Should we serve?




“As long as we see one another through the lens of race, we will never truly experience authentic humanity.” Dr. BLR

  

In 1981, I made a decision that would change the course of my life, and I never looked back. I enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. It was a decision I truly needed at the time because I was unsure about my future and didn’t want to end up like so many of my friends, who were lost, unemployed, in jail, or dead. 

 

I served in the Army Reserve for six years. When my contract ended in 1987, I received my honorable discharge and was proud to have served my country. During my enlistment, there were no active wars, so I wasn’t deployed.  

 

Looking back, the discipline I received set me up for success. I followed in the footsteps of my maternal grandfather, who, along with my father, fought in World War II. My uncle served in the Korean War, another served in the Vietnam War, and two of my cousins were deployed in two recent wars. The military distinction and patriotism displayed speak volumes about the pride we shared in donning our uniforms. We served without reservation. I am not sure I would answer the call in today’s military. 

 

That last part may raise questions about my allegiance to this country, but I will explain. In every war we have fought, Black people have paid the ultimate price. Many have been honored posthumously with awards for bravery they will never see, and their families can share their loved ones' stories. These stories are not just for families; they are stories every American should know. Unfortunately, the days of honoring those who have given their lives to protect America may be on hold. 

 

In the past year, the Secretary of Defense, aka the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has taken it upon himself to act on behalf of President Donald Trump’s anti-DEI Executive Order and has either fired or removed minorities and women from leadership positions across the branches of the military. 

 

When I heard about this, I was appalled, though not surprised. As President Trump returned to office, he selected Hegseth to implement his order within the military. While I would never downplay anyone’s service to this country, I don’t believe Hegseth has the requisite knowledge, emotional intelligence, situational awareness, or skill set to lead. His presence dishonors the entire military. I’ve listened to him and watched what he’s done since his selection, and I’m not impressed. I’m more concerned about minorities who want to enlist. 

 

Hegseth removed General Charles Q. Brown, a Black four-star general and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Admiral Lisa Franchetti, a white four-star admiral and former Chief of Naval Operations; Vice Admiral Yvette Davids, a woman and former superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy; and Lt. General Jennifer Short, a woman and former senior military assistant to the defense secretary, all because he didn’t believe they earned their ranks. He also blocked several Black men and women from promotion. A cursory review of the qualifications of those removed shows that Hegseth couldn’t hold a candle to them. Unsurprisingly, he replaced them with an overwhelmingly white, all-male slate. 

 

We only have to look at who President Trump has appointed to key roles in his administration to see why minorities and women should think twice before enlisting in the military or seeking employment in the federal government. 

 

As someone from a family of military men who have served this country with honor, including some who were discriminated against while serving and remained, I will not encourage any minority to risk their life until something changes. This anti-DEI policy has taken us backward and flung open the door to an all-out assault on minority rights and upward mobility. Minorities bleed like everyone else. If we choose to protect this country with our lives, we should be respected and treated fairly, like our white contemporaries. Lastly, those in power now will ultimately pay for this disrespect and criminal behavior in their official roles, and history will not be kind. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The rise of the First Amendment

Image
“Social media has provided an opportunity for the misinformed to become the voice of the miseducated.” Dr. BLR   As a strong supporter of the First Amendment, I am disappointed that, in this era of political correctness, voices are being silenced on both sides of the political spectrum. A lively debate fosters intellectual growth, regardless of how unpopular someone's opinion may be. In this context, I will discuss the recent death of Charlie Kirk (Kirk) at a speaking event on the campus of Utah Valley University. For the record, I knew nothing about him before his untimely passing, until I visited his website and the algorithmic whirlpool directed his information my way. Unapologetically, I have a selective indifference to his death because I didn’t know him. Nonetheless, I genuinely appreciate young people, even if their views are controversial, stepping up and speaking out on issues that will impact their future. Some examples include Nick Fuentes, Ben Shapiro, Candace Owens, La...
Read more

Losing my brother

Image
“As you lay on your deathbed, I looked into your eyes and knew you were ready for the next chapter, and my sorrow for your departure was eased.” Dr. BLR   In a chaotic world, you can never predict what will happen next. Life has a way of surprising us. Yet at some point, you have to expect the unexpected. Earlier this year, I lost my twin brother, Aaron Keith Royster. It hurts to write these words because I am still grieving, and I hope that writing this will help with the process. I don’t think there’s a stronger bond than being a twin, whether identical or fraternal. My brother and I were born about four minutes apart. I wanted to stay in my mother’s womb a little longer, so I kicked him out for my special entrance. Our bond lasted for the next sixty years. My earliest memory of being a twin is from when I was around three or four years old, when my father was trying to teach us how to box. He rewarded us afterward with colorful licorice candy. Unfortunately, not long after,...
Read more

Not my enemy

Image
Not my enemy “I can’t believe what you say because I see what you do.”  James Baldwin   No one will ever fully agree on controversial issues or people. Recently, someone reappeared in my life after a period of silence. Assata Olugbala Shakur (also known as JoAnne Deborah Byron and JoAnne Chesimard), an African-American woman, was convicted of murdering a New Jersey State Trooper, Werner Foerster, on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973. As a retired New Jersey State Trooper (NJSP), I feel conflicted about why I have allowed her to occupy space in my mind. She allegedly killed a state trooper, and law states she should have spent the rest of her life in prison. However, I wasn’t entirely convinced she was guilty.  Growing up as a young Black man in Newark, New Jersey's inner city, I often heard about our struggles to survive within an oppressive, predominantly white, male-dominated system. I vaguely remember the 1967 riots in Newark, but later I researched the NJSP’s role ...
Read more