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| Home Front: Culture Wars |
| After 60 years, black officers rare |
| 2008-07-23 |
| Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC |
| #9 General Colin Powell. Nothing more need be said. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-07-23 22:17 |
| #8 In the Navy, I worked for three black officers. Two post major command captains and a Lieutenant Commander. Using the terms of the time, all three were head and shoulders above their peers. |
| Posted by: penguin 2008-07-23 20:15 |
| #7 This is an absolute outrage. After more than 25 years of |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-07-23 18:16 |
| #6 "Blacks make up about 17 percent of the total force, yet just 9 percent of all officers". Blacks are about 12% of the US population. And the percentage of black NCOs is *higher* than 12%. This means that blacks prefer the enlisted ranks, *not* that they are being excluded from the officer ranks. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-07-23 15:08 |
| #5 It is a volunteer military. AP smear job. 'nuff said. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-07-23 14:06 |
| #4 For whatever reason the majority of blacks that enter our branch choose to work in support areas. Spike Lee kicked up a fuss over the fact that Clint Eastwood's Iwo Jima movie did not feature blacks, who were primarily restricted to support roles during the entire war. Sixty years later, blacks are voluntarily enlisting mainly for support roles. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2008-07-23 13:57 |
| #3 "You can't get lazy in this man and this woman's Navy," he said. "You have to keep learning to stay ahead." Appears Admiral Harris nailed it in two simple sentences. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-07-23 13:50 |
| #2 I'll put it the way AP wanted to put it: AP IMPACT:US Military Racist. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-07-23 12:22 |
| #1 forced diversity is bullshit. I am so sick of hearing about how "this minority needs or wants this" or "we are trying to target this minority for recruitment". MLK is rolling in his grave, unless Content of character means something else I've missed. Speaking from a USMC perspective - blacks make up 12.8% of the U.S. population - if they make up 17% of the mil then they are represented well. Officer candidates need to have a 4 yr degree, last I checked - only about 6% of eligible black males for service had this first requirement - when they do have a 4 yr degree they are sought out very hard by corporate America & offered lucrative employment in the private sector - logically many of them would rather make high $$$ in corporations vice making less cash as a 2ndLt/Ensign - I know, I talk to these kids on at least on a monthly basis. Second, their own major influencers (parents, teachers, pastors & the idiot forces in pop culture) in their communities tell them that joining the mil after they already have a degree -even as an officer is basically a dumb idea - why not go out into the private sector and make twice as much? The radicals tell me - why would I want to fight in George W's war?? Another factor about blacks in the Corps not making general officer - the majority of our generals are from the Infantry community. For whatever reason the majority of blacks that enter our branch choose to work in support areas. I love how the national black caucus tries to punch us in the chest over the lack of black generals then these same folks tell their college educated youngsters not to join up. Lastly, my $.02 - if you can't do your job as well or think you need a mentor of the same race or you have an issue w/the pigmentation of the skin of your senior officers then you need to search your own soul. Racism comes in many forms and guises - bullets don't discriminate. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2008-07-23 12:00 |