New USNA Class To Be Most Diverse Ever

[America's Finest]

i know the events happened before he was born but those events had a profound effect on the future for minorities. there are whites in poverty but there are more minorities in poverty.

Again you choose to separate Americans by race. Poverty is the issue not poverty only affecting minorities. A minority climbed his way up to being the POTUS...We can't just target to help a specific race and I hope you realize whites are on their way to becoming the minority.

 

[America's Finest]

All americans arent given the same opportunities and every person in america is not equal. You cannot tell me that a person born with a silver spoon in their mouth has the same opportunity as a person born in the ghetto. A rich kid has the opportunity to go to any school he wants to a poor kid does not have the money nor the resources.

Yes, a person, not a minority but a person. You are starting to view people as people and not by race. Rich kids have easier choices but that is the way our country is. Capitalism and freedom. There are rich people and there are poor people. The system is made that way but also made so you can work your way to the top (or at least higher than were you began) if you put your mind to it.

 

[chiazo]

poverty is the issue and when you look deep into the issue you will see that it lies mainly with minorities and to fix the problem you must first start with them. Also, whites are at a strong 70 percent majority. Its gonna take at least 40 years to see them fall. Great debate and no hard feelings. Hopefully no one gets there emotions into this argument

 

[texan101]

poverty is the issue and when you look deep into the issue you will see that it lies mainly with minorities and to fix the problem you must first start with them. Also, whites are at a strong 70 percent majority. Its gonna take at least 40 years to see them fall. Great debate and no hard feelings. Hopefully no one gets there emotions into this argument

True most poverty does lie with minorities but I don't think poverty is a race issue. I think its more of a geographic issue, some areas are significantly poorer than others and what do we need to do in order to help that certain area, regardless of what demographic of people live there. (and as for its going to take 40 years to see them fall? I'm hispanic but don't want to see anyone fall. ha you make it sound like an empire or something. I for one would just like to see more minorities in power representing everyone regardless of race)

 

[popeyesmom]

Mr. Flemming's experiment is working. His divisive comments and assumptions that standards were lowered has caused division. I do not believe that standards were lowered at all, but will every minority that is part of the class of 2013 now have to add "proving that I belong here because I am a minority" to their "To Do" list? Please, do yourselves a favor---IGNORE Mr. Flemming. Concentrate on become the nation's finest because you are. You simply are.

 

[Riv-Rod]

All americans arent given the same opportunities and every person in america is not equal. You cannot tell me that a person born with a silver spoon in their mouth has the same opportunity as a person born in the ghetto. A rich kid has the opportunity to go to any school he wants to a poor kid does not have the money nor the resources.

if that poor kid wants to bad enough than i garuntee you they will find a way to make it happen. what about that homless lady a few years ago that got a full scholarship to harvard? my dad grew up in brooklyn on welfare and he worked hard and now? we may not be filthy rich but we re not hurting for money. he set his mind on what he wanted and fought for it.

 

[Gcokeley]

Oh, come now. Then what about the era from reconstruction until the Civil Rights Movement? Don't tell me that we were not citizens then.

Im sorry but your analogy as a whole is irrelevant.

 

[rksUSNA2013]

It really blows my mind that anyone can support taking race into account in this day and age. How is affirmative action is only evening the odds?

Your life is what you make of it. My parents are by no means rich. My dad barely made it through high school. My mom, although she does have a college degree, didn't have a job for most of my life, and has in recent years struggled to find a full time job. What I'm trying to get at is it was my decision to work my ass off for my entire life to be a great student and athlete. I earned my appointment, and everyone else should have to, regardless race, sex, religion, etc.

I had a friend in high school who's parents were 100% Chinese. She was born in America, her parents made more money than mine, and she was given every opportunity I was. We were pretty much equal as students, but she received a scholarship to a nearby college because she is 100% Chinese. I think we can all agree that it would be racist if I were offered a scholarship for being a white male, so why is it different for her to be given one for being a Chinese female? Taking race into account in any way is by definition racist, and affirmative action like this only fosters what it was intended to compensate for.

 

[chiazo]

lets end this conversation now because its not going to end. All me and the others were saying is that we like diversity in school. We in no way want anybody at the academy who is unqualified to be there because of quotas and their race. We all know that anybody who is there is qualified no matter what their race. Also it is unconstitutional for anybody to be at the academy or any other school based purely on their race. I'm pretty sure the academy abides by that since the people that graduate from there support and defend our constitution. Race is only a small factor that goes in the application and just because you are of another race does not mean your getting in. You still have to be fully qualified.

 

[theraven]

man, all of you i think wasted a lot of time and energy. If you're gonna go to the academy you need to be more efficient. Think about it this way. If are wanting to go to the academy you better as hell not judge any of your shipmates so there's no point in even worrying about this because you are now shipmates and whether you worked hard and your buddy didnt or you both worked hard doesnt matter any more cause you both better work together quick. Secondly if youre applying and you're worried that you're gonna lose your spot at the academy simply because of race, dont. There is nothing you can do but be and do your best. God, Buddha, and Dharma bless us all and keep our military women and men safe.

 

[America's Finest]

man, all of you i think wasted a lot of time and energy. If you're gonna go to the academy you need to be more efficient. Think about it this way. If are wanting to go to the academy you better as hell not judge any of your shipmates so there's no point in even worrying about this because you are now shipmates and whether you worked hard and your buddy didnt or you both worked hard doesnt matter any more cause you both better work together quick. Secondly if youre applying and you're worried that you're gonna lose your spot at the academy simply because of race, dont. There is nothing you can do but be and do your best. God, Buddha, and Dharma bless us all and keep our military women and men safe.

