Posted on May 4, 2016
COL Sam Russell
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DOD directive 1344.10 states:

-A member of the Armed Forces on active duty may:
4.1.1.3. Join a partisan or nonpartisan political club and attend its meetings when NOT in uniform, subject to the restrictions of subparagraph 4.1.2.4. (See DoD Instruction 1334.1 (Reference (c).)

From the article "Racism Within West Point"
http://www.inthearenafitness.com/index.php/racism-within-west-point
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 237
MSG Military Police
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I understand no disciplinary action will be taken.
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SFC Military Police
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Well it appears that the "Fist in the Air" symbolism itself has a different meaning when displayed by different races. Due to the fact that they were able to obtain several pictures of white cadets at various events displaying the same symbol and referring to it as "celebratory" , these cadets were able to use the same defense, regardless of what their intent may have been. Convenience or lucky? Next thing you know people in uniform who are caught displaying the Nazi salute will say they were just waving goodbye and someone just timed the picture right.
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CW4 C-12 Pilot
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Politically minded rabble rousers made an assumption without any investigation. The controversy itself is an issue as doing anything that causes controversy (even unintentionally) is itself a problem.
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Maj James Tippins
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Looks like the PC police win again and the cadets saved their butts by lying about it...since the tweet comments they made apparently do not count. Of course the Army wanting to increase minority attendance at the academy couldn't have influenced their decision at all...
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CSM Thomas McGarry
CSM Thomas McGarry
>1 y
So Major one question were you actually present so can vouch that actually lied about the meaning of their raised fist? I see pictures posted on RallepPoint showing Gen Demsey and others who happen to be white with raised fists so tell me what is the meaning of their raised fists???
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Maj James Tippins
Maj James Tippins
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CSM Thomas McGarry - Sorry I said it. I don't have the tweet they commented with the picture...and it has been deleted from the group they sent it to. I only read about the tweet content from another black woman. The cadets clearly got away with this one.

One thing that amazes me here is the people who cannot see what they were actually doing. Simply incredible.

And I won't be commenting anymore on this subject.
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Capt Walter Miller
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This picture is clearly prejudicial to good order and discipline.
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Cpl D L Parker
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I think it more of a Civil Rights matter. They know the crap they'll go thru as women and minorities.
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Maj Rob Drury
Maj Rob Drury
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Oh, that accelerated promotion/preferred selection crap?

I feel so sorry for them.
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SSG Barry Walter
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I sincerely hope that this display was just a poor judgement by group of young spirited educated young women proud of both their heritage and their accomplishments. I do not want to be judged by a few of the things I did as a 21 year old SSG. If however, a proper investigation reveals that their action was a social / political statement, their poor judgement brings with it a different reaction which may not be so strong to prohibit their graduation and commissioning but should have consequences none the less.
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Maj Rob Drury
Maj Rob Drury
>1 y
But they're not 21-year-old SSGs; they are senior military officer candidates. They are at the point of completion of the most thorough, advanced military training program our tax dollars can buy. They're not kids, or at least they shouldn't be. This is NOT about punishment; it's about (to put it in bitch-ass-liberal EEO language) bona fide occupational qualifications. If they make such poor judgement calls now, they'll make them 10 years from now. If anything, they are to be commended for pointing out what a mistake Uncle Sam made in their selection before they cause a lot of subordinates to die on their watch. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that's what's going to happen.
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CPT Pedro Meza
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The potential that I see in these warriors, they should be honed, trained and taught to fight and take no prisoners then armed well then set free on ISIS. I wish I was their instructor, you guys can keep the pomp and ceremony West Pointers I would gladly serve with these future leaders.
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MSG Mechanic 2nd
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we all do stupid things when we're young and old, but this really, these young ladies and future officers need to be sat down and counselled, i found this offensive not because i'm white but because i served 31 years, i know my american history, and i know that slavery was wrong, and i also know that times have changed, for this to come up in a most prestigious millitary acememy is wrong but i understand the learning curve, dont punish but counsel grow these future leaders to make the correct changes i earned everthing i got from the millitary so should they
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MSG Mechanic 2nd
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ps i grew up in black panther days
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SFC Michael Peterson
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I have no idea what they were trying to represent by raising their fists. I can ASSUME but, we all know how that breaks down. The problem I have with it is how it can be "perceived". Does it look like a "political statement"? To me it does but, how would I know? If you've ever heard that "perception is reality" then, you know what I mean. In my opinion, it was not a smart thing to do. If I was in charge, I would interview each of them individually to find out. If it turns out it was just to signify "victory" over a hard fought four years in WestPoint then, good for them. Carry on and do great things. However, if it was meant to signify "black power" or support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement, I would expel them all just as fast as I would a group of white Cadets giving the Nazi salute.
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MSgt James Mullis
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I would say no. They are acting like kids.
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Maj Rob Drury
Maj Rob Drury
>1 y
But they're not kids; they're only days from becoming officers (unless the system shows enough sense to prevent it).
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MSgt James Mullis
MSgt James Mullis
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Maj Rob Drury - At best they are well educated kids who spent the last four years of their lives in a military cocoon. Hopefully, time and experience will make them into adult officers worthy of respect and followership they will be soon be seeking from their soldiers.
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Maj Rob Drury
Maj Rob Drury
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MSgt James Mullis - Hopefully so; but if this is how they transition into commissioned life, it's not likely.
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