Anti-Affirmative Group Sues Naval Academy

Dr. Strange Love said:
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This conversation needs a discussion on “Kick-a$$” kids with real disabilities who are barred from SA admission and/or Military service in general …

There is SO much potential out there …

### Ableism ###

“Ableism”is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require 'fixing' and defines people by their disability.
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This. DS #3 is a pediatric stroke survivor. He’s “lucky” - only issue is w/ muscle strength on one side of his body but will never pass the DODMERB. Smart as a whip & an amazing leader. We’ve had him in sports since he was old enough - swam a legal breaststroke @ 6, made the HS basketball team & the HS baseball coach is so excited to have him (6 ft freshman LHP). He also volunteers his time - helping our church raise $ to build wells in underdeveloped countries, participating in medical studies, going on mission trips. There are many jobs that he can’t do. It’s a hard conversation to have with your kid. He told me last year - you know mom, I would serve my country too if I could (broke my heart). Many laws protect him but we have a long way to go. We talk about other ways he could serve his fellow man - one of the doctors in the studies he volunteers for (absolutely loves DS) just started talking to him about going to medical school. He’ll be ok & I know is off to do amazing things.
 
Boymomof3 said:
This. DS #3 is a pediatric stroke survivor. He’s “lucky” - only issue is w/ muscle strength on one side of his body but will never pass the DODMERB. Smart as a whip & an amazing leader. We’ve had him in sports since he was old enough - swam a legal breaststroke @ 6, made the HS basketball team & the HS baseball coach is so excited to have him (6 ft freshman LHP). He also volunteers his time - helping our church raise $ to build wells in underdeveloped countries, participating in medical studies, going on mission trips. There are many jobs that he can’t do. It’s a hard conversation to have with your kid. He told me last year - you know mom, I would serve my country too if I could (broke my heart). Many laws protect him but we have a long way to go. We talk about other ways he could serve his fellow man - one of the doctors in the studies he volunteers for (absolutely loves DS) just started talking to him about going to medical school. He’ll be ok & I know is off to do amazing things.
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He definitely will. Maybe one day they will find a way to incorporate more people into positions in the military, even if they can't do every job.

My older brother would have loved to serve his country, but he's deaf and knew it wouldn't be possible in the military. Instead, he's getting his PhD and working at university. He can't speak a foreign language, but he can read and write in three languages besides English and knows multiple signed languages. He's hoping to serve in a civilian capacity using his linguistic abilities once he's done or stay in academia.

There are a lot of things differently abled people can do, and hopefully there will be more opportunities for them in the future.
 
Thegirlinthefireplace said:
He definitely will. Maybe one day they will find a way to incorporate more people into positions in the military, even if they can't do every job.

My older brother would have loved to serve his country, but he's deaf and knew it wouldn't be possible in the military. Instead, he's getting his PhD and working at university. He can't speak a foreign language, but he can read and write in three languages besides English and knows multiple signed languages. He's hoping to serve in a civilian capacity using his linguistic abilities once he's done or stay in academia.

There are a lot of things differently abled people can do, and hopefully there will be more opportunities for them in the future.
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What an amazing story! I feel like these kids are more resilient & tougher than most. Like, literally walk a mile in their shoes. They truly are destined to do great things - so many opportunities, even in government. Kudos to your parents ❤️ - I know how much they sacrificed, their sleepless nights, tears, exhaustion, etc but …. most importantly I know how proud they must be of you both.
 
Heatherg21 said:
I love the verbiage, 'differently abled'.
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Technically it's a bit controversial because some people say it suggests that people with disabilities are not normal. My brother prefers it, as do a few other deaf people that I know, so I tend to use it. I figure they know better than I do about how they want to be referred to lol.
 
Kierkegaard said:
With military service, sometimes it is. There are so many obvious examples I won’t list them.

It already is illegal to discriminate on disability except in cases where the disability would preclude the ability to perform the job. Plenty of disabled persons do serve their country in their work, defense or otherwise. And they are encouraged to enter civil service careers. DoD and other federal agencies have plenty of outstanding civilians who wouldn’t meet the medical qualifications for uniformed service. Of course there’s nothing wrong with that—who thinks there is?

