by Andy Weddington
Monday, 18 January 2016
The time is always right to do what is right. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The United States of America's military is under attack!
From within.
And that means many a thing - from hampering world image, influence, and power projection to compromising national security. That is, one way or another, a threat to us all. To what degree? Unknown.
The commander-in-chief, through two secretaries (Defense and Navy), is methodically degrading battlefield prowess by jamming women into direct ground combat warfighting specialties they simply are not designed, by nature, to perform on the same par as men. Truth, reality, and data compellingly so prove (validating common sense).
And not so many days ago the Marine Corps commandant received orders from the Navy secretary to integrate entry-level training (officer candidate school and recruit training).
As reported, the commandant was irate. And he called for an audience with the Navy secretary's boss the Defense secretary. Whether that happened, or not, is moot for now.
If the report is true then a reasonable man's conclusion is the commandant, General Robert Neller, has common sense (and a soul).
This morning's commentary opened with a thought from a courageous man, a leader.
Another thought from the good Dr. King came my way early this morning...
"Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way."
"Afraid" does not mean just of fear. Think about it.
Do what's right. Period. Especially if the well-being of a person is at stake.
In military service the stakes are high - in training and combat.
General Neller was irate (and so are divisions and divisions of men and women who hold the title Marine) because he knows what is right and he knows how high the stakes.
No, it is not right to integrate entry-level training.
Nor is it right to have women serving in direct ground combat.
What Dr. King said boils down to courage and leadership. Simple as that. Something we expect from military men and women, especially in the senior ranks.
Society's punishments are petty.
So let's be clear.
How many courageous people will be senselessly injured and killed in training and others in battle (decorated with a Purple Heart) because less courageous people did not do what is right?
Souls wounded, for fear of doing what is right, do not rate a Purple Heart nor any decoration. And they do not heal.
Generals and admirals, this is your time. Which way are you looking?
How many courageous people will be senselessly injured and killed in training and others in battle (decorated with a Purple Heart) because less courageous people did not do what is right?
Souls wounded, for fear of doing what is right, do not rate a Purple Heart nor any decoration. And they do not heal.
Generals and admirals, this is your time. Which way are you looking?
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3 comments:
Being irate is not courageous, for heaven's sake. Hell, me, you, and a lot of those who read your blog are irate. Being irate is one thing. As the Commandant, Gen. Neller needs to do what is right. And that does not include, in my opinion, saluting smartly and saying, "Aye, aye, Sir" to SecNav Mabus. As you so correctly point out, "General, this is your time." Do you have the moral courage to do what you know is right? The future of the Marine Corps hangs in the balance...
HONOR. COURAGE. COMMITMENT. Finally, apparently, a Marine flag rank officer has, somewhat openly, stood up to be counted. It may cost him, but he is showing moral courage, living up to his moral responsibility to "take care of his men". Where are the JCS and the other Chiefs of their services? They MUST begin to be OPENLY vocal in disagreeing with the administration and its' flunkies, particularly when appearing before congressional committees. We are talking about the survival of our military as the world's greatest; and potentially our own way of life. The public has a right to know where our military leaders stand on the "social experimentation" being forced down our throats and on the efforts taken, at least by the Marine Corps, to show the potentially disastrous effect they will have on our nation's security. It may cost the first who stand up, but I doubt the populace will stand for anymore mass firings once they know all the facts. Naive? Maybe. But we have to start somewhere. And the Generals/Admirals are supposed to LEAD!!
Being irate is an emotion not an (leadership) action.
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