid crap I and most of my peers have done, this is not critical, just dumb.
We ain’t keeping you here by force my friend…the borders are open in both directions from what I see…and I can’t stand March 17th…the parade and associated idiocy is an excuse for drunkards to piss on lawns up and down the parade route…/sarc /poor attempt at humor
I don’t disagree with you regarding a momentary lapse of judgment. I would however point out that as will all things sometimes a momentary lapse in judgment gets people killed. Moving forward I hope they aren’t inclined to act without thinking, especially if they are supposed to be among the best and brightest.
There’s no excuse for the racial nonsense that PT is discussing in his OP, my point was that a lot of the racial stuff is always there, just under the surface looking for an opportunity to rise to the top and remind us all that ignorant racist fucks can be found under just about any rock you turn over.
However that in no way means I have to accept stupid on behalf of future officers, we already have far too many dipshits with an O-something designation…no need for anymore to join the club.
looking at this year’s election, the exit looks good…but there’s nowhere else as good. And as noted, I have ancestors on both sides of that particular dogfight.
I agree with you 100% on one thing: how in the hell have we allowed the advertisers and marketers to turn almost every holiday into another excuse to get plastered? St. Patrick’s should be a family holiday akin to our Thanksgiving, it isn’t safe to be out on most any warm-weather three day weekend, and a holiday even many Mexicans didn’t know existed is now just another drunkfest.
Like I said, the ladies in question will need monitoring and mentoring to see if this was a momentary lapse and they can learn from it – or if any or all of them are terminally stupid.
The cadets in that photo committed an overtly racist act while in uniform; the Army should recognize it as such and punish each of those black female cadets accordingly.
And that would include denying them their commissions.
I missed most of the comments on the first article, and most of the flak over this. Like most things these days, this is getting blown out of proportion. There is no reason for racist remarks.
These women made a mistake, and one that I’m frankly surprised they made. I know we received very explicit training on the allowable and unacceptable politic statements per the UCMJ during my time at the Boat School. Perhaps it was just our proximity to DC that prompted them to ensure we were educated on what was allowable. In either case, I say let the Army conduct it’s investigation before anything happens. I’m more upset at the idiot Army officer who appeared in uniform at the political rally behind the candidate (can’t remember which one). He’s been in long enough and should know better, these cadets are about to get the correct education on the regulations.
Anyone who is surprised or upset by this just hasn’t been paying the slightest bit of attention the past 10 or so years. Change–real change–requires institutions to be altered and tradition to be derided and ultimately disbanded. I suppose the pic was taken while a gay wedding was being held at the chapel or the West Point group, Knights Out, was meeting.
As VOV correctly points out, differences are celebrated today. At West Point, as elsewhere, this means there is no unified team, despite any welcoming rhetoric to the contrary. There are only diverse groups of varying size whose separateness is applauded. So, this is the black female group with their special salute. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
Fundamentally transformed…Somebody said that’s what they wanted to do. Looks like he may have succeeded at West Point.
These very silly and naive young women are an embarrassment to women in uniform, period.
They have no idea how many black women I served with in the 1960s and 1970s, some of whom had been in uniform since the Korean War. They haven’t a clue to the number of black men who served in Vietnam, Korea and WWII.
If they got appointments to West Point for the wrong reasons, to inflict anger and resentment on white people junior to them, they should be give a hard, unpleasant set-down for it. This idiocy continues to promote racism, instead of bringing it to a stop.
I hope someone has already taken them to task over it, at the academy.
Sadly, according to Fox News and the Associated Press, those cadets will not be punished: “No punishment for 16 West Point cadets in raised-fist photo” http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/05/11/no-punishment-for-16-west-point-cadets-in-raised-fist-photo.html “Sixteen black West Point cadets who posed with raised fists for a pre-graduation picture that sparked debates on race and proper behavior in uniform won’t be punished for the gesture, the U.S. Military Academy said Tuesday. The decision, less than two weeks before the 16 female seniors are poised to graduate, found they didn’t violate military rules limiting political activity. An internal inquiry found the cadets didn’t plan to make a political statement, West Point’s superintendent, Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen Jr., said in a letter to the student body. But, he said, they showed “a lapse of awareness in how symbols and gestures can be misinterpreted and cause division,” and they will receive instruction to address “their intent versus the impact of the photo.” The fists-up image, which circulated online, led some observers to question whether the women were expressing support for the Black Lives Matter movement, which grew out of protests over police killings of unarmed black men. But the inquiry found the picture, among several the women made in keeping with an informal campus tradition, captured a spur-of-the-moment gesture intended to demonstrate unity and pride in graduating, Caslen wrote. Groups of cadets often take Old Corps pictures in traditional dress uniforms to echo historical portraits. A raised fist has symbolized political resistance for generations, from Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison in 1990 to Democratic Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on the presidential campaign trail this year. It was used by black power advocates in the 1960s, including by two American sprinters during a medal ceremony at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, and more recently by activists for the Black Lives Matter movement. Some observers suggested the women were improperly identifying with the movement while in uniform. Defenders said the women were simply celebrating their forthcoming graduation, something closer in spirit to a team lifting helmets to celebrate a win or Beyonce raising her fist at this year’s Super Bowl… Read more »
I like this line….
