Full transcript of General Milley's response to the idiots:
"First of all, on the issue of critical race theory, etc. I'll obviously have to get much smarter on whatever the theory is. But I do think it's important, actually, for those of us in uniform to be open-minded and be widely read. And the United States Military Academy is a unive…
Full transcript of General Milley's response to the idiots:
"First of all, on the issue of critical race theory, etc. I'll obviously have to get much smarter on whatever the theory is. But I do think it's important, actually, for those of us in uniform to be open-minded and be widely read. And the United States Military Academy is a university, and it is important that we train and we understand. And I want to understand 'white rage." I'm white, and I want to understand it.
So, what is it that caused thousands of people to assault this building and try to overturn the Constitution of the United States of America? What caused that? I want to find that out. I want to maintain an open mind here, and I do want to analyze it. It's important that we understand that. Because our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and guardians—they come from the American people. So it is important that the leaders, now and in the future, do understand it.
I've read Mao Tse Tung. I've read Karl Marx. I've read Lenin. That doesn't make me a communist. So what is wrong with understanding—having some situational understanding—about the country for which we are here to defend?
I personally find it offensive that we are accusing the United States military, our general officers, our commissioned and non-commissioned officers, of being quote 'woke' or something else because we're studying some theories that are out there. That was started at Harvard Law School years ago, and it proposed that there are laws in the United States, antebellum laws prior to the Civil War, that led to a power differential with African-Americans that were three-quarters of a human being when this country was formed. And then we had a Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation to change it. And then we brought it up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964—it took another 100 years to change that.
So look, I do want to know. And I respect your service, and you and I are both Green Berets (to Walz, not Gaetz - TC). But I want to know. And it matters to our military and the discipline and cohesion of this military.
And I thank you for the opportunity to make a comment on that.
I view his response with meaning, Gen Milley is modeling for us all how to address the demagoguery of today. Directly, intellectually, with purpose and wisdom, and in defense of democracy.
I agree, Ted. And I see the same response being modeled by our President Biden who daily works directly, intellectually, with purpose and wisdom, and in defense of democracy.
I felt proud, too. He was dignified, calm and articulate in his outrage. I was imagining the long line of Black Americans who have served in our military going back to the Revolutionary War (when some enslaved Black people were forced to fight in place of their enslavers), and felt he was speaking up for them, as well as for current and future members of our military.
If only he would agree that the "chain of command" is not a good system for investigating and prosecuting the epidemic of sexual assaults in the military. Secretary Austin has agreed with Senator Gillibrand (not one of my fave people but she is def on the side of the angels here) that the military's response to the assaulting of their own personnel by their own personnel is pathetic and needs to change. Milley is resisting, by throwing sand in the proverbial faces by raising the specter of all felonies being investigated by outside legal groups.
This is a difficult point. On the one hand, you are entirely right, and that has to be done and the sooner the better. On Milley's side, there are "crimes" in the military that have to be enforced in order to maintain the military, that go largely not understood or misunderstood by civilians - particularly the civilians who become lawyers.
Can you elaborate on the "crimes" that the civilian population does not understand or misunderstands. I have more than once tried to engage current and former military members on things I don't understand and have found a universal unwillingness to talk to "civilians", because we "just wouldn't understand". How can we understand when our military brothers and sisters won't try to help us do that. While it is not the job of BIPOC to educate white people, I think this might be a different kind of situation. There is a secretiveness to military life that shuts out civilians - who, in America, at least for now, are the ones who elect the civilian government which ultimately controls the military. How can we make good political decisions when we don't understand the life into which we are sending our fellow citizens who join the military?
Just off the top of my head, there are rules against "fraternization" between officers/enlisted in "relationships" that aren't expressed that strongly in civilian life. Also "adultery" is enforced - you can't have a person who has cuckholded another person in positions to take "wrong action" in difficult situations (by either party) because of that - that's not something one worries about in civilian life, but it could mean lives lost in the military. There are other things like that which are involved with the problem that you cannot have people making "non-operational" decisions on the basis of outside stuff, that can result in things done or not done that can harm a unit in combat. I hope this sort of explains.
I was so so pleased by what General Milley said and equally so with the force and edge in his voice in doing so. Had I been in that room I would have felt compelled to snap to attention and render a sharp salute when he finished.
General Milley's statement is even more powerful to hear and see after reading it. The subtleties in his voice and facial expressions add mightily to the depth of the meaning of his words.
Milley’s response is the America that we all used to agree on. I am not a military person but I admire his thoughtful response. He is educated but the soldiers beneath him are typically much less educated. Education and curiosity is key. Unfortunately his response is not what is going to be on FOX and it wont show up in most Facebook feeds. No one but liberals are going to read it, see it, hear it or consider it.
Full transcript of General Milley's response to the idiots:
"First of all, on the issue of critical race theory, etc. I'll obviously have to get much smarter on whatever the theory is. But I do think it's important, actually, for those of us in uniform to be open-minded and be widely read. And the United States Military Academy is a university, and it is important that we train and we understand. And I want to understand 'white rage." I'm white, and I want to understand it.
So, what is it that caused thousands of people to assault this building and try to overturn the Constitution of the United States of America? What caused that? I want to find that out. I want to maintain an open mind here, and I do want to analyze it. It's important that we understand that. Because our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and guardians—they come from the American people. So it is important that the leaders, now and in the future, do understand it.
