My discussion for the the past year has centered on the distinction of race among veterans as seen through the lens of patriotism. The aftermath of January 6th elevated the issue of extremism and the radicalization of members within the military. I also add that a nexus exists between the military and law enforcement communities that intersect along the same attributes; attributes that center a white, male frame of reference. Radicalization masked as patriotism is attributable to the insurrection on January 6th. But this is not just about a few “bad” apples; we are dealing with a radicalized culture that is pervasive and resists the language of change. Our nation and our communities will remain at risk unless we confront and change what has been normalized within military and law enforcement culture.
For example, this week a US Army sergeant assaulted a Black man for walking in his neighborhood. https://abc news.go.com/WNN/video/army-sergeant-charged-assault-77089634
For more on this discussion, please follow a recent NBCNews report: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/secret-facebook-groups-america-s-best-warriors-share-racist-jabs-n1263985