!CAUTION!
YOU ARE IN A "VERBAL SHRAPNEL" RICH DOMAIN
8 July 2009
The Butter-Cutter On Diversity At USNA
Anthony F. Milavic
Major, United States Marine Corps, (Retired)
“Isn't it wonderful,” I said to The Butter-Cutter. “This year's incoming class at the U. S. Naval Academy is the most racially diverse in history: 35 percent consists of minorities as opposed to 28 percent last year.” (1)
“Why is that so wonderful?” he asked.
“This helps close the minority gap between enlisted personnel and officers. Currently, 48 percent of the enlisted are of minority racial extraction and only 21 percent of the officers,” I answered.
“Oh? So they want the officers ta have as much color as them Dixie Cups. What's it like with the Rice-Eaters?”
“You are insensitive! Those are horrible things to call sailors and Asian-Americans! If you can't refer to people respectfully, I am going to leave!” I told him with conviction.
“Waddaya mean INSENSITIVE? Them little white hats sailors wear look like Dixie Cups . . . 'n' ASIANS eat rice . . . 'n' I'm SENSITIVE ta that shit! If ya don't see it, YER THE ONE THAT'S INSENSITIVE NOT ME! Anyhow, I didn't ask ya ta come here! If ya don't like my shit then GO F***IN' TALK TA SOME BLIND, ASS-KISSIN' OFFICER-TYPE LIKE YERSELF!” The Butter-Cutter snapped back.
Damn it, I came on too strong. I dodged my impetuous threat by saying, “The article made no mention of the breakdown of minorities of the incoming Class. It did, however, say that in the Class of 2009 the Hispanic graduation rate was 86 percent and 77 percent for blacks.”
“How'd the Yellows and Whites in the 2009 class do?” he asked with a frown on his face.
“The article didn't mention that either,” I said reluctantly.
“Yer sayin' that article didn't give ya numbers so ya can compare how the Whites 'n' Yellows did against the Blacks 'n' Browns? Well, I'll tell ya what: they probably graduated over 90 percent!” he volunteered.
“Look! This is an issue of improving diversity at the Naval Academy and the comparisons you are looking for are not germane,” I tried to explain.
“Yeah, I got yer improvin' diversity. This is about discriminatin' against Whites ta increase the number o' Blacks 'n' Browns in the officer population--QUOTAS! QUOTAS! QUOTAS! 'n', ta make that shit work, the Academy is . . . waddid they call it? 'DUMBING DOWN!' An English professor at that Canoe Club said they're dumbin' down what they teach so them estupidos minorities can pass their classes and graduate. That means they gonna send even dumber dumb-shit officers ta the Fleet ta screw over the Snuffies.” (2)
“That's ridicules. The Naval Academy is a long-standing distinguished institution of higher learning. Your suggestion that it would compromise its academic integrity is . . . RIDICULES!”
“Waddaya mean, my suggestion? I ain't the one sayin' this shit! It's one o' their own tempered professors! If you're so f***in' smart, tell me why he'd lie 'n' risk gettin' his ass fired!” The Butter-Cutter fired back in rebuttal.
“As a 'tenured' professor, Bruce Fleming is probably safe from being fired. In any case, I do not know why he would be at public variance with the administration of the Academy. I am sure, never the less, that this is just a simple difference of opinion,” I said.
“Oh, BULL SHIT! Even them big fancy schmancy schools been lookin' fer diversity 'n' are givin' away free educations ta get it! Now, engage yer brain housing group! Where d'ya think the smart Latinos 'n' Blacks are gonna go? Harvard/Yale er The Naval Academy/West Point? Them smart ones are gonna go ta Harvard/Yale like President Dumbo-Ears did so's they can make the BIG BUCKS when they graduate. Them articles ya read said that they're now recruitin' in 'urban areas.' What they mean is that they're recruitin' in the Barrios 'n' Ghettos fer the left over crumbs o' the maggotude ta get THEIR diversity--QUOTAS O' DUMB-SHITS!” he hammered on.
I stood in silence mulling a response as The Butter-Cutter busied himself replenishing his ice bowl with pats of butter. It quickly became obvious to me that his blind fixation on quotas made him impervious to further attempts to bring him to a rational understanding of diversity and its virtues to the military. I, therefore, elected to exit the virtual Mess Hall rather than hazard another emotional outburst.
Semper . . . sigh,
Anthony F. Milavic
Major USMC (Ret.)