“Will there ever be a time when black women can unapologetically show that they are strong proud and supportive of one another without their action being interpreted as an act of militant defiance?” Essence magazine editor-in-chief Vanessa De Luca asked in a Wall Street Journal op-ed this week.
Sure they could have all given a thumbs up or a V for victory symbol…I suspect Ms DeLuca already knows that though and is merely being facetious in her bullshit op-ed piece.
Military leaders and future military leaders are expected to be bright enough to understand their actions have consequences, and their actions represent the military they serve while they are wearing the uniform.
I wonder if Ms. DeLuca would have been as willing to accept a show of pride by those white males? Anyone suppose her op-ed would have defended a white pride symbol in a photo of young white men showing their unapologetic pride and support of each other? Of course not, she showcases her own hypocrisy with idiotic op-eds and comments. She’s probably convinced only white males can be racists…she wouldn’t be alone in thinking that. Just another asshat with a column and an incorrect view on what the military expects from subordinate officers who hope to someday be superior officers.
Utterly shocking….
Thank God it wasn’t a picture of a pillow fight…
If we reverse the color spectrum of the photo would it be racist or not?
I think the time of the private military academy is over. Let them go through OCS or ROTC. I see absolutely no advantage to isolating them anymore.
Less then a year it’s all over it can’t come quick enough
It’s a lot of time to do a LOT of damage.
It may be just my perception, but it seems that he is accelerating his progressive agenda, trying to complete his transformation of America.
Hey Skippy. The very purpose of altering institutions and destroying tradition is to ensure that the efforts survive individuals. Nothing is over in a year. The progressives, the commies, the socialists run in the millions in this country. When Time–or was it Newsweek–ran with the cover, “We are all socialists now” they knew what was what. Obamacare isn’t going anywhere. The fundamental right to gay marriage isn’t going anywhere. The added millions on social services aren’t going anywhere. The revolution continues.
I know but the figure head of mayhem is gone.. Well kind of, the clean up is going to be nasty and the lesson here is important. I hope we are able to clean it up and do it as effectively, as the mess that made it
I have to ask why they didn’t hold signs that said ‘Women’s Lives Matter’. That’s a legitimate question.
So here’s a bit of history on black women serving THIS country since its founding. As I said, these bimbos and possibly future officers are an embarrassment to those who went before them and had to put up with a LOT of REAL shit, especially from men in general.
http://www.buffalosoldiersresearchmuseum.org/research/women.htm
They’re just following the rest of the Army’s example.
Command Sgt. Maj. Angelia Flournoy
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2016/05/05/csm-counseled-appearance-following-social-media-firestorm/83973536/
The Brushy bush babe….
??????
They may soon find out that we all bleed red.
91B20 USA Republic of Vietnam
It would be interesting to have CSM J.D. Pendry, our occasional contributing author here at TAH, to weigh in on this situation and whether or not it is addressed in his classic leadership manual, The Three Meter Zone, which is written for NCO’s but also provides guidance for company grade officers which all these young women are about to become.
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Meter-Zone-Common-Leadership/dp/0891417281/ref=la_B001KJ0POQ_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1462992817&sr=1-1#customerReviews
I find it impossible to believe any defense of these cadet’s actions. They knew exactly what they were doing and knew that no one would dare bring them to task over it. And these women will soon be in leadership positions. They couldn’t lead a turd down the bowl.
And have the NCOs forgotten how to make or break a new Lieutenant? Because I was led to believe that NCO’s had that power.
PN, that’s true. But you need good raw material to build a good Lieutenant. These women aren’t it.
You can’t make chicken soup out of chicken SHIT!
Their Platoon Sergeants will be totally ignored as they will utilize the entire deck of cards:
Rank
Race
Sex
The PSGs won’t stand a chance…
A few years ago I attended an Army vs Duke football game. At the time, I was a SFC. As I walked to the stadium with my wife I was blown away by how young the cadets were. I felt like I was at a high school football game. I joked to my wife that these kids were my future bosses.
In my opinion, there seems to be a dangerous lack of seriousness with military service. That picture was the result of poor group think my future Army commanders–some of which will lead combat troops–and a decade of the deteriorating prestige of the United States military.
All for fairness and entitlement….We are doomed.
There are all sorts of ways to take a perfectly good career opportunity and trash it all to hell. Manufacturing their own documentary evidence will likely be a bit more enduring than getting drunk at an office party or some lapse of indiscretion during a moment of passion.
These would-be-butter-bars are evidence of a generation who have been taught a victim-meme scheme that has become all too insidious in government “education” facilities. “Activism” is not leadership so much as contempt for authority.
I have a vague recollection to the effect that cadets failing to complete the program were offered an opportunity to be reclassifed, possibly as E-5, to fulfill a portion of their obligation for failing to complete the program. That probably was affected by the measure of class standing and completion of the program.
