Critical Race Theory (CRT) at USAFA

Falcon74

Falcon74

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We have all read about the USAFA Associate Professor that wrote the Op-ed to the Washington Post claiming credit for teaching CRT to Cadets. As is frequently the case, there is another side to this story. Another officer that previously taught in the same Political Science Department wrote a response to this situation. For the other side of the story, see the link that follows. https://thefederalist.com/2021/07/1...teaching-cadets-anti-american-racial-marxism/
 
I posted this previously but I think it should be repeated. I believe the intent of the recent teaching of CRT at USAFA was to present it to the cadets so that can be well informed of exactly what the content and intentions are behind it so that they can make a mature decision on their own as adults on whether they agree with it or not. The media (especially far right such as The Federalist) have blown it up into something that projects doom for democracy. At its core CRT examines injustice to underserved people and communities. Yes there are Far Left that seek to take the matter to the extreme, but that is not everyone, just like not every conservative supports our former president.
 
FH76 said:
I posted this previously but I think it should be repeated. I believe the intent of the recent teaching of CRT at USAFA was to present it to the cadets so that can be well informed of exactly what the content and intentions are behind it so that they can make a mature decision on their own as adults on whether they agree with it or not. The media (especially far right such as The Federalist) have blown it up into something that projects doom for democracy. At its core CRT examines injustice to underserved people and communities. Yes there are Far Left that seek to take the matter to the extreme, but that is not everyone, just like not every conservative supports our former president.
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“Your beliefs” do not make it reality.
 
The intent of Professor Lynne Chandler Garcia of teaching CRT is NOT simply to present it to the cadets so they can be well informed of exactly what the content and intentions are behind CRT.

Professor Chandler Garcia states in her Washington Post opinion in July 2021 that she teaches CRT because "it provides methods for deconstructing oppressive beliefs, policies, and practices to find solutions that will lead to justice". So, she is NOT simply teaching about CRT so cadets can be well informed, Professor Chandler Garcia promotes its use "to find solutions".

Unfortunately from "How to be an Anti-Racist" by Ibram X Kendi, one of the seminal books promoting CRT as a way "to find solutions that will lead to justice", includes the solution that "The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination." and justifies this solution on the idea "The most threatening Racist movement is NOT the alt right's unlikely drive for a white ethno state, but the regular American's drive for a race neutral one."

Decades ago cadets were taught communist philosophies of Lenin, Castro, Che Guevera, etc., to be "well informed" about them, without promoting those philosophies "to find solutions that will lead to justice" as Professor Chandler Garcia states why she teaches CRT.

Former Professor Jeff Anderson's opinion in what is a typical conservative publication, The Federalist, is a valuable response.
 
Current Cadet in PoliSci. CRT isn’t emphasized but mentioned so we understand the world that we are commissioning into. Understanding how historically marginalized communities affect the world we live in is PARAMOUNT for our ability to defend this nation. There are undeniable gaps between socioeconomic classes which is heavily tied to race because of decades of racist policies such as redlining that disproportionately affected communities of color. That is a fact.

We also learn about our form of government and what sets us apart from other failing forms of government. There isn’t anything “scary” or a push for a “woke” agenda. Learning about different theories is important because that is what is known as “education”.
 
MCA_10 said:
Learning about different theories is important because that is what is known as “education"
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Correct. Just like reading what Karl Marx wrote doesn't make you a communist nor does reading Mein Kampf make you a Nazi.

Moreover, The Oxford Dictionary defines "woke" as: "alert to injustice in society, especially racism." It that is what it means, then everyone should be "woke." My biggest problem with the word "woke" is that is should probably be "awakened." Woke is not a word.
 
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On other forums, more political forums, it seems to me that the folks going on and on about crt , are pretty much the same ones , that were going on , about how a recent potus was or could have been born in Africa.
 
