Posted on 05/11/2016 2:30:32 PM PDT by lacrew
The link is to the report on the cadets who posed with the black power salute.
A few things of note:
1. The cadets were doing a traditional 'Old Corps" photo session (I assume for the yearbook).
2. During this session, one cadet suggests the clenched fist pose.
3. At least two cadets were concerned and asked "are we really doing this?"
4. Later, when questioned, "All participants indicated the intent of the raised fist photograph was intended to display unity, solidarity and pride"
5. The reviewing officer states that there is only one minute elapsed between the concerned 'are we really doing this' and the taking of the photo, and that one minute is not enough time to 'adequately discuss the benefits and limitations regarding possible public perception of their action'.
1. At least two of the cadets are lying, and likely more are. The expression of 'are we really doing this' is directly contrary to their later statements that the raised fist 'was intended to display unity, solidarity and pride'. BTW, lying is a separable offense.
2. The reviewing officer's assessment that the cadets did not have enough time to make the right decision is contrary to just about everything taught at West Point. From day one, cadets are taught to make decisions under stressful circumstances. Its one of the primary justifications for plebe year hazing. And, this ability to make quick decisions is also considered to be very important later, when they become officers. The officer was practically admitting that these cadets had not properly learned to make good decisions, and were not ready to graduate. To me, it almost sounds like the soft bigotry of low expectations to suppose that these ladies were too stupid to make a decision within a minute's time.
I'm very disappointed in this. At very least, the leaders/instigators should have been reprimanded and held back to graduate next December. At least two of these cadets have extra chevrons - I believe one is a cadet company commander and one is a cadet battalion commander. I'm left speechless that they are not held to an even higher standard, much less allowed to slide, because they are apparently lack sufficient brain power to know better.
display unity, solidarity and pride
But they didn’t display DIVERSITY!
Wonder what determination the reviewing officer would make if the photo was a group of ole Southern boys with a Confederate flag.
In what?
Unity with theier fellow cadets? Obviously not.
Solidarity with the U S Army? Not likely.
Pride in the USMA? I seriously doubt that.
Clearly, you are correct. Either they lied, a serious violation of the honor code. Or. The entire group, living in the most racial sensitive time of society and the military, is ignorant of the implications.
No matter which case, they should be disciplined. If lying, dismissed. If stupid and racially insensate, well . . . dismissed. Do slips of the tongue about transponders, gays, and blacks receive such liberal interpretations of innocence?
He asked rhetorically.
I’m sure he’d be consistent/ sarc
Then there's the obvious....they're all black.
You can bet the CiC told them they’d better not do anything against them.
Ask too many questions, and it makes even less sense.
They are a disgrace to their uniform, their gender, and their race.
I’m guessing that cadets posing with heil hitler salutes would have been treated differently.
Even though it is basically the same thing as a clenched fist.
Black code trumps Army code,decency code,always did always will
In a group that size, I can see a couple being smart enough to wonder if it might have some blow back. But if the higher ranked cadets said do it, I can also see them going along to avoid harassment and hazing. I’d convert the leaders and any one who didn’t question them to PFCs and let the two that questioned it graduate.
But I’m not a wimp army officer worried about a career.
The “Old Corps” photos in front of the old 1st Division have been done for years, including back when it was the real Old Corps when photography was first introduced. I challenge anyone to find among those thousands of photos a single one where clenched fists were raised. Including in 1860 when Southern Cadets were getting ready to resign and return to their states.
Officers have to make snap decisions in combat and must live with those decisions for the rest of their lives. These women made a very bad decision and will be celebrities and will probably be invited to the White House.
So nothing will be come of this obviously blatant disregard of basic conduct. My concern is when they get deployed , will they attempt to erode the moral of those in their command or worse where is their true allegiance to. Finally who sponsored these women?
whitewash
Imagine graduation day...as these cadets walk across the stage, will anyone in the audience raise a clenched fist?
Wonder if the USMA would be as tolerant and open minded if a similar group of white students posed with their arms extended and their palms out in a traditional Roman salute.
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