Posted on May 10, 2016
Don’t punish West Point cadets for raising their fists in pride
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What are your thoughts on the Washington Post's editorial regarding these cadets?
Don’t punish West Point cadets for raising their fists in pride
Posted from washingtonpost.comPosted in these groups: 
United States Military Academy (USMA West Point)
Officers
Cadet
Conservative
United States Military Academy (USMA West Point) Officers Cadet Conservative
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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CPT Ahmed Faried I disagree... Whether liberal journalists and others want to admit/acknowledge it or not, the raised fist by this group of West Point cadets is seen as a racist gesture. I am sure that most, if not all, were acutely aware of that (or should have been) when they did it. They need to learn right now that there are consequences for that type action.
There would have been a very different attitude and position by the Washington Post and others if this was a group of white male cadets making a racist gesture of some sort... or raising their arms in a Nazi salute, for example. The hypocrisy never ends...
There have been several discussions about this on RallyPoint...
There would have been a very different attitude and position by the Washington Post and others if this was a group of white male cadets making a racist gesture of some sort... or raising their arms in a Nazi salute, for example. The hypocrisy never ends...
There have been several discussions about this on RallyPoint...
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CPT Ahmed Faried
Sir I haven't seen any official statement from them saying other lives do not matter, it is of course the belief of those opposed to their message as seen by the visceral hatred of the organization/movement in some corners. Could you please provide a source?
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
CPT Ahmed Faried - Not that I am in the habit of doing research for people who disagree with my opinion, but a quick Google search brought up a great many articles on the subject (some supporting my opinion and some not). Notice the first article, which discusses your question about an "official statement"... The co-founder of BLM considers "all lives matter" a racial slur. Racist?? You are free to form your own opinion. I have formed mine based on what I see and what I hear.
http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/black-lives-matter-co-founder-all-lives-matter-racial-slur
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/257808/profound-racism-black-lives-matter-john-perazzo
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2015/09/02/exposing-black-lives-matter-for-what-it-is-promotion-of-cop-jilling-n2046941
http://capitalismmagazine.com/2015/08/the-racist-premises-behind-black-lives-matter/
http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/black-lives-matter-co-founder-all-lives-matter-racial-slur
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/257808/profound-racism-black-lives-matter-john-perazzo
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2015/09/02/exposing-black-lives-matter-for-what-it-is-promotion-of-cop-jilling-n2046941
http://capitalismmagazine.com/2015/08/the-racist-premises-behind-black-lives-matter/
Black Lives Matter Co-Founder: 'All Lives Matter' is a Racial Slur
Jerome Hudson at Breitbart reportsthatBlack Lives Matterco-founderMarissa Jenae Johnson told Fox News correspondent John Roberts thatthe phrase “all lives matter” - used to counter the "black lives matter" mantra - is a “new racial slur.” In a recent interview with Roberts, Johnson explained why "all lives matter" is a racial slur:
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LTC (Join to see)
COL Jean (John) F. B. - Sir, I am not saying "what about the other speeders", I am responding to your supposition that if this were white male cadets the case would have been handled differently.
I provide you with two examples, similar in scope and magnitude (both were Respect/EO violations...both hit the national media) where white/male cadets were treated differently.
You made a statement, which I believe I refuted, but not just with my opinion, but with evidence.
Your argument appears to be based on "any logical/sane/prudent person can see this"; I believe I am all of those, and I don't see it. Apparently others (including the Generals I referenced) saw it that way as well.
I cannot refute the conspiracy you propose from the White House to the Academy, but you certainly cannot prove it. I can refute (with facts and evidence) that this case would have been handled differently if it had been white/male cadets, and believe that I did.
In any case, it is clear to me no one "wins" an argument on the internet. I will "agree to disagree" and appreciate you sharing your perspective with me/us.
I provide you with two examples, similar in scope and magnitude (both were Respect/EO violations...both hit the national media) where white/male cadets were treated differently.