I'm a West Point dad (2025), so I don't have a dog in this USAFA discussion. But this complaint about CRT being taught at West Point has also raised its head. Having spent a lot of time with these cadets over the last year, it seems to me that the current cadets at each of these academies seem to be much more mature and capable of digesting these controversial concepts that all of the adults who are "screaming" about the horror that is these teachings. Its a good thing that many of us "old grads" are no longer subject to these lessons as it is clear we are incapable of rationally and reasonably understanding them. If our kids can eliminate all the nonsensical noise around these issues, they will be much better leaders than we were.
 
MCA_10 said:
Current Cadet in PoliSci. CRT isn’t emphasized but mentioned so we understand the world that we are commissioning into. Understanding how historically marginalized communities affect the world we live in is PARAMOUNT for our ability to defend this nation. There are undeniable gaps between socioeconomic classes which is heavily tied to race because of decades of racist policies such as redlining that disproportionately affected communities of color. That is a fact.

We also learn about our form of government and what sets us apart from other failing forms of government. There isn’t anything “scary” or a push for a “woke” agenda. Learning about different theories is important because that is what is known as “education”.
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The extent to which you perceive crt is being pushed will depend on the section you are in (different faculty will teach it in different ways) and ones receptiveness to it. As the parent of a current policy sci student, maybe in the same section, maybe not, the story I am getting is that CRT is indeed being pushed. OP’s post above demonstrates his welcoming attitude to CRT theory, as does his previous post about wanting to attend USAFA because of its wokeness. All factors for other readers to consider.
 
I agree with those who think the issue is much about nothing. CRT was an attempt to apply 19th Century Marxist Theory of Dialectically Materialism to issues of US Civil Rights in the 1960's and 70's. (I can just see a 3rd grade class listening to a lecture on Hegel and Marx.) IMHO, it is inherently pessimistic, stressing that struggle and revolution are the only way to resolve the contradiction between our ideals and reality.

SOLL said:
Unfortunately from "How to be an Anti-Racist" by Ibram X Kendi, one of the seminal books promoting CRT as a way "to find solutions that will lead to justice", includes the solution that "The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination." and justifies this solution on the idea "The most threatening Racist movement is NOT the alt right's unlikely drive for a white ethno state, but the regular American's drive for a race neutral one."
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One would hope that at USAFA it would be but a very short section in an otherwise, larger discussion about US civil rights history and the role of the Military in that evolution, including a discussion of Chappie James. My guess is that most of its proponents are just as ignorant about what it is, as those who mindlessly rail against it.

The Professor does herself no favors with this statement: "it provides methods for deconstructing oppressive beliefs, policies, and practices to find solutions that will lead to justice". This absolutely demonstrates a bias which most people would resent.

Her resume doesn't look all that impressive.
 
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There was a time when USAFA focused on developing warriors and not social Justice warriors.

Everyone was one color - blue and no one really cared how you got there, just that they could trust you in a fight and they could trust you
 
Cerberi said:
There was a time when USAFA focused on developing warriors and not social Justice warriors.

Everyone was one color - blue and no one really cared how you got there, just that they could trust you in a fight and they could trust you
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And of course you are speaking for all the people of color on these issues , all the woman and all the gays as well.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
And of course you are speaking for all the people of color on these issues , all the woman and all the gays as well.
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My sister is a grad and my DD is a USNA grad - the mission was to produce warriors not social Justice warriors.

I stand by my statement - the training was based on everyone being blue and what mattered was you could depend on them and they could depend on you in the fight
 
So you are saying that a diverse service community comprised of a balanced cross section of our population can't be depended on to fight as well as a male white-only corps.

Okay.
 
FutureAdademyDad? said:
So you are saying that a diverse service community comprised of a balanced cross section of our population can't be depended on to fight as well as a male white-only corps.

Okay.
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The mission of the military is to fight and win our nation’s wars. The mission of USAFA used to be to produce warriors - the mission statement actually said ‘…to produce combat officers…’

The training to get there started with an attitude of - we frankly don’t care about your background - now that are here - you are all blue - now let’s get on with the mission to turn you into warriors

I said nothing pro or con about race or sexual orientation, I just think if you want to serve, the day you take the oath with your classmates - everyone serving with you became equal
 
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