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The Defense Department is promoting reading resources and meetings directed towards killing "extremism" in the ranks of our military.
In a virtual meeting for "all hands" last month, we noted that the agenda includes the scandal-plagued Southern Poverty Law Center, alongside the Department of Homeland Security, as a guiding light for killing "extremism."
The battle against "extremism" is using authors Ibram X. Kendi and Ta-Nehisi Coates as resources for the attack on "extremism."
"Extremism" includes "systemic racism."
But what else has become extremism?
Would living out your personal biblical faith be considered "extremism?"
Would sharing that faith with someone be considered "extremism?"
And how does this contribute to our military readiness?
Be informed, not misled.
The fact that the Pentagon is placing so much importance and significance on the idea of killing "extremism" caught my attention. We need to be informed on this issue.
While the campaign is touted as an effort to root out "systemic racism"---something none of us want in our military or our culture---it's casting a much wider net.
The fact that Southern Poverty Law Center is included as a credible resource should be alarming to all of us who love our country.
Corrupt Southern Poverty Law Center has become the "hate group" sheriff.
Amazon, the largest retailer in the world, has essentially elevated SPLC to becoming the most influential gatekeeper for its philanthropic giving. And that of Amazon's customers through the "smile program."
SPLC, which has been proven to be corrupt, routinely labels mainstream, center-right organizations, like Family Resource Center, Focus on the Family, and others as "hate groups" along with the Klu Klux Klan or neo-Nazis.
The conservative organizations are considered "hate groups" because they embrace biblical teaching on homosexuality, marriage, abortion, etc.
SPLC has become a gatekeeper as to which organizations Amazon's hundreds of millions of charitable dollars flow. And where Amazon customer's donations flow.
Last year a group of conservatives made an all-out effort to turn the lights on with Amazon regarding the corruption linked to SPLC. They asked Amazon to end SPLC's role with them.
So when SPLC's name appears as a guiding light for the Pentagon, it's very troubling.
The material the Pentagon is using is unconstitutional.
Rep. Jim Banks, a Navy veteran, says, "When I joined the US Navy reserves in 2012, I swore an oath to 'bear true faith and allegiance' to the US Constitution."
He notes that he has met sailors from all over with diverse backgrounds and beliefs, politics and faith---"but I've never met one who doesn't take that oath as seriously as I do."
That's why he was horrified to see a book on the Navy chief of operations reading list that directly contradicts the Navy's oath.
Why Kendi and Coates are "horrifying."
Kendi's book, "How to Be an Antiracist," is itself extremist, anti-American, and divisive.
Its main point is that everything in the world can be divided into two moral categories---racist or anti-racist.
But in this relativistic bubble of thinking, "racist isn't always racist." If discrimination is creating equity then it is anti-racist, but if it is creating inequity, it is racist."
A person is only racist if he supports policies that result in or contribute to inequitable outcomes.
The only remedy to racist discrimination is antiracist discrimination.
For example, capitalism is essentially racist, so, by extension, are capitalists. America is, of course, also racist, and so is the Constitution and those who uphold their oath to defend it.
Kendi, in his book, advocates for establishing a "Department of Anti-racism" which would have veto power over all federal, state, and local policy, and would have the power to investigate private citizens, businesses, and public officials for the expression of racist opinions.
That essentially would become a department that would be empowered to violate almost every individual right and principle of constitutional governance in America.
Consequences
Currently, the Pentagon is in the middle of a 60-day review to combat "extremism" in the military.
Our military has been one of our most trusted institutions---because it was never intended to be a political institution.
However today, because of politics, just 56% of Americans say they have "a great deal of trust and confidence" in our military, compared to 70% in 2018.
As Critical Race Theory and its tentacles continue to spread out across our country, how long will it be before preaching the biblical gospel will be deemed "racist" or "bigoted?"
Will we be allowed, legally, to preach that Jesus is the only way to God because that discriminates against other religions?
What about sharing our faith with others, as Jesus commanded us to do in His Great Commandment?
In recent years the Air Force Academy has punished personnel for doing just that, labeling it "proselytizing" and discriminatory.
Takeaway
George Washington said, "It now remains to be my earnest wish and prayer, that the Citizens of the United States could make a wise and virtuous use of the blessings placed before them."
This is not what Washington wished or prayed for.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful.