News Analysis |
Commandant of the US Air Force Academy, Lt Gen Jay Silveria has lambasted cadets of the academy over racists messages inside the Academy. While saying that students must be outraged at such events, the three-star general said: “if you can’t treat someone with dignity and respect-then you need to get out.”
Given that they are performing combat roles in various countries around the globe, unity becomes all the more important for them. Not only racism is inimical to a healthy society but also to a strong military
The strongly-worded lecture was delivered at the Colorado Springs, Colorado prep school of the Academy in front of almost 5,500 cadets, faculty, staff, and top-ranked Air Force officers.The stern lecture was delivered days after the Academy started investigations as to why a message saying “Go home n-word” was written outside the rooms of five black cadets.
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Lt Gen Silveria said that such a behavior cannot be tolerated in the Academy. He berated in no uncertain terms the unacceptable incident. “You should be outraged not only as an airman but as a human being,” Lt. Gen. Silveria said.
President Trump, who is known for dishing out controversial and off the cuff remarks, announced in July this year a ban on transgenders’ participation in the Army
Cohesiveness is the hallmark of a vibrant society; any military of a multi-racial country can ill-afford bad taste between various communities. The general, cognizant of this simple fact said: “The power of that diversity comes together and makes us that much more powerful. That’s a much better idea than small thinking and horrible ideas.”
General Silveria also said the staff at the academy must be mindful of recent such events to include those involving Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists, and counterprotesters. The 10-month long prep school is a prelude to the long course in the Airforce Academy. General Silverman said that cadets are recruited from all states, races, caste, and creed. He ended his speech with some strong words meant to warn the future cream of the air branch of the US armed forces. He 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 different color skin, with dignity and respect, then you need to get out.”
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General Silveria also said the staff at the academy must be mindful of recent such events to include those involving Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists, and counterprotesters. The 10-month long prep school is a prelude to the long course in the Airforce Academy
While the tough words by the commandant are meant to underline the discipline in the forces, where esprit de corps cuts across ethnic and class divisions, it is important to see the statement from a larger perspective. President Trump, who is known for dishing out controversial and off the cuff remarks, announced in July this year a ban on transgenders’ participation in the Army. He said that the country could not afford “tremendous medical costs and disruption” of transgender service members.
The US armed forces are the mightiest in the world and induct people from various communities. Given that they are performing combat roles in various countries around the globe, unity becomes all the more important for them. Not only racism is inimical to a healthy society but also to a strong military. Such unacceptable instances will make people drive the bitter memory lane and recall the dark ages of serfdom and slavery, something which the American people defeated through their yearning to be part of an all-embracing society.