Eroding the Pillars of America's Inherent Ideals

Eroding the Pillars of America's Inherent Ideals

The recent modification of West Point's mission statement, replacing "Duty, Honor, Country" with "Army Values," has stirred a wave of controversy. The change, announced by West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland, has been met with criticism from conservative watchdog groups like Judicial Watch, who view it as a deliberate attempt to sever ties with traditional military values and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agendas instead.

The removal of the iconic motto "Duty, Honor, Country" has raised concerns about the loss of foundational ethical principles that define the military academy's culture. Critics argue that this change undermines the historical identity and cohesion of the cadet corps, potentially signaling a shift towards political or social agendas.

West Point officials have reportedly instructed speakers to avoid terms like "removed" or "deleted" when describing the change, leading to accusations of a cover-up or sensitivity around the issue. The concerns extend beyond the mission statement modification, with critics raising questions about related actions such as the removal of the West Point crest from Bibles in the Academy Chapel.

The latest change at West Point is part of an ongoing evolution, as the mission has been revised multiple times over the past century. However, the politically charged nature of this modification reflects wider debates over military culture, tradition, and inclusivity efforts.

The migration of approximately six million blacks from the South to northern, midwestern, and western states during the period 1910-1970 was driven by a desire for freedom and hope, not one-size-fits-all fiats from top-down political structures. This historical event serves as a reminder of the importance of freedom and the need for understanding unchanging values in shaping a society.

In a broader societal context, the author believes that the left misunderstands the relationship between these unchanging values, freedom, American constitutional structure, faith in God, natural law, and the importance of a legal system not based on critical theory or Marxist principles. The author perceives the left as rejecting traditional values despite almost worldwide assent and thousands of years of agreement among varying cultures.

The author also sees the elimination of "Duty, Honor, Country" as another step away from patriotic unity. They view the military as moving towards a path of multicultural fragmentation, which they refer to as "woke." The author considers this a reminder of a broader societal decline, including the disintegration of male/female identity, ethnic balkanization, and "green" obsession with overpopulation and fossil fuels.

In contrast, the founders of the United States understood that freedom to accommodate different views is essential. They also understood that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and that freedom to move is an important aspect of a decentralized system. This understanding is reflected in the federalism principle, which is crucial in the American system of government, and is why Roe v. Wade is considered unconstitutional due to this principle.

The author, who was teaching in a high school in NYC on 9/11/2001, sees the elimination of "Duty, Honor, Country" as a reminder of the need to stand firm against attempts to dilute core military ideals and to uphold traditional values in educational institutions. They consider teaching at a military school as a commitment to the fight against terrorism.

References: [1] Judicial Watch. (n.d.). West Point Drops 'Duty, Honor, Country' From Mission Statement. Retrieved from https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/west-point-drops-duty-honor-country-from-mission-statement/ [2] The Hill. (2023, February 1). West Point drops 'Duty, Honor, Country' from mission statement. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/homenews/news/409834-west-point-drops-duty-honor-country-from-mission-statement

1. The controversial shift from "Duty, Honor, Country" to "Army Values" in West Point's mission statement has sparked debates about the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agendas in education-and-self-development.
2. The removal of the West Point crest from Bibles in the Academy Chapel, among other actions, has heightened concerns about the erosion of traditional values and potential shifts towards politically charged agendas.
3. The migration of six million blacks during the 1910-1970 era was driven not by political fiats, but by a pursuit of freedom and hope, underscoring the importance of unchanging values in personal-growth and societal development.
4. In the broader context, there's a belief that the left misunderstands the role of unchanging values, freedom, American constitutional structure, faith in God, natural law, and the significance of a legal system not based on critical theory or Marxist principles in policy-and-legislation and politics.
5. The absence of "Duty, Honor, Country" is viewed as a step towards multicultural fragmentation, or "woke," and a reminder of societal decline, including issues like the disintegration of gender identity, ethnic balkanization, and an obsession with 'green' matters like overpopulation and fossil fuels.
6. The author, who taught in a high school on 9/11/2001, sees the elimination of "Duty, Honor, Country" as a warning to uphold traditional values in educational institutions and as a commitment to the fight against terrorism, particularly in a military setting.

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