16 West Point cadets cadets in raised-fist photo won't be punished

a reply to: matafuchs

So your point your point that you made earlier was not correct that it was frightening that the school was allowing it?

Do you not all get that? The RULES of the school are not being enforced as not to inflame racial tension in the US. THAT in itself is a F$*%$ shame.

Guess you don't have to worry about this then!

a reply to: Blackmarketeer

I quoting the Army times also...

www.armytimes.com...

I linked the people involved in the investigation....the person in charge...so I guess he is racist huh? You linked to a sympathizer.

Even so, the photo pose was "inappropriate," according to the major who conducted the official inquiry. West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen agreed. "While the inquiry did not find that these cadets violated a policy or regulation, it did determine that they demonstrated a lapse of awareness in how symbols and gestures can be misinterpreted and cause division," Caslen wrote in a letter Tuesday to the Corps of Cadets. "The impact of this photo, regardless of its intent, is evident. It is unfortunate that this perception brought attention to our Alma Mater for all the wrong reasons."

I am sick of the double standard and that does not make me racist. It means I have formed an opinion. You can agree or not, IDGARA.

originally posted by: ElectricUniverse
a reply to: yeahright

I am not fixated, just stating facts.

facts;

- we all have fists (assuming no medical issues removing ones hands)
- we all have shoulders (same caveat)
- all our fists rotate within the parameters of the typical human body
- We all will occasionally raise our fist
- there are 2 configurations for this, within the parameters of the human body; palm facing forward or palm facing inward toward the head

So with those facts in mind....could this be more that you are reading your own bias into a photo? Or, perhaps you are just not willing to admit that this isn't the end of the world?

The disrespect the prior member referenced: you are calling them liars and imposing your own (uninformed) version of events in place of what you are deeming to be a lie. If you aren't calling them a liar...then we agree that this isn't a symbolic gesture, as per their explanation?

a reply to: matafuchs

LOL, well you just made my argument for me:

Your source: "While the inquiry did not find that these cadets violated a policy or regulation, it did determine that they demonstrated a lapse of awareness in how symbols and gestures can be misinterpreted and cause division,"

That's EXACTLY what these idiotic posting on the Web are doing - misinterpreting this photo.

Why didn't these same claims of racism emerge when WHITE cadets raised their fist in a "Black Power" salute? Oh, that's right, because they're white, so clearly nothing "political" was meant by their raising their fists. Same pose by Black cadets gets misinterpreted as a political gesture /Black Power salute and the closet racists flock to the Webs to denigrate these cadets as Black Panthers or worse. This thread alone is loaded with people making every attempt to portray them as Black Power wannabees. It would be amusing if it weren't so pathetic.

a reply to: Blackmarketeer

I think we are much closer than you think. I have said since way back it is perception.

Right now in the world, a black person with a raised fist is immediately associated with protesting. The LAST thing that these girls needed to do was post like that. If you read the article you read some where apprehensive. It sucks that it is like that but it is.

The reason WHITE cadets were not reported is that 1000's of white people across the country are not protesting and raising their arms in the air.....if one of those kids was my child I would have said....'Really?"

There were 9 pictures taken. These were no spur of the moment. I am not trying to show that they are BP wannabe's but kids who should have had a little more common sense.

I would like to see the other 8 pictures...

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

...
"Their frame of reference is: 'Right now, we're getting ready to graduate in three weeks. I'm standing here with my sisters,'" said Mary Tobin, a 2003 West Point graduate and mentor who spoke to the students after the photo was taken in late April and to some of their relieved relatives Tuesday.
...

www.yahoo.com...

Aren't they demonstrating "subtly" about their "solidarity"? as in what very left wing groups tend to do?

They are showing very far left solidarity, as West Point cadets, they know exactly what it is more so when one of their classes is being given by the same author from West Point that tried to link all conservatives with the radical right in his document...

These ladies, and all other cadets, are being indoctrinated into the "solidarity/socialist" movement.

a reply to: matafuchs

My apologies then if I laid the same level of ignorance on you that has been put on display by others in this post, and on the Web in general regarding these cadets.

originally posted by: Joecanada11
a reply to: ElectricUniverse

What ideology is that? And how is west point instilling the ideology?

This one?...

