tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post1279297475902013013..comments2024-01-23T21:51:59.450-05:00Comments on The Gary Baumgarten Report: News Talk Online November 6, 2009: President Cautions Against Rush To Judgment Over Fort Hood ShootingsGary Baumgartenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16665260595151901802noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-34966959384531384602009-11-09T12:02:22.097-05:002009-11-09T12:02:22.097-05:00part one: DIVERSITY IS NOT COHESION
The military ...part one: DIVERSITY IS NOT COHESION<br /><br />The military has, at least since the beginning of the 20th century, been at the forefront of creating a diversity within it's ranks. This isn't to say there were no instances of bigotry, but a look at the record tells us that attempts were made towards racial and ethnic integration in the military long before it became popular in the greater society.<br /><br />In both WWI and WWII, Native Americans served in integrated units. The exception to this standard were the Navajo Code Talkers, an elite unit with a specialty. In WWI there were some 10,000 Native Americans serving in integrated units and by WWII, the number swelled to more than 25,000.<br /><br />Prior to WWII, black Americans served in segregated units. However, it should be noted that said segregation often led to more interracial conflict rather than less. By the end of the Korean War, some 90% of African Americans served within integrated units in the military.<br /><br />Japanese Americans served in segregated units in WWII. A poll December of 1945 showed that ¼ of Americans polled believed we should have dropped more bombs on Japan. This was in spite of the fact that one of the most decorated units to serve in WWII, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (otherwise called the “Go for Broke” unit) collectively were awarded more than 30,000 distinctive military honors, including a Medal of Honor, 53 Distinguished Service Crosses, 588 Silver Stars, 5,200 Bronze Stars and 9,486 Purple Hearts.<br /><br />However, by the time the Korean war rolled around, Korean Americans had gained integration within the military. This was due, in part, to the KATUSA program. The KATUSA program was a specified outreach to the Korean community by the military. Fully titled the Korean Augmentation to the US Army program, KATUSA took Koreans, who had thus far served in segregated units and were at best, poorly trained, and turned them into better soldiers.<br /><br />So when General Casey, the Army's top officer, wrings his hands and bemoans a potential loss of “diversity” because of the Fort Hood tragedy, he seems to have a case. After all, isn't the military all about “diversity?”<br /><br />The clear answer is NO. The military is not about diversity. The military is about necessity and cohesion. In ALL of the above instances, the participating minority group put duty to country and their fellow soldiers first. This is what the military demands. This is why they issue uniforms. This is why they receive the same training. This is why they're called “soldier” or “sailor” or “marine” instead of Tom, Dick or Harry.<br /><br />Some would argue that all of the aforementioned group integrations simply prove that we need to toss caution to the wind where adherents to the Islamic faith are concerned. I would argue that is simply ludicrous. None of the aforementioned groups belonged to a religious belief system which called for death to it's non-adherents. None of them belonged to a religious system which called them to place their religion over their military duty, either. Please bear in mind that Japanese Americans during WWII were not adherents to the practice of Emperor worship, which had become common in Japan during that era. Rather, most were either practicing Buddhist or Catholic or had no particular religious bent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-68155917634822379992009-11-09T03:45:40.273-05:002009-11-09T03:45:40.273-05:00A couple of days before this incident, an Iraqi po...A couple of days before this incident, an Iraqi police officer opened fire on British soldiers who had taken off their armour and were resting in the shade, killing 5 of them.<br />Thousands of Iraqis are being trained by the military in order for a smooth transition of power to take place just as thousands of muslims serve in the US military.<br />Individuals do go crazy and do wicked things.<br />To extrapolate the actions of those individuals as some kind of organised plot is irrational and bordering on hysteria.<br /><br />(Can you add me back to your list please Gary -thanks)Brizternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294294294975883770.post-4423445090395958452009-11-09T00:09:26.961-05:002009-11-09T00:09:26.961-05:00As more and more news comes out, we discover a con...As more and more news comes out, we discover a connection to a terrorist and that Dr. Hasan was not "mentally ill." Gary, all of your assumptions about this guy were wrong. And, to make it worse, you presented an improper analysis. He in no ways suffered "transference". I believe what you were trying to say was he suffered "Countertransference" however, he was examined mentally and physically in Sept. and found fit for duty.<br /><br /><br />-LD McLellanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com