Some mornings I get up and think I will take a break from writing for the day. Usually, however, something manages to stir my blood or strain all credulity. Today is one of those days.
In its rush to burnish its racist and misogynistic bona fides, the Trump regime has decided that even the dead are fair game.
First, some background information:
Approximately 400,000 veterans are buried in the Army-run cemetery, which was established after the US Civil War at the home of the South's general, Robert E. Lee.
On the cemetery's website, internal links that directed users to webpages with information about the "Notable Graves" of dozens of black, Hispanic and female veterans were missing on Friday.
The Independent reports the following:
The purge follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s declaration that “DEI is dead” as he implements Trump’s agenda at the Pentagon.
One of Trump’s many executive orders was banning DEI in federal programs, and Pentagon bosses have carried out orders to remove any content that “promotes” it.
That includes removing internal links to educational materials on the cemetery’s website.
On the website’s “Notable Graves” dropdown menu, African American History, Hispanic American History and Women’s History no longer appear...
A spokesperson for the cemetery said ... it wanted to ensure that the content aligned with Trump's orders and also with instructions from Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.
These shameful actions form part of a larger pattern:
Trump has made dramatic changes in the military in his second term, including firing the country's top general, CQ Brown, a black man who had supported diversity in the armed forces.
Secretary Hegseth - a former Fox News host and military veteran - has pledged to root out all diversity initiatives and had accused Gen Brown of being "woke".
Understandably, given that over 30% of those currently serving identify as Black or Native Americans, and 18% as Hispanic or Latino, and one-fifth are women, outrage is widespread.
Democrats and veterans groups hit out at the move. “This is a terrible affront to the veterans posthumously dishonored and canceled and to their families,” Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin said. “It is a pathological statement that the MAGA government cannot even accept inclusion in death.”
Progressive Veterans group VoteVets accused the Trump administration of “whitewashing history.”
“Arlington National Cemetery just erased DEI from its website — because Republicans threw a tantrum over honoring ALL who served,” the group said. “The same GOP that cuts Veteran healthcare now decides who’s worthy of remembrance. This isn’t patriotism. It’s whitewashing history.”
I'll close with a picture and information of one of the dead who have been 'erased:
AltSpaceForce 🚀🇺🇲
The Defense Dept has deleted references to Black, Hispanic & female service members as well as topics such as the Civil War from its website in order to remove all references to diversity, equity, & inclusion.
Sgt William H. Carney, a former slave, is the first black man to get the Medal of Honor.
And in the end those offended 50+% "DEI" in service might be the mutiny force in Mercan ranks refusing to "annex" Canada that saves us. Ironic will be making a law to reverse DEI backfires as much as the DEI law.
ReplyDeletePersonally I balk at an award that has all the descriptors. You were either first to receive or also received .Narrowing being the first to a string of color, gender, nationality, birth place, occupation, handicaps seems grasping.
Of course it is not those dead doing it. They died soldiers in the company of soldiers for a cause and death, with no deference or recognition of your speciality is the great inclusive , diverse equalizer.
The whole thrust of what is going on in the U.S. is just a continuation of a long history of racism and misogyny, lungta. Being beyond such prejudices, even in death, no longer seems possible in that benighted land.
DeleteIs Sgt Carney any relation to our new PM?
ReplyDeleteReports say that the US Army, USAF, and US Navy are all having serious recruitment and retention problems. A move like this will have eager prospective recruits lining up at the recruiting office! The sheer stupidity, let alone, the racism and sexism is mindboggling.
Mind you, if you the largest convict population in the world, this probably shrinks your applicant pool. Too, if you are trying to draw from traditional recruiting areas there is likely a good chance that a lot of possible applicants have heard horror stories of back-to-back deployments, retention in service, etc., and base housing that would shock a slum landlord, from older relations and friends. US enlisted pay is not even that good.
And then you do this? Whom the gods would destroy…
Exactly, Anon. The Americans seem to walking headlong into their own eventual destruction.
Delete