The report also draws a link between the mainstream conservative movement and the violent “far right,” and describes liberals as “future oriented” and conservatives as living in the past.

a reply to: matafuchs

Wait, are saying that white cadets are allowed to raise their fists, but black cadets aren't allowed? Now THAT is racism.

originally posted by: ElectricUniverse
a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

...
"Their frame of reference is: 'Right now, we're getting ready to graduate in three weeks. I'm standing here with my sisters,'" said Mary Tobin, a 2003 West Point graduate and mentor who spoke to the students after the photo was taken in late April and to some of their relieved relatives Tuesday.
...

www.yahoo.com...

Aren't they demonstrating "subtly" about their "solidarity"? as in what very left wing groups tend to do?

They are showing very far left solidarity, as West Point cadets, they know exactly what it is more so when one of their classes is being given by the same author from West Point that tried to link all conservatives with the radical right in his document...

These ladies, and all other cadets, are being indoctrinated into the "solidarity/socialist" movement.

Reading through that almost gave me a seizure.


So the only facts relevant to you are the ones you make up yourself?

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan

Reading through that almost gave me a seizure.

Maybe laying off the fries and exercising a bit might help you with that problem.

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan
So the only facts relevant to you are the ones you make up yourself?

So, i am now making up the fact that they did use a sign used by socialists, and other very left wing ideologues the world over, and as West Point cadets they should have known better?

So, they couldn't demonstrate their pride in graduating by using maybe some other sign that has nothing to do with socialism?

originally posted by: Blackmarketeer
White west point cadets raised their fists in an identical manner as these black cadets did, but there was no outrage from the white community over that

Looks a lot like a football game going on there. What's the back story? Was this the cheerleading squad?

a reply to: ElectricUniverse

Ill be damned, look at how left wing they are. Showing solidarity in their matching outfits:



The one thing that ISN'T matching is the fist. Some have it above the shoulder (arm fully extended), some have it at shoulder height, some below the shoulder. some with the left hand and some with the right....but those outfits (uniforms) are an absolute show of solidarity.

They're obviously a bunch of pinko's. And if they say otherwise, they're obviously lying.

We should just pass a law that black people are not allowed to have fists.

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan
The one thing that ISN'T matching is the fist. Some have it above the shoulder (arm fully extended), some have it at shoulder height, some below the shoulder. some with the left hand and some with the right..

Obviously they're still in training.

a reply to: kaylaluv

and BAM!!!!! We regress...it is dumb things like that which perpetuate these things. You are creating something that is not there. That is what is wrong with the country right now. I did not say that. Not at all.

Thanks for the CNN translation though....

originally posted by: ElectricUniverse

Maybe laying off the fries and exercising a bit might help you with that problem.

So, i am now making up the fact that they did use a sign used by socialists, and other very left wing ideologues the world over, and as West Point cadets they should have known better?

Yes. You are. Because the bolded part(s) above are an opinion, not a fact.

So, they couldn't demonstrate their pride in graduating by using maybe some other sign that has nothing to do with socialism?

I don't know. Is this the McCarthy era? Is everyone under a microscope because of the red scare? How come we didn't have this as a national discussion when the myriad other instances of this happening with white students has been photographed and/or televised?

Not everything is about left/right politics. And to those of us who understand this fact, we are kinda left scratching our heads here.

a reply to: matafuchs

If white cadets can raise their fists in uniform, then black cadets can raise their fists in uniform. Period. If anyone has a problem with that, it's their own personal issue - it's not the cadets' problem. And the black cadets shouldn't have to change what they do (while white cadets get to keep on doing it) just to please others with personal issues.

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

Thanks for the pinko comment. I haven't heard that one in years. Gave me a good laugh. Actually this whole thread has made me laugh. People up in arms about people with their arms up. And while we argue about a picture people are dying on streets from a myriad of things.

a reply to: kaylaluv

If they can do it we can do it huh? How about it is not we, or us, or them and it is everyone? And who said that the black cadets had to change? There were 9 pictures taken.

It is about perception which is exactly what the West Point investigators said. Even some of the kids. Because of how it could be perceived.

Do you not understand that part? Perception.

and don't get me started on the crossed swords !

that means they want to cut the very fabric of 'merica !!!

the nerve !!!!