John, marday shojah hasteen. As an Afghan resident of the U.S., it takes great moral courage to publish such a strong critique of the current administration. Tashakor hastam!
Thank you- I am deeply thankful to call the United States my forever home. I strongly believe that one of the greatest strengths of this great nation is the freedom to speak out against wrongdoing unlike other countries. I will always be ready to make further sacrifices if needed to uphold the values that make this country great.
Unfortunately the presidency is a reflection of the people. 60% of whit men voted for this - many of them veterans. They allowed themselves to be manipulated by the powerful and made fearful of “the other”. Age old story we must work very hard to overcome
Or -- Dems progressive policies on DEI combined with Biden's dishonorable retreat from Afghanistan, gave Trump +10 with vets compared to 4 years earlier.
I appreciate the education you have provided on the withdrawal. It made me search out and read additional perspectives, allowing me a much greater understanding of the issue.
A similar treatment of DEI is in order. As a woman who has spent 40 years in the construction industry- a considerable part of that in a role that was traditionally male, I had experiences which, if visited upon your daughter, would make you want to hurt someone. Then came anti- sexual harassment laws (a form of DEI), and better enforcement of equal pay laws.
These things enraged some of my former colleagues as they saw their “natural place” being threatened by attempts at Equity. When one is accustomed to Supremacy, Equally feels like Oppression.
Of course my experience as a white person pales in comparison to that of my colleagues of color.
Most significantly, anti DEI policies by DoD tells bad men in the military that abuse and rape is “boys being boys”.
The real manly thing to do is for the good guys to set an example and teach would-be abusers that their worth and opportunity does not depend on abusing others - that we don’t have to be afraid of people we don’t know.
Unfortunately my experiences have taught me that the good guys mostly remain silent. It appears they are too afraid of being ostracized from the clubhouse. Again - lots of work and discussion needed. Thank you for an intelligent platform on which to make a start.
I totally disagree with your analysis of DEI's effects on the force. As a retired SQ CC, DEI led initiatives were divisive and a complete waste of time. Moreover, they took away precious time that could've been spent on more important things -- like helping servicemembers with PTSD, TBIs, etc. Further, if anti-sexual harassment laws are a form of DEI, then what isn't DEI? Is everything done by Dems in the social justice realm DEI?
To be clear I was speaking about life outside the active force. I know active military is a more challenging case.
From my experience Anything related to Social Justice is now declared DEI and treated as a bad thing. The narrative about opportunity and treating our fellow citizens with dignity as human (not military) equals has been inverted.
For whom was a DEI initiative divisive? Did your female and non-white soldiers hate it too? I would be very interested to know what your ideas are for addressing racism and sexism in the military. Too often any DEI criticism stops with “Bad” and offers no other solutions, leaving us with the message that “y’all just have to live with it”, perpetuating corrosive divisions which the powerful and monied use to keep us pointed at scapegoats and fighting over scraps.
Sure, Will. DEI is divisive within the ranks. So was desegregating the U.S. military during the 1940s. Rather than reject such division out-of-hand, it's best to first ask: why is DEI divisive? Then ask: what is the best approach to promote DEI and overcome this divisiveness over time? Perhaps I misunderstand you.
Respectfully, DEI was divisive because it was horribly constructed AND it’s based off of the rambling of grifters. I don’t want to promote DEI in the ranks. I want to promote diversity and ensure that all Americans have an opportunity to rise in the ranks. There were such programs before DEI.
As a tribal traditionalist person I recognize the description of revenge as having relevance to our history in this country. Our ancient so-called 'Blood Law' has never been properly appreciated or understood by people who depend on the rule of law in a legal context. Our old law was enacted by our clans and we killed several chiefs who sold our land, first to the British and later to the Americans. People who incurred a blood debt by killing another could balance the obligation by seeking refuge in Echota (a sanctuary town) until Green Corn when the world was renewed. There is no such thing as a sanctuary town with the Americans who depend on the rule of law alone. My guess is that the Afghan people will have to settle their tribal debts according to the customs of their people, without recourse to American courts which do not recognize any law but their own.
Anyone reading AfghsnDigest sees examples weekly of what the Taliban will do to any deported pro-democracy Afghans and their wives.
Do those of us born in America care about people who risked their lives to protect US and Coalition forces when we needed to prevent more alQaeda plotting of attacks and who trusted our vision of democracy?
If we care, we need to contact elected representatives to turn vetted pro-democracy Afghans’ temp status to permanent residence … and to lift cancellation of Afghans’ approved or in-process visas to U.S. - before Pakistan also deports all Afghan refugees there back to prison, torture and/or death by Taliban
John, marday shojah hasteen. As an Afghan resident of the U.S., it takes great moral courage to publish such a strong critique of the current administration. Tashakor hastam!