I've read Mao Tse Tung. I've read Karl Marx. I've read Lenin. That doesn't make me a communist. So what is wrong with understanding—having some situational understanding—about the country for which we are here to defend?
I personally find it offensive that we are accusing the United States military, our general officers, our commissioned and non-commissioned officers, of being quote 'woke' or something else because we're studying some theories that are out there. That was started at Harvard Law School years ago, and it proposed that there are laws in the United States, antebellum laws prior to the Civil War, that led to a power differential with African-Americans that were three-quarters of a human being when this country was formed. And then we had a Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation to change it. And then we brought it up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964—it took another 100 years to change that.
So look, I do want to know. And I respect your service, and you and I are both Green Berets (to Walz, not Gaetz - TC). But I want to know. And it matters to our military and the discipline and cohesion of this military.
And I thank you for the opportunity to make a comment on that.
I felt proud to be an American listening to General Milley this evening.
Yes indeed, my thought was the best compliment an ex-enlisted can give an officer: "I wouldn't mind having you for a CO."
I view his response with meaning, Gen Milley is modeling for us all how to address the demagoguery of today. Directly, intellectually, with purpose and wisdom, and in defense of democracy.
I agree, Ted. And I see the same response being modeled by our President Biden who daily works directly, intellectually, with purpose and wisdom, and in defense of democracy.
Exactly.
Yes. And also modeling respect and humility along with power and goodness.
It’s crazy how some can not discern what real leadership looks like.
It was a LOOOOONG four years, Ted - remember? Very long. Takes a while to recover from all of that ??????.
I felt proud, too. He was dignified, calm and articulate in his outrage. I was imagining the long line of Black Americans who have served in our military going back to the Revolutionary War (when some enslaved Black people were forced to fight in place of their enslavers), and felt he was speaking up for them, as well as for current and future members of our military.
If only he would agree that the "chain of command" is not a good system for investigating and prosecuting the epidemic of sexual assaults in the military. Secretary Austin has agreed with Senator Gillibrand (not one of my fave people but she is def on the side of the angels here) that the military's response to the assaulting of their own personnel by their own personnel is pathetic and needs to change. Milley is resisting, by throwing sand in the proverbial faces by raising the specter of all felonies being investigated by outside legal groups.
This is a difficult point. On the one hand, you are entirely right, and that has to be done and the sooner the better. On Milley's side, there are "crimes" in the military that have to be enforced in order to maintain the military, that go largely not understood or misunderstood by civilians - particularly the civilians who become lawyers.
Can you elaborate on the "crimes" that the civilian population does not understand or misunderstands. I have more than once tried to engage current and former military members on things I don't understand and have found a universal unwillingness to talk to "civilians", because we "just wouldn't understand". How can we understand when our military brothers and sisters won't try to help us do that. While it is not the job of BIPOC to educate white people, I think this might be a different kind of situation. There is a secretiveness to military life that shuts out civilians - who, in America, at least for now, are the ones who elect the civilian government which ultimately controls the military. How can we make good political decisions when we don't understand the life into which we are sending our fellow citizens who join the military?
Just off the top of my head, there are rules against "fraternization" between officers/enlisted in "relationships" that aren't expressed that strongly in civilian life. Also "adultery" is enforced - you can't have a person who has cuckholded another person in positions to take "wrong action" in difficult situations (by either party) because of that - that's not something one worries about in civilian life, but it could mean lives lost in the military. There are other things like that which are involved with the problem that you cannot have people making "non-operational" decisions on the basis of outside stuff, that can result in things done or not done that can harm a unit in combat. I hope this sort of explains.
The quality of most of our military leaders is indeed much for us to be proud
Did you see Gaetz's reply on twitter? Something along the lines of with generals like him it's no wonder we lost so many wars.
Here is that Twitter response which is despicable. https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1407780765421740032
What an insufferable boob Gaetz is.
Lock Gaetz up for life.
Would pay to see Milley show up at Gaetz's doorstep looking pissed with a bat in his hand. Ahh, I can dream.....
LOL! But I believe that General Milley is unlikely to ever descend to Gaetz' level (which is pretty bottomed out).
Thank you for the link. Was looking, but couldn't find it. (still working on my first cup of coffee....)
I did not see that. What disgraceful thing for Gaetz to say, but not surprising.
Grrrr
Double Grrrr!
Thank you for posting the full transcript.
I was so so pleased by what General Milley said and equally so with the force and edge in his voice in doing so. Had I been in that room I would have felt compelled to snap to attention and render a sharp salute when he finished.
As a former Green Beret I couldn’t agree more.
Same here. A General to truly be proud of. Bravo General Milley.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000007831214/milley-critical-race-theory-military.html
General Milley's statement is even more powerful to hear and see after reading it. The subtleties in his voice and facial expressions add mightily to the depth of the meaning of his words.
Agree, Annie.
My 5th time watching this. Or 7th. Maybe should watch every morning with my cup of tea.
Thank you, Jennifer.
Milley’s response is the America that we all used to agree on. I am not a military person but I admire his thoughtful response. He is educated but the soldiers beneath him are typically much less educated. Education and curiosity is key. Unfortunately his response is not what is going to be on FOX and it wont show up in most Facebook feeds. No one but liberals are going to read it, see it, hear it or consider it.
Thanks for posting this TC. When I heard him speak yesterday, I was overjoyed.