topic Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY in Community Chat

US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Lindsays Grandma — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 02:43:33 GMT

Kudos to Lt. General Silveria, Superintendent of the U.S.Air Force Academy for the speech he gave to the cadets. He made it very clear that racial slurs , lack of respect and demeaning others will not be tolerated in the academy. All people are to be treated with dignity and respect.

In his speech he said; "We would be naive to think we shouldn't discuss this topic. It is all about respect and demeaning others." He made it clear that those who don't agree should, as he stated; "Get out". He runs a tight ship, as he should, good for him, I applaud him.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

blackhole99 — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 03:12:52 GMT

Those military colleges can really be a tough place to survive, especially if you are not over 6ft tall or a woman. You best better be squared away and able to defend yourself physically and verbally or you will be eaten alive. I only know this because my friends son went to the Naval Academy and my husbands coworker's daughter went to West Point. The female said it was so stressful at West Point she doesn't know how she made it through.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Noel7 — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 03:23:48 GMT

That general is amazing, what a guy! I just heard his speech for the third time today. He commands attention and is a fantastic leader. There should be more like him.

His strong message was to respect diversity in all forms, and if you can't do that, if you can't bring people together, GET OUT.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

LinaL — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 03:29:09 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
That general is amazing, what a guy! I just heard his speech for the third time today. He commands attention and is a fantastic leader. There should be more like him.

(my bold)

I disagree. I don't find him to be amazing. I find him to be (from what I gathered from his words) a decent human being who should be the norm, rather than the exception. It's sad that he should have had to make that speech.

Kudos to him. We need many, many more like him. He displays the kind of leadership people should listen to.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

QVCkitty1 — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 03:28:27 GMT

It was an inspiring speech. It makes me sad that it was