It was a healthy debate. And we were discussing the importance of diversity and which ways it should and shouldn't be achieved, not questioning minority midshipmen.

 

[pedro4]

lets end this conversation now because its not going to end. All me and the others were saying is that we like diversity in school. We in no way want anybody at the academy who is unqualified to be there because of quotas and their race. We all know that anybody who is there is qualified no matter what their race. Also it is unconstitutional for anybody to be at the academy or any other school based purely on their race. I'm pretty sure the academy abides by that since the people that graduate from there support and defend our constitution. Race is only a small factor that goes in the application and just because you are of another race does not mean your getting in. You still have to be fully qualified.

So you will agree to check the graduation rates in 4 years? Care to make a bet on the results? How many Asians with better results get excluded? Care to apologize to the kid in Montana with better stats who loves his country just as much? Do you go to a doctor admitted to med school on an affirmative action scholarship? Do you want minority cadets viewed as affirmative action cases?

 

[chiazo]

So you will agree to check the graduation rates in 4 years? Care to make a bet on the results? How many Asians with better results get excluded? Care to apologize to the kid in Montana with better stats who loves his country just as much? Do you go to a doctor admitted to med school on an affirmative action scholarship? Do you want minority cadets viewed as affirmative action cases?

can we please stop talking about this also pedro4 work on your argument before you try to debate. Some of the stuff you say makes no sense.

 

[MJOmom]

So many truly terrific people apply to the Naval Academy. Only a few get in. The criteria are many and varied. A kid in a nearby city didn't get in. Mine did. Both are white. On paper, that kid may have had better grades, perhaps a higher composit SAT score. What made the difference? The interview? the sports? the essay. Hard to say. The non-admitted kid's family is quite upset. IF one of us had been a minority, the race issue might have come up ... or played a factor. The family likely would have clung to that as the reason. Disappointment is tough. It's easier to hang a rejection on something like race ... it's often visable. But some other factor, some spark, that made the difference too. Seeking out candidates that are truly quailfied, who happen to be minority, is valid. Encouraging qualified kids is the goal. My guy never thought of Navy until his BGO (also a scout leader) encouraged him. Recruiting works ... whatever your color

 

[Riv-Rod]

So many truly terrific people apply to the Naval Academy. Only a few get in. The criteria are many and varied. A kid in a nearby city didn't get in. Mine did. Both are white. On paper, that kid may have had better grades, perhaps a higher composit SAT score. What made the difference? The interview? the sports? the essay. Hard to say. The non-admitted kid's family is quite upset. IF one of us had been a minority, the race issue might have come up ... or played a factor. The family likely would have clung to that as the reason. Disappointment is tough. It's easier to hang a rejection on something like race ... it's often visable. But some other factor, some spark, that made the difference too. Seeking out candidates that are truly quailfied, who happen to be minority, is valid. Encouraging qualified kids is the goal. My guy never thought of Navy until his BGO (also a scout leader) encouraged him. Recruiting works ... whatever your color

i agree, its also easier to attribute not getting in to something you cant control vs something you couldve worked harder on

 

[xrunmariarunx]

As a minority and a future midshipman and officer, I think it is very important to have a diverse officer corps as well as enlisted force. It is good for minority candidates to know that they can be an officer, not just a cook or steward or some other enlisted occupation. Also I find it very insulting that people think that just because I am a minority that I will automatically get in; while that has something to do with it, I am also very qualified for admission by the standard. You shouldn't make assumptions like that.
Also, if what you are saying is true, then how is it that slavery occured? If we are all Americans, why are we all not given the same opportunities? The academies are simply trying to open their doors to minorities.

Very well put navymidshipman2015. Not only am I Hispanic, but I'm also a female, so that puts me as a minority within a minority. I worked just as hard as everyone else to obtain my appt, if not harder since I had to overcome double standards. The article is full of fallacies, but it did bring up a legitimate concern. Where should the line be drawn when it comes to the issue of race? Race allows, as previously stated, diversity. Diversity in turn brings more ideas, different talent, etc. to the table; this is necessary in something as big as USNA and the fleet, especially if it wants to grow and prosper as a whole. However, merit should be weighted more heavily, as it reflects not only you but whatever group you're in.

Double standards, as much as we hate them, have unfortunately always been there, but are slowly diminishing. New doors have been opening. Blacks were allowed to serve in the military in the beginning of the century, women allowed to have new jobs in the work force. As slowly as it occurs, let's be thankful standards are disappearing.

To address the 'American issue,' diversity is what makes the U.S. so 'revolutionary.' If you look at other countries, we have the biggest mix of races; We do not look at ourselves as separate races living in one country. The U.S. is unified. I honestly think we should consider American a 'race' as itself.

 

[NAPSDAD]

But you all keep forgeting that you BGO interview/recommendation & congressional interview is also part of the process.
And this, just like a job interview, is where "I feel" a big part of who gets to go and who doesn't is decided.
Because this is where your personality will come out. This is where you will have to explain why you want to go to the USNA or why you applied to all the service academies and are you really ready to make a longterm (9-10 years) commitment to the Navy or MARINES.
It is here where they are trying to find the person that will best "fit in" (will succeed) at the academy, as you woulud hire the person that would "fit in" best with you company.
This is where I was told by my sons BGO and an panel interviewer. Put him ahead of others that head better grades and test scores.

 

[MoM4Navy]

i've enjoyed readig your posts. The truth of the matter is that there is validity to everones opinion. What you will find is that through I-Day, plebe summer and plebe year, you and your classmates will become the best of friends and, You will become your own family. You will get to personally observe the other persons failures and victories, and they get to personally observe yours. Opinions tend to change about people and circumstnces when you experience real life together. I beleive that you will quickly learn that each of you earned the right to be there.