Today I woke up to the news that General Miley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had written his letter of resignation after he had accompanied former president Donald Trump for a photo-op after Trump had Lafayette Square forcibly and violently cleared of Americans who, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, were there advocating for the rights of Black Americans to be, well…Americans. And Black. And to actually have a fair and impartial shot at the Promise of America that was published on the fourth of July 1776, and again in the Preamble to the U.S Constitution written nine years later, and that we’ve bragged about ever since.
For me that was a low point. I thought, “What the hell? The Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is now getting involved in politics? Petty, divisive politics? Racial politics? Choosing sides? And the wrong side at that? Just another politicized public figure poking at and widening the nation’s dangerous divide.” My opinion of General Miley, a man who had seemed to be worthy of my respect, diminished greatly. Until today.
Today it came to light that the general was so distraught by that night that in his distress and even shame with his participation and with the president himself, he penned his letter of resignation. Fortunately for the American people and for the entire world, he did not tender it after his peers urged him to stay and tough it out.
“I swore an oath to the Constitution of the United States and embodied within the Constitution is the idea it says that all men and women are created equal. All men and women are created equal, no matter who you are, whether you are white or Black, Asian, Indian, no matter the color of your skin, no matter if you’re gay, straight or something in between. Doesn’t matter if you are Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jew, or choose not to believe.
You (Trump) were using the military to create fear in the minds of the people – and we are trying to protect the American people. I cannot stand idly by and participate in that attack, verbally or otherwise, on the American people.”
I am so pleased that the general recognized that this was an attempt to use race to divide and conquer. Many folks don’r recognize it. Or maybe just deny it. The general said a lot in those 121 words. I’m not going to detract from them by adding anything.
For some reason that reminded me of a conversation I was having a few days ago about The Civil Conversations Project with Joe Neuhof, CCP board chair, when he reminded me, “In talking about racial justice and racism in this country – or any other divisive topic - the goal is not to win nor convince, but to gain an ally. Unless people are way out on the left or right, there is common ground somewhere …likely moving the country closer to the founding ideals is in the mix. Whatever the common ground is, identify what’s in the way and work on those obstacles together. In the case of CCP, we see race as being the major obstacle to closing the great divide.” I guess I thought the general was seeking to widen the divide. He wasn’t.
So long as we’re on a military path today, there’s this piece of totally unrelated, but pleasant and inspiring news. Or it is if you’re a Marine, which I am. On Saturday at an emotional ceremony at the Marine Corps Barracks in Washington DC, 3-star Lieutenant General Michael Langley was promoted to 4-star rank. General Langley is the first Black American to reach the most senior rank of 4-star generals in the Marine Corps’ entire 246 year history.
I reached the exalted rank of corporal during my four years and four days in the Marines and only got busted down a rank one time. Success! YeeHaw!
I am always conflicted whether to celebrate a very long overdue Black achievement or to reflect on the overly long time it took to recognize this achievement. Many point to these milestones as signs of progress, and they are. Sort of. If you knew that your parents had invested a hundred bucks in your name at your birth and you looked at it today for the first time and the value of that investment had reached two hundred bucks, you might be happy for the hundred bucks you have today that you didn’t have yesterday. But would you call that increase in value real progress? At this rate humans may be extinct before real racial parity is achieved in this country. It doesn’t need to take this long. That’s just an excuse from a country that isn’t serious about it.
Many folks ask me what can they do to join the fight. There are many things and I’ll write about them soon. But here’s something you can do right this minute. Share this post. Ask people to subscribe. The noted anthropologist Margaret Mead famously said, “Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Maybe. But we’re striving for a huge, unmistakable community of knowledgeable advocates. So please, share this with many. They won’t hate you for it. They may even thank you as I am right now. Thanks.