Thank you- I am deeply thankful to call the United States my forever home. I strongly believe that one of the greatest strengths of this great nation is the freedom to speak out against wrongdoing unlike other countries. I will always be ready to make further sacrifices if needed to uphold the values that make this country great.
The sad truth is they are not white. This is the most racist presidency ever.
Unfortunately the presidency is a reflection of the people. 60% of whit men voted for this - many of them veterans. They allowed themselves to be manipulated by the powerful and made fearful of “the other”. Age old story we must work very hard to overcome
Or -- Dems progressive policies on DEI combined with Biden's dishonorable retreat from Afghanistan, gave Trump +10 with vets compared to 4 years earlier.
I appreciate the education you have provided on the withdrawal. It made me search out and read additional perspectives, allowing me a much greater understanding of the issue.
A similar treatment of DEI is in order. As a woman who has spent 40 years in the construction industry- a considerable part of that in a role that was traditionally male, I had experiences which, if visited upon your daughter, would make you want to hurt someone. Then came anti- sexual harassment laws (a form of DEI), and better enforcement of equal pay laws.
These things enraged some of my former colleagues as they saw their “natural place” being threatened by attempts at Equity. When one is accustomed to Supremacy, Equally feels like Oppression.
Of course my experience as a white person pales in comparison to that of my colleagues of color.
Most significantly, anti DEI policies by DoD tells bad men in the military that abuse and rape is “boys being boys”.
The real manly thing to do is for the good guys to set an example and teach would-be abusers that their worth and opportunity does not depend on abusing others - that we don’t have to be afraid of people we don’t know.
Unfortunately my experiences have taught me that the good guys mostly remain silent. It appears they are too afraid of being ostracized from the clubhouse. Again - lots of work and discussion needed. Thank you for an intelligent platform on which to make a start.
I totally disagree with your analysis of DEI's effects on the force. As a retired SQ CC, DEI led initiatives were divisive and a complete waste of time. Moreover, they took away precious time that could've been spent on more important things -- like helping servicemembers with PTSD, TBIs, etc. Further, if anti-sexual harassment laws are a form of DEI, then what isn't DEI? Is everything done by Dems in the social justice realm DEI?
To be clear I was speaking about life outside the active force. I know active military is a more challenging case.
From my experience Anything related to Social Justice is now declared DEI and treated as a bad thing. The narrative about opportunity and treating our fellow citizens with dignity as human (not military) equals has been inverted.
For whom was a DEI initiative divisive? Did your female and non-white soldiers hate it too? I would be very interested to know what your ideas are for addressing racism and sexism in the military. Too often any DEI criticism stops with “Bad” and offers no other solutions, leaving us with the message that “y’all just have to live with it”, perpetuating corrosive divisions which the powerful and monied use to keep us pointed at scapegoats and fighting over scraps.
My bad.
Sure, Will. DEI is divisive within the ranks. So was desegregating the U.S. military during the 1940s. Rather than reject such division out-of-hand, it's best to first ask: why is DEI divisive? Then ask: what is the best approach to promote DEI and overcome this divisiveness over time? Perhaps I misunderstand you.
Respectfully, DEI was divisive because it was horribly constructed AND it’s based off of the rambling of grifters. I don’t want to promote DEI in the ranks. I want to promote diversity and ensure that all Americans have an opportunity to rise in the ranks. There were such programs before DEI.
Well, then more progressives should serve and they don’t so until they do you piss off the biggest area of recruitment—military families.
If you think DEI was successful in the military then I suggest you speak with any frontline supervisor and ask for their opinion.
Let’s hold off on DEI comments until next week. I will write something on it.
As a tribal traditionalist person I recognize the description of revenge as having relevance to our history in this country. Our ancient so-called 'Blood Law' has never been properly appreciated or understood by people who depend on the rule of law in a legal context. Our old law was enacted by our clans and we killed several chiefs who sold our land, first to the British and later to the Americans. People who incurred a blood debt by killing another could balance the obligation by seeking refuge in Echota (a sanctuary town) until Green Corn when the world was renewed. There is no such thing as a sanctuary town with the Americans who depend on the rule of law alone. My guess is that the Afghan people will have to settle their tribal debts according to the customs of their people, without recourse to American courts which do not recognize any law but their own.
Anyone reading AfghsnDigest sees examples weekly of what the Taliban will do to any deported pro-democracy Afghans and their wives.
Do those of us born in America care about people who risked their lives to protect US and Coalition forces when we needed to prevent more alQaeda plotting of attacks and who trusted our vision of democracy?
If we care, we need to contact elected representatives to turn vetted pro-democracy Afghans’ temp status to permanent residence … and to lift cancellation of Afghans’ approved or in-process visas to U.S. - before Pakistan also deports all Afghan refugees there back to prison, torture and/or death by Taliban