Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced a bill to Congress Thursday that would essentially ban controversial critical race theory (CRT) courses from being taught in the United States Military.

Described as an academic philosophy that uses racial stereotyping and racial scapegoating disguised as “diversity” trainings, CRT has been targeted by critics as being racist at its very core.

“Critical race theory has been included in various mandatory military courses and reading materials on ‘white privilege,’ ‘white fragility’ and ‘anti-racism’ – all of which are ideas that fundamentally reject the civil rights movement, the liberal notion of equality and the colorblind ideal,” The Western Journal informed.

Not jumping on the anti-American bandwagon

Cotton made it clear that CRT not only promotes a dangerous way of thinking aimed at dismantling the Judeo-Christian heritage and values established at the founding of the nation in 1776, but that it is a threat to national security, as well.

“Our military’s strength depends on the unity of our troops and the knowledge that America is a noble nation worth fighting for,” the Republican senator from Arkansas argued, according to Fox News. “Critical race theory teaches that race is a person’s most important characteristic, and that America is an evil, oppressive place. That idea may be fashionable in left-wing circles and college classrooms, but it has no place in our military.”

The bill warns that the leftist narrative is not designed to unite America, but to tear it apart at the seams.

“Not only will such racist ideas undermine our troops’ faith in each other, they’ll also erode their trust in our country’s guiding principles, [and] the United States military shouldn’t be promoting such divisive, un-American ideas,” the bill states, according to The Western Journal. “Anti-American and racist theories – such as ‘Critical Race Theory’ – teach that the United States is a fundamentally racist nation, that the Constitution is a fundamentally racist document, and that certain races are fundamentally oppressive or oppressed.”

The legislation argues that instead of calling all Americans to embrace each other and look at one another’s character – rather than on the color of one’s skin – as civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., called for, CRT looks to race as being the determining factor of how people should – and do – treat one another.

“Such theories encourage people to judge and treat others differently on the basis of their race – rather than treating them as equal citizens and human beings with equal dignity and protection under the law,” the proposed legislation reads. “Anti-American and racist theories – such as Critical Race Theory – teach students to distrust and even hate their country and fellow citizens. The United States Armed Forces should not promote or otherwise encourage anti-American and racist theories that demoralize and divide its members while undermining its mission to ‘bear truth faith and allegiance’ to the Constitution.”

If the bill becomes law, the U.S. military would be prohibited from endorsing several “racist theories,” found within CRT’s framework, including:

  • “Any race is inherently superior or inferior to any other race.”
  • “The United States of America is a fundamentally racist country.”
  • “The Declaration of Independence or the United States Constitution are fundamentally racist documents.”
  • “An individual’s moral character or worth is determined by his or her race.”
  • “An individual – by virtue of his or her race – is inherently racist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.”
  • “An individual – because of his or her race – bears responsibility for the actions committed by other members of his or her race.”

However, the ban would not violate individual’s free speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, as it states that it would not “restrict the protected speech of members of the Armed Forces or an individual,” while allowing such theories to be circulated for “the purpose of research or independent study” and “contextual education.”

Along the same lines these theories may be taught if it is done so “in contexts that make clear the United States Armed Forces and Department of Defense does not sponsor, approve or endorse such theories or works.”

The core of CRT

It is contended that CRT is based on the belief that one’s race, culture or ethnicity is what truly defines a person – not one’s character, behavior or individuality.

“The concept of ‘white privilege’ in CRT assigns collective guilt to individuals ‘by virtue of his or her race’ and contends white people and the forces of ‘whiteness’ are inherently racist and oppressive,” The Western Journal noted, pointing out how CRT redefines racism. “While traditionally thought of as racial prejudice, CRT opts for a more opaque definition, describing racism as a system of hidden forces oppressing racial minorities that have permeated American society.”

Christopher F. Rufo – the director of the Discovery Institute’s Center on Wealth & Poverty – contends that CRT seeks to politicize and polarize all aspects of American society through the judicial and education systems … and is now targeting the armed forces.

“America’s public institutions – especially the military – should not promote the principles of race essentialism, collective guilt and racial segregation, which are anathema to American ideals,” Rufo wrote in The City Journal. “That this legislation is even necessary is a sign of how pervasive these ideas have become – even in ostensibly apolitical environments like the military.”

He is skeptical about the conservative legislation surviving long, but he hopes it will get Americans thinking about where such philosophies will lead the country.

“With Democrats in control of the Senate, Cotton’s bill will likely suffer a premature death, but it will raise a series of provocative questions,” Rufo added before listing them off. “Do intellectual and political leaders on the left believe that the United States is a fundamentally racist country? Do they believe that individuals should be judged according to their race – rather than their individual actions? Do they believe that soldiers should be segregated by race?”

—-

Copyright American Family News. Reprinted with permission.

Rating: 5.0/5. From 7 votes.
Please wait...