Letter to the Editor in the Washington Times:
Reading “Is DEI dangerous? Study finds diversity training materials stoke hostility, not goodwill” (web, Dec. 20) gave me deja vu from 46 years ago.
Prior to my time in the Navy, I served for four years as an enlisted person in the Army. In 1978, when I was assigned to Germany, we were required to go to mandatory race-relation classes for an entire day.
At one point, a Black sergeant raised her hand and complained that the training stoked racial tensions instead of improving race relations. She went on to say that she did not think the military had a racism problem.
You could’ve heard a pin drop in that room when she said that, as the room was made up of about 70% Whites and 30% Blacks. I am sure if a White person had said that, a riot would’ve broken out — or at least his career would have been at risk.
Years later, the Navy got gung-ho about combating sexual harassment. Men and women alike feared offending each other to the point of absurdity.
This has only gotten worse since 1999, when I retired. Now there are policies on open homosexuality and transsexuality.
Many of the commanding officers being fired today for “loss of confidence” is due to diversity, equity and inclusion ideology.
The 2021-2024 annual anonymous command climate surveys are full of DEI questions; I have seen them myself.
The military might as well paint a target on the commander’s back, as it only takes a few whiners to kill a career.
Imagine going into combat under such a culture.
Cmdr. WAYNE L. JOHNSON
Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Navy (retired)
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