Critical race theory (CRT) is a Marxist-based notion that divides and engenders hate within the ranks of those subjected to its canons. Mark Angelides, managing editor for Liberty Nation, explained: “CRT breeds distrust, it fosters grievance, and it will, ultimately, lead to hate.”
Yet today, when that same Marxist dogma is found oozing into the daily doctrine of the U.S. military, the ones showing courage and calling it out are punished. So it is with Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Lohmeier, fighter pilot and member of the newly minted U.S. Space Force, who was relieved of his command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado.
The lieutenant colonel’s concerns are chronicled in a self-published book, titled Irresistible Revolution: Marxism’s Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military, currently holding down the number one spot in Amazon’s military policy book category.
In Lohmeier’s words from the book’s introduction:
“Marxism has begun its destructive conquest of even the United States military, its most alarming manifestation in the United States to date. This reality will likely come as a surprise to many Americans, including our military servicemembers … The problem has become systemic, a tragedy considering that the defeat of Marxist-communist ideology was the very cause against which our nation spent great treasures of blood and iron during much of the twentieth century.”
The book is not trivial but thoughtful and informative. The former squadron commander was warning of the insidious manner in which Marxism destroys a crucial institution like the U.S. military. Marxism is the antithesis of the American founding principle of freedom of ideas, expression, and opportunity that the U.S. armed forces are supposed to protect. Looking at the definition of CRT from a source with no dog in the hunt, the Encyclopedia Britannica describes it as an extension of the “critical legal studies” of the 1970s and:
“ … an offshoot of Marxist-oriented critical theory, may also be viewed as a radicalization of early 20th-century legal realism, a school of legal philosophy according to which judicial decision making, especially at the appellate level, is influenced as much by nonlegal—political or ideological—factors as by precedent and principles of legal reasoning.”
The decision to remove Lohmeier was made by Lieutenant General Stephen Whiting, who leads the Space Operations Command. According to Military.Com, Whiting took the removal action “over a loss of confidence in his ability to lead.” Oriana Pawlyk, writing for Military.Com, went on to say Whiting’s “decision was based on public comments made by Lt. Col. Lohmeier.” Additionally, after deciding to remove the squadron commander, “Lt. Gen. Whiting has initiated a Command Directed investigation on whether these comments constituted prohibited partisan political activity.”
Let’s get this straight: With the authority to remove a squadron commander, the general fired him and then initiated an investigation to determine whether the squadron commander committed a firing offense.
General, you’ve got that backward. But as Liberty Nation has reported, that behavior is consistent with the identity politics becoming more pervasive in the Defense Department.
More troubling is that senior leadership in the U.S. Space Force has demonstrated a shallow understanding of what American values are crucial to preserve and defend, especially those that America has championed for 233 years since the U.S. Constitution was ratified.
A recent article in The Federalist by Jordan Davidson makes the point well:
“Historically, opposition to Marxism, the ideology of Communism, has been not political but existential for Americans and American institutions. Affiliation with Communism remains a disqualifying factor for U.S. citizenship because Communism aims to end the U.S. Constitution new citizens swear fealty to. Numerous U.S. enemies, including No. 1 foe China, are Communist-run.”
Davidson said that Lohmeier, during a podcast called Information Operation, warned “that the U.S. military enacts certain policies that appealed to leftists over other ideologies or parties. He specifically noted that race-driven curriculums and other far-left campaigns in the military are hurting opportunities for unity.”
The fired Air Force officer is by no means the only concerned voice warning of the dangers that CRT and the application of its tenets portend for the government and U.S. citizens.
Many Americans are rebelling against the imposition of the pre-communist, nascent Marxism. As Angelides noted, parents are demanding “immediate action against school indoctrination” by CRT.
Nor is Congress silent on CRT. Representative Dan Bishop (R-NC) is sounding the alarm by introducing a bill in the House of Representatives called the Combat Racist Training in the Military Act. At the same time, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK) has sponsored a bill that prohibits the United States from promoting critical race theory. Bishop told The Epoch Times, “Both bills will have 31 co-sponsors when introduced.”
There is a lesson here for U.S. military leadership. When an officer accomplished enough to be selected as a squadron commander warns of an impending institutional problem in your service, your first inclination might be to listen to him – not to fire him.
The views expressed are those of the author and not of any other affiliation.
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