They are probably all of 22 years old. Acting badly in a moment of group think is insufficient to warrant trashing their potential. Odds are that there are probably only a couple of instigators but an abundance of group pressure. The next six years will separate the wheat and the chaff.
I’d read somewhere else (earlier TAH? AT? IOTW?), that someone else had devised an ultimate response to those that “raise the fist”.
His point was that where Tea Party was conflated with the sex perv act of “tea bagging”, then it must follow that those who raise the fist are “fisters”. His closing sentence was, to the effect, “how does that fist feel up your ass?”
Whether you like him or not, LTC (Retired) Allen West made a good point on Fox News about this (Video and Script embedded in link:
“Fox’s Allen West Likens Photo Of Black Women Graduating From West Point To Confederate Sympathizers”
“West: “Just Imagine If Those Were White Male Cadets … Taking A Picture With A Confederate Flag”
http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/05/11/fox-s-allen-west-likens-photo-black-women-graduating-west-point-confederate-sympathizers/210352
“ALLEN WEST: Undoubtedly I’ll have to disagree with West Point because they were in uniform, and you don’t make those type of political statements in the uniform. But the most important thing we must realize is that the progressive left has created this incredible hypersensitive racial atmosphere in America. And just imagine if those were white male cadets and they were being — taking a picture with a Confederate flag. Everyone would be screaming about an investigation of West Point and how they need to be disciplined and probably expelled from the school, but yet these young ladies are going to go on and get commissioned as army officers. But they must realize that the only power they should be concerned with is the power of the Constitution, that they’re about to take an oath to support and defend.
BRIAN KILMEADE (HOST): Well, do you think — why do you think they’re getting away with it when they wouldn’t have perhaps gotten away with it five, 10, 15 years ago?
WEST: Well because of this environment. And I think that is what is really upsets people. And that you have a double standard, it’s a duplicity that is out there. Without a doubt they should not have been in uniform doing this and that’s a major violation of our Uniform Code of Military Justice, making a political statement as such. And so West Point cannot just sweep this under the rug. And I’m quite sure the administration and the Department of Defense has a lot to do with that.”
Sounds like LTC West understands the situation “they must realize that the only power they should be concerned with is the power of the Constitution”.
“If Obama wants to know what his real legacy is, he should start reading web comments.”
Exactly what he wanted to accomplish.
And no doubt proud of it.
My favorite part about the Obama era is all the racial healing.
https://twitter.com/exjon/status/537007913353883649
Shameful conduct. Shameless attitudes.
How will they respond to future subordinates, Do as I say, not as I do?
The perfumed princes (politically appointed Generals) of the DOD and pentagon had their hands in this. It stinks to high heaven.
No Honor, No Tradition in the military shall prevail.
Thanks obama, if you don’t prosecute Army traitors (bergdahl) then this infraction by future Army leaders is small shit….wrong on both counts.
It`s been said that the only nation that will ever be able to defeat The United States of America is itself, and it will come from within.
Well, congratulations..
They have already gotten away with something that should have gotten them cashiered.
Makes me wonder exactly what other trash they have gotten away with the past 4 years.
16 further reasons that many will pass on the Army and why many will get out.
Any future office knows better than to do what they did. They CAN and WILL get by with it thanks to the P C crowd. Not to mention them pulling the race card if their feeling were butt hurt. Thank God I don’t have to put up with their bullshit.
IS there anybody out there with the back bone to admit the truth we know? That being, once one of them gets into a position of power (Let’s just say Lowe’s for example) we know how idiots of the same get hired with impunity. Ya’all come down & live int the REAL Deep South for a while and see what REALLY goes on in the leadership world…business or military.
Take this ANY way you want; call me a racist if you choose. But be certain you follow that with, “One who knows and can speak the truth. Does not play well with others and refuses to go along knowing reality is not popular these days.”
Read future officer
This is a manufactured controversy.
OH, REALLY, o spooge-headed little know-it-all glitter-headed Sparkle Pony?
You’re really beginning to bore the shit out of me, JUNIOR!
The phrrooblehm iis I ahm ahhshoo! 💩 💩
ahhs hoe! 💩 💩 💩
Commissar, you are a walking and talking Abnormal Psychology Thesis.
Remember that kid that everybody kept making fun of, because he was sensitive and couldn’t handle being made fun of? That’s me. People spin me around like a top, because I get spun up like one. I’m also controlling. If you want to get a better idea of what I’m like, read the profile of a narcissistic person.
You don’t know me, Commissar.
That is about what I expected.
And you were Made In China…..where all the Commies live who you say we are foolish to worry about.
Poodle shows up at 2AM and expects people to treat him with kid gloves? What a maroon!!
Manufactured by 16 arrogant cadets that were raised to think the world owes them something just because they exist, and owes them more as a member of a “protected class”. Wake up ladies, the world doesn’t owe you a damn thing and reality is about to slap you silly.
Knappy-Headed Female West Point Graduates’ Lives Matter. Imus, I think I just stepped in shit.
Jar head, FUCK YOU!
This is the second time I’ve told you to cut that bullshit out, you are part of the problem. Leave those comments at home.