Waddaya think?
(15 Thinks)
Sandy Daze said: July 8th, 2009 6:37 am
If "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" then should we not also agree that the entrance standards not just for the service academies but in all walks of life, are equal for all men and women, whether for instance you are an aspiring Plebe or a firefighter in Connecticut? Is it not time we dropped the hyphenated-American syntax that divides more than unites? Is it not time that we have one language, the American dialect of English? Is it not time, as in the words of a great American, ". . . when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character" and I would add, excellence of their mind! If not in America, where? If not us, whom? If not now, when? Take good care, Sandy
Les said: July 8th, 2009 7:33 am
Maybe I'm getting curmudgeonly, but I think it is shameful that not one Flag officer in the United States Navy laid his career on the line to declare his disagreement with this poorly conceived, unconstitutional, and dangerous (in its implications) assault on the quality of our officer corps. The going in assumption -- that leadership, effectiveness, morale, etc., would somehow be better if the racial demographics of the officer corps matched that of the enlisted rank & file is wrong, wrong, wrong. The paramount quality in time immemorial that the lead have sought in their leaders is not racial identity, but competence!  Perhaps it has been guilt that has cowed so many right-thinking people to silently observe the sheer stupidity enacted under the mantle of reverse racism. In this case we're giving them commissions, not mortgages. But the result will be the same. Enough!
John Longo said: July 8th, 2009 7:35 am
Right on ButterCutter6!! A few years go my wife & I attended the West Point Military Academy's celebration of Independence Day, specifically the Cadet turnout for the 1812 Overture evening Concert. We were amazed at the diversity on display! There was a majority of blacks, asians, women and mixed minorities among the Cadets, very few whites. All had another thing in common in that they were all very short people, many wearing glasses, with the exception of the Cadet Sgt. Major, who was imposingly tall. How the hell can mililitary enlisted look up to officers when they have to look down at them? John Dixie-Cup Bubblehead SubVet
Mike Hipius said: July 8th, 2009 7:37 am
Anthony- I teach in, let's say, a very non-caucasian school. What is constantly shoved down everyone's throat (and supported by that crusty fungus infested puss-filled festering with maggots horse's ass union, NYSUT) is the "beauty" of diversity. It encompasses loving everything from everywhere (else). So, I am a racist, I guess, because my culinary interests have a very limited range- scrambled eggs, turkey sandwiches, hamburgers, etc. I have NO INTEREST in eating other stuff! Yet, we have developed a subculture that says "now your're going to eat this crap and like it". Sadly, the same dopes pushing diversity have no clue about our country. In my school the jackasses made a big deal about May 5 (I refuse to refer to it in Spanish while on American soil) yet they made no mention to the students about Veterans Day, Memorial Day or D-Day. I, a math teacher, had to squeeze those ones in during my lessons and risk getting into trouble because it wasn't part of the math curriculum. Hot dogs and apple pies rule. Mike
Col Rich Ingold USMC (Ret) said: July 8th, 2009 10:06 am
CNO and the Admiral in Charge of the USNA should be brought up on charges as perpetrators of institutionalized government sanctioned and directed"Racism"! Merit and military fitness should be the only basis for entrance into the USNA. Our Military is for fighting battles and winning wars not for social experimentation. If we were to apply this racism to the NFL, NBA, or baseball what would be the result?
Bruce Feming said: July 8th, 2009 3:12 pm
Maj, funny! But you got it right. The good ones go to Harvard, and that's why we have to dig so deep. PLUS we have a taxpayer-supported remedial school going, NAPS--which of course is too late to remediate when they get there at 18. It's a mess. More postings by me on the Naval Institute blog, that's www.blog.usni.org R and ;-) BEF PS I speak out because it's rotting USNA from within. And yes, the tenure protects me.
Wm Miller said: July 8th, 2009 12:54 pm
Butter-Cutter is on the mark! The Academy Minority Quota Retention System, that I observed at the USAFA, was alive and kicking in the late-70's. If a Cadet was in academic trouble, he had to put forth his own effort to seek help and pass the class, if the Cadet was black, especially a black athelete, the faculty fell over themselves to help the balck Cadet, and he passed. If you were on Academic Probation, and you were white, you had one foot out the door to be expelled, but a majority of the minority Cadets, would be retained, and held over for summer classes and pass.
Terron Sims II said: July 9th, 2009 5:46 pm
As for the service academies, diversity should and must be an aspect in their recruiting, but not at the expense of diminishing the school's reputation and standards. It appalls me when leadership institutes a system that brings in anyone who it is not confident will graduate on time. Those of us who are grads know that there is always going to be matriculation: that's a part of the game. But, at the same time, when an academy admits a kid into a class that starts out at 1200 cadets, though all 1200 are not going to graduate, all 1200 should knowingly have the aptitude to graduate. It is a cop out to lower the standards to recruit and admit non-white males into any of the service academies. There are thousands of eligible young Black men and women who have the ability to excel. The problem is that the admission departments do a lousy job of recruiting. Instead of attempting to compete with the Harvards, UVAs, and MITs of our country, the acadmies target kids who reach out to them first. This is not a feasible method of recruiting, especially during a time of war when mothers don't want their babies dying. The academies could clean up in northern Virginia, but I personally know that West Point's recruiting down here is abysmal. For years, I have been attempting to get West Point admissions to put some real emphasis in northern Virginia, yet to no avail. It, as with the other two service academies, when recruiting non-white males, focuses its energy in urban areas where "minorities" are more prevalent; thus, navy's poor entrance pool and West Point's steadily decreasing number of Black cadets. As for our frustration with admission standards, we alums must place the burden upon our shoulders to confront our respective academies on a regular basis to ensure that they are upholding the standards and ideals to which we hold dear.
Geby said: July 9th, 2009 5:57 pm
To John Longo Some of us go back a ways, and I cannot imagine anyone having that conversation with Victor Harold Krulak Sr. The legend was that a Marine looked straight ahead when the Brute inspected, even if if meant looking over his head. Although short of statue, he was a giant of a man, no, a giant of a Marine. Semper Fi
SgtMajor Jack Du Bois USMC said: July 9th, 2009 6:02 pm
Must say that Sandy Daze hit it right on the head. But politicians will never do this since it may cost them votes. Â Semper disgusted. Â Jack Du Bois SgtMajor USMC, Retired 1945 - 1972
Phil Ray said: July 10th, 2009 10:06 am
Anthony, Company (Battery, Squadron, etc.)commanders and platoon, section, team, etc. leaders are among the most overlooked recruiting resources we have for both the Academies and our ROTC universities. Our enlisted ranks are rife with the academic, physical, and character qualities the officer corps requires. Some of them, believe it or not, are even other than WASPs. S/F, Phil Ray (who, like you! remains a), Marine Mustang
Bob Nichols said: July 10th, 2009 1:51 pm
As a recruiter in the '60's, I looked for one thing in an applicant. Would I want to serve with him? Any youg man (I never had a woman apply) that came to me wanting to be an officer, I looked at him with one thing in mind. Woudl I want him as my leader? The dead heads I did not send to OSO. I did have a kid come into my office wanting to be an ociffer. I said "a what"? He said "I'd like to be an ociffer" I didn't even consider him for the Corps. PS: I'm not sure how to spell "ociffer" R J Nichols 1st Sgt USMC (Ret)
Maddy said: July 11th, 2009 1:57 pm
Sir , I don't Believe any school or academicians should lower their standards ,for any reason . If an individual wants to become part of that group . They should want to have the pride , Honor & intergerity to follow through . Otherwise don't join . Everyone has something to offer in life .Doesn't matter what race , religion , or creed you follow .if this world were all one race , region or creed . none of us would learn anything . we learn from each other whether right or wrong . We walk away with knowledge . May I also add "YOU CAN"T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER ..YOU WON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT UNTIL YOU READ THE PAGES " maddy
Sniperbait1966 said: July 11th, 2009 2:25 pm
Well, if my brilliant 5 year old Daughter decides she wants to be a Marine Officer and Naval Academy graduate, her Grandparents were BOTH WW II combat Veterans, her Dad is a Vietnam Combat veteran with seventeen and a half years of service before I was Medically discharged (over my protests) AND she can check the block that says Native American because her Mother, a Gulf War Veteran of Naval Service is part Cherokee. Is that not so? It's time we WASPS used a bit of creative logic to get ahead in a decidedly skewed World.
Cy Kammeier said: July 11th, 2009 3:59 pm
Since leadership qualities rather than innate intelligence, now more than ever, are the seeds that make an outstanding Marine or Naval Officer, the enlisted ranks should be the primary source of selection for Military Academies. We have long known, but failed to admit, that past selections, particularly from third rate schools, do not yield remarkable officers. Cy Kammeier