At a certain point, talk about all these different “isms” has just ballooned into a big fat virtue/status signal for people who work in university administration offices and the like.
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yes there are DOD civilians with disabilities. They are covered under Section 501 of the Rehabilitaton Act of 1973. 501 has an affirmative action program for PWDs. The ADA don't have an affirmative action program because it is illegal udner the ADA to ask whether you have a disability on application form from universiity to company. The ADA exempt the federal government while 501 don't include active duty military personnel. www.ada.gov and https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc-disability-related-resources/eeoc-disability-related-publications
 
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/02/politics/supreme-court-west-point-admissions/index.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/02/us/politics/scotus-admissions-west-point.html

Extra! Extra!

News from a couple hours ago. West Point can continue with their admissions model while the case proceeds. Earlier in the lawsuit, the group suing the Service Academy petitioned SCOTUS for a injunction to force the school to not consider race in admissions until a final decision is made. Request denied. Not a decision on the merits
 
I’ll go to my grave in a racist world, because racism is profitable and divisive. When control and and profiteering are the outcome there will be racism.

Last cycle when my DS didn’t make the cut, I internally have the emotions of rage based on race, sex, location (they let them foreigners in). When my son brought up the topic to me, all I could do was emphasize society’s attempt to make a racist out of him, work harder, and don’t give in.

Our country I tell ya, they make exceptions when it’s politically or economically convenient….and the cycle continues.

 
Kentucky9 said:
I’ll go to my grave in a racist world, because racism is profitable and divisive. When control and and profiteering are the outcome there will be racism.

Last cycle when my DS didn’t make the cut, I internally have the emotions of rage based on race, sex, location (they let them foreigners in). When my son brought up the topic to me, all I could do was emphasize society’s attempt to make a racist out of him, work harder, and don’t give in.

Our country I tell ya, they make exceptions when it’s politically or economically convenient….and the cycle continues.

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I just think this thinking is destructive and illogical.

Many white candidates don’t get appointments because they weren’t the best candidate.

The assumption that a less qualified minority or woman got an appointment over a white person is because of nefarious reasons is silly.
 
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A1Janitor said:
I just think this thinking is destructive and illogical.

Many white candidates don’t get appointments because they weren’t the best candidate.

The assumption that a less qualified minority or woman got an appointment over a white person is because of nefarious reasons is silly.
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Silly….but you can’t convince me that it isn’t promoted by the “ruling elite.” If “destructive and illogical” aren’t a perfect description of our political world…then I don’t know what is!
 
Kentucky9 said:
Silly….but you can’t convince me that it isn’t promoted by the “ruling elite.” If “destructive and illogical” aren’t a perfect description of our political world…then I don’t know what is!
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I agree there are problems as you suggest.

I just don’t think we can assume it is why a candidate didn’t get an appointment.
 
A1Janitor said:
The record hasn’t been developed in the lower courts.
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^ Exactly.... and the Supremes aren't going to jump ahead of the courts with an injunction in this case. This case is precipitated by the following footnote in the Harvard decision:

FN 4 > The United States as amicus curiae contends that race-based admis-
sions programs further compelling interests at our Nation’s military
academies. No military academy is a party to these cases, however, and
none of the courts below addressed the propriety of race-based admis-
sions systems in that context. This opinion also does not address the
issue, in light of the potentially distinct interests that military academies
may present.

I didn't go back and look for it, but it appears the US filed an amicus brief arguing that Service Academies had a unique interest in making their student body look like the people we lead. This is a question of mixed law and fact, and the Supremes want to see the record developed..and even then, may not ever hear or decided the case if the lower courts are consistent in their rulings. Only time will tell...
 
A1Janitor said:
Makes sense. The record hasn’t been developed in the lower courts.
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Exactly. Not to mention that it's in the middle of the 2024 admissions cycle where offers have already been made and more are yet to come. Don't need the unnecessary chaos when the case is still at its beginnings in the court system.
 
Seems to me that, for USNA, the admission ratios are fairly close to parity, with the exception of asian only, which is higher. So I don't see the problem.

My hope is that, eventually, the whole racial component will become irrelevant due to mixed race becoming the norm.

Then we can focus on economic disparities arising from factors other than race.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Once things like "the ruling elite" and "racism" come into a thread, it is only a matter of time before it completely devolves and gets shut down.

IBTL!!

(In before the lock).
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“A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.” — Proverbs 26.3
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