A letter to the Superintendent of the Air Force Academy by 1973 graduate Col. Ron Scott, PhD (ret). His class was instrumental in funding USAFA’s National Character and Leadership Symposium. This year’s NCLS has a host of woke speakers but few Air Force warfighters, which was the original purpose–to be inspired by admirable airmen that went before them. Not racist and radical advocates pushing a divisive left-wing agenda.
Background:
- Tone Deaf: USAFA Names as NCLS Speaker Woke United CEO who blew up Twitter
- Is a Drag Queen CEO the Right Choice to Be Speaking at This Air Force Academy Symposium?
- Scott Kirby is NOT the kind of leader who should be inspiring future officers
- United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby instigated bullying of unvaxxed employees, lawsuit alleges
- The Hostile Takeover of the Air Force Academy
- Explicit Graphic Book in USAFA DEI Reading Room
- Has DEI Become More Important Than Academics At The Air Force Academy?
- Culture Change at USAFA: Why Six Professors Resigned
- DEI, Cornell and USAFA
- The United States Air Force Academy’s White Boy #2
- Uniformed USAFA Cadet Publicly Disrespects Congress at 2023 West Point DEI Conference
- ‘Woke’ sex-ed being foisted on next generation of AF officers
- USAFA Mandates Radical Leftist Gender Training
- Critical Race Theory – In the Air Force Academy
- Inside the DEI Reading Room at the Air Force Academy
- How DEI is destroying trust and unity within the ranks (by a cadet)
- Inside the ‘woke’ takeover of the US Air Force Academy (by a cadet)
- Boots on the Ground Perspective from the cadets
- More
General Clark,
On November 4, 2023, I sent to you an email (see below) with the topic “Book Donation to the Diversity & Inclusion Reading Room at the McDermott Library.” I asked whether the four donated books had been integrated (or perhaps more appropriately “included”) at the library’s D&I Reading Room. I received no response.
Complementing my message in the November 4 email, I bring another matter to your attention regarding the Academy’s cultural change.
First, it is with deep regret that I inform you that this will be the first National Character and Leadership Symposium (NCLS) event that I will not attend in person since moving to Colorado in 2004.
The Class of 1973 has long been recognized as the NCLS’s Flagship Sponsor. I had a small part in garnering this distinction as the former President of the Class of 1973 and as a major donor to the NCLS Endowment Fund.
This platform, originally intended as a “character and leadership” inspiring enterprise, has devolved into an instrument for social experimentation and thought formation, fueled primarily by Cultural Marxist (e.g., CRT/DEI) ideology.
Given the theme for this year’s NCLS, a notable scholar/speaker that would “balance” the current slate of speakers is Dr. James Lindsay. Here is a short video that captures a presentation before the European Parliament: Woke: A Culture War Against Europe | James Lindsay at the European Parliament (youtube.com).
Second, you have been transparent in advancing culture change, calling it your “Let’s Be Clear Campaign,” which you also qualified as “full-scale culture change” as your number one priority. Your second priority is accountability.
While this sounds honest, what does “full scale culture change” mean? After all, a clear understanding is important to avoid any discipline or punishment in holding cadets accountable.
I asked a senior member of the Center for Character and Leadership Development what “full-scale culture change” meant, and he did not know the specifics.
Then, I read an article published by the Academy’s Office of Strategic Communication with the title, “Marks Places Culture at Top of Priorities.” The central feature of culture change is diversity. Here is an excerpt from the article:
“The Academy represents a diverse American population, and its makeup as an organization should reflect the nation’s diversity, Marks said. Two current opportunities that showcase the Academy’s diversity commitment are the superintendent’s ‘Let’s Be Clear’ campaign and the Leader of Character framework.” (See https://www.usafa.edu/marks-places-culture-at-top-of-priorities/).
The “Let’s Be Clear” campaign connection to the Leader of Character framework explains the theme and some of the speakers at the upcoming NCLS.
Third, we have reached out to the Defense Advisory Committee for Diversity and Inclusion (DACODAI) to ensure they are well informed on diversity and inclusion matters in support of any recommendations they will provide to the Secretary of Defense. Members of Congress are getting more involved in this area. The STARRS Board Chair, Lt Gen Rod Bishop (USAF, Retired, ’74) has been invited to lead a small delegation to meet with members and staff this week.
I share the above for your situational awareness.
Finally, I would appreciate a response on the four donated books. I also recommend the library include another for the D&I reading room collection. The book donor, Lt Col Eric Vogel (USAF, retired, ’73), wrote a review of this other book here: BOOK REVIEW: The Virtue of Color-Blindness by Andre Archie | STARRS.
V/r,
Ronald J. Scott, Jr., Ph.D.
Colonel, USAF (Ret)
President and CEO
Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services, Inc.
Dear General Clark,
A beautiful day for an interservice football game!!
As you know, there is a growing community of graduates who are concerned about the culture change taking place at our alma mater.
One of my classmates, Eric Vogel, sent four books as gifts to be included in the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Reading Room collection at the McDermott Library. Here is the list of books he donated:
- Trueman, Carl R., Strange New World, Crossway, 2022
- Shrier, Abigail, Irreversible Damage, Regnery Publishing, 2020
- Anderson, Ryan A., When Harry Became Sally, Encounter Books, 2018
- Mattson, Daniel C., Why I Don’t Call Myself Gay, Ignatius Press, 2017
Eric posted a book review of Strange New World here: BOOK REVIEW: Strange New World | STARRS
Eric received a thank you letter from you, which he greatly appreciated; but it did not specify that the books had been integrated into the D&I reading room. Eric’s intent was to pursue balance in the ideas being advanced by this particular collection of reading material.
During our Class’s 50th reunion, Eric visited the library and did not find any of the four books in the D&I reading room. Thus, I have cc’d the Associate Dean and Director of the McDermott Library to facilitate a response.
Also, as a heads up, there is growing concern about the nature of culture change at the Academy (and other Service Academies as well). Given the Israel-Palestine conflict and its sympathies fomenting across the American landscape, more and more Americans are taking note of the dangerous ideological acculturation taking place in our universities; and the Service Academies are no exception. For example see here: DEI, Cornell and USAFA | STARRS
I can appreciate the awkward timing of this email as we anticipate a victory over Army later today. Yet, we must remain mindful of MacArthur’s quote: “On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days, on other fields will bear the fruits of victory.”
“Other fields” include America’s dangerous ideological trajectory.
In closing, MacArthur’s 1962 Duty, Honor, Country speech also inspired the recent production of this STARRS video: “What Happened to Our Military?”
We look forward to your response about the four books.
Go Falcons!! Beat Army!!
V/r,
Ron
Ronald J. Scott, Jr., Ph.D.
Colonel, USAF (Ret)
President and CEO
Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services, Inc.
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