You made a statement, which I believe I refuted, but not just with my opinion, but with evidence.
Your argument appears to be based on "any logical/sane/prudent person can see this"; I believe I am all of those, and I don't see it. Apparently others (including the Generals I referenced) saw it that way as well.
I cannot refute the conspiracy you propose from the White House to the Academy, but you certainly cannot prove it. I can refute (with facts and evidence) that this case would have been handled differently if it had been white/male cadets, and believe that I did.
In any case, it is clear to me no one "wins" an argument on the internet. I will "agree to disagree" and appreciate you sharing your perspective with me/us.
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
LTC (Join to see) - I looked up the rugby incident and found that it had to do with inappropriate internal e-mails. I could not find anything about the lacrosse issue.
I see no real comparison to an inappropriate internal e-mail string by cadets and a group of cadets openly posing, in uniform (and thereby representing West Point and the Army), with their fists raised in what is widely known to be a racist salute of the Black Lives Matter Movement and the Black Panthers. The males were wrong, but they had no expectation the e-mails would hit the national media. The females purposely posed for the picture and had every reason to believe it would not be kept "internal", nor, I assume did they care.
Do you really think that a group of white male cadets holding a Confederate flag or a "white power" banner would receive the same treatment these black female cadets received? Although I admit it is conjecture on my part, I very seriously doubt it.
I certainly did not mean to insinuate that you are not a logical/sane/prudent person... I simply fail to see how anybody looking at the facts can fail to see an intentional violation that has been swept under the rug due to politics. That is my opinion and it is fine if you do not share it.
You are correct ... nobody ever really wins an internet argument. I respect your right to your opinion and I appreciate the conversation.
I see no real comparison to an inappropriate internal e-mail string by cadets and a group of cadets openly posing, in uniform (and thereby representing West Point and the Army), with their fists raised in what is widely known to be a racist salute of the Black Lives Matter Movement and the Black Panthers. The males were wrong, but they had no expectation the e-mails would hit the national media. The females purposely posed for the picture and had every reason to believe it would not be kept "internal", nor, I assume did they care.
Do you really think that a group of white male cadets holding a Confederate flag or a "white power" banner would receive the same treatment these black female cadets received? Although I admit it is conjecture on my part, I very seriously doubt it.
I certainly did not mean to insinuate that you are not a logical/sane/prudent person... I simply fail to see how anybody looking at the facts can fail to see an intentional violation that has been swept under the rug due to politics. That is my opinion and it is fine if you do not share it.
You are correct ... nobody ever really wins an internet argument. I respect your right to your opinion and I appreciate the conversation.
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There are plenty of photos of other USMA Cadets (and many other people) raising their fists that have nothing to do with BLM or the Black Panthers. I'm 99% certain that these intelligent (they are in their last year at the academy) women knew enough not to make a political statement in uniform.
The Academy is taking the prudent step of conducting an investigation, which USMA and the Army owe the American people.
I think the learning point for these Cadets is the power of perception and social media (actually a lesson for all Cadets, Soldiers and Americans); not just what you post, but how your organization and society at large will view it.
What most people are missing is that this small group may be (and probably is) the total # of African-American women graduating from USMA this year. I believe they are showing their pride for making it through the experience.
All that being said, I am sure the 15-6 investigation will find out the truth and put the issue to rest.
The Academy is taking the prudent step of conducting an investigation, which USMA and the Army owe the American people.
I think the learning point for these Cadets is the power of perception and social media (actually a lesson for all Cadets, Soldiers and Americans); not just what you post, but how your organization and society at large will view it.
What most people are missing is that this small group may be (and probably is) the total # of African-American women graduating from USMA this year. I believe they are showing their pride for making it through the experience.
All that being said, I am sure the 15-6 investigation will find out the truth and put the issue to rest.
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I hear their considering a radical new approach to this one: getting the facts BEFORE making a decision!
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