Posted on 05/27/2008 1:32:17 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
West Point Songs May Be Going Gender-Neutral
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 AP
As graduation ceremonies kick off this week at America’s oldest military academy, one of its most venerable traditions may be set to get a major face-lift.
West Point superintendent, Lt. Gen. Franklin “Buster” Hagenbeck, wants to make the academy’s most beloved songs gender-neutral.
The academy’s "Alma Mater" and its companion piece, “The Corps,” — a tradition for nearly 100 years — refer to the "sons” of the academy. Every graduating class since 1911has sung these songs, despite West Point going coed more than 30 years. Women were first admitted into the elite officer-training program in 1976, and more than 3,000 have since graduated to serve as Army officers.
Hagenbeck plans to switch the masculine words with more gender-neutral synonyms. “The men” would be changed to “the ranks,” and “we sons” would become “the Corps.”
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The real problem is referring to the song as the “Alma Mater,” a term that means “nourishing mother.” To be gender neutral, it should be called the “Alma Neuter.”
Hopefully my son will be leaving for OCS on 4th of July at Quantico!!! Fingers crossed and prayers up.
I didn’t even like them taking “caissons” out of the Army song!!!!
Is old LTG Hagenback not cared for very much? Would be interesting to see what the cadets think of him with all these changes. I imagine this isn’t the only unpopular change he’s put forward.
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