Boots on the Ground Perspective
31 May 2021 2024-01-24 19:28Boots on the Ground Perspective
Collection of perspectives from cadets on what is happening at West Point:
In-Class Accusations of Being a Racist
“In Geography class we had a class on Racism. It references Ibram X. Kendi, a Marxist, definition of racism. And they talked about “how to be an antiracist.” They went on to say if you do not actively fight against racism that you may be a racist too. And then they referred to color blind racism and they said that it uses victim blaming as its approach.”
Woke Indoctrinations In Class
“In American Politics Class they talked about how CRT and the 1619 Project is not implemented because we are forced to agree, but because it is supposed to give us another perspective on American history. He said some Americans agree with this and it’s important for officers to know all sides. It is not because they are indoctrinating us; it’s because they are trying to show us different ways of thinking. The thing is though CRT and 1619 Project are both lies and are divisive. It’s not based off fact.”
Politicizing in the Classroom
“A teacher in class was talking to us about equity vs equality. She said, “…equality is not enough and not fair.” She talked about how Kamala Harris “box model” is what we should go for because that is the only way equality can be met. She also pointed to how the poor should be given everything to become equal with the rich.”
“A student in class asked, “Is Liz Cheney a moderate Republican because she isn’t like Trump, who is an extremist Republican?” The teacher then said, “I don’t necessarily want to call a former president an extremist.” He later came back to the subject and he said, ‘This person is not an Extremist Republican like President Trump.’ I think he realized what he said so he quickly said, ‘as **** alluded to earlier…”
“Today in Physical Geography class, better known as DIRT, we did a lesson on cultural geography. A big portion of the class was dedicated to cultural changes. We talked about statues being taken down. We watched a 15 minute long video on a statue of Teddy Roosevelt getting taken down. This is the video we watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL2CW8bZ0to. I know many of you don’t have time to watch a 15 minute video so here are some things that stood out. The national park system is racist because it drove out Indians. Teddy Roosevelt was a racist. Roosevelt was an imperialist in Africa and a white suppremmist [sic]. And they even switched to a BLM chant that was calling out democracy.”
USMA cadets have a nickname for their American History class. They call it their “I hate America class.”
A West Point cadet said his freshman English class was “totally Woke.” He added that the “History of the US Army” class he is now taking is “totally CRT.”
USMA cadets complain about “Living Honorably Down Days.” During training on one of these days, cadets were required to watch 2 movies produced by governor Newsom’s wife which were full of “leftists politicians”, “leftist Hollywood personalities”, and “leftist media”. No conservative thought included.
Cadets (multiple) have told us “I hear diversity, equity and inclusion so often I feel like I am continually being indoctrinated.”
West Point cadets were required to attend diversity events that denounced masculinity. Cadets were obliged to watch two left-wing documentaries by the wife of Gov. Newsom and featured, among others left-wing people, Jane Fonda. “I’m being taught how not to be a man,” said one cadet. “I’m going to quit West Point. It’s no longer teaching me to be a leader of men. It’s teaching me how to be a victim,” said another cadet. “The real bias we need to talk about [is] why it’s scandalous to be conservative in a professional environment but ‘brave’ to follow the crowd and be liberal,” a third cadet wrote. A fourth cadet said, “The guest speaker had us all make a black power sign a yell, ‘Fight the power!’”
USMA cadet complains to parents that 1/3 of the grade in a core course was based on “class participation” and cadet wasn’t participating much as pro CRT discussions were expected and cadet didn’t believe in CRT.
The parent of a West Point applicant alerted STARRS that the assigned admissions officer (a female USMA graduate) discouraged the applicant from applying after finding out she had conservative views. The parent stated this happened to two applicants that they know of. The applicants’ political leanings were learned through surveillance of their social media conversations. The admissions officer told the applicant she would likely fail the physical aptitude test, and also told her about an event (specifics unknown to STARRS editors) that had happened at West Point that could indicate there was cause for concern for one’s physical safety.
Pat Hueman, a 1962 graduate of USMA (West Point), in an email to USMA Superintendent LTG Darryl Williams (following the Superintendent’s address to Pat’s class at its 60th reunion), asked questions about various subjects, including the lack of balance between left-leaning and right-leaning speakers in recent years, as well as cadets reporting they are being taught “what to think” rather than “how to think.” Hueman had reached out to cadets, asking them to list the “liberal/radical” and the “conservative” speakers they had heard, or were told about, since January 1, 2021. Cadets listed six liberal/radical speakers and no conservative speakers.
Mr. Hueman’s email further contained an excerpt from a USMA Social Sciences syllabus that was sent to him from a West Point cadet: “EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON THE INHERENT INEQUALITIES FOUND WITHIN THE STRUCTURES, RULES AND PROCESSES OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM.” This same cadet stated that a History Department instructor showed the class a video from the 1950s called “West Point Belongs to You.” The instructor forced his opinion on the class that the video was sexist and misogynistic. When cadets wrote essays that included political points of view different from those of the instructor, the instructor scratched out cadets’ different views with a red ink pen. The instructor did not allow debate; rather the instructor told the cadets WHAT to believe.
Mr. Hueman further asked, “Did you feel sufficiently comfortable to speak against CRT tenets during class discussions?” One cadet responded, “I know many who would just go with the narrative out of fear. I didn’t because I would rather speak the truth and accept a bad grade than lies. That said, I did not feel comfortable enough to speak up against it in class.” When Mr. Hueman asked cadets about what books they were required to read, they reported, “Integrating the US Military: race, gender and sexual orientation since World War II,” described as being entirely focused on how “whites” marginalize minorities. Another heavily-biased work cited was, “Intimations,” by Zadie Smith.
A USMA Parent: “West Point just told my son in an official proceeding he is too religious to serve and has to be discharged. …The gaslighting is truly something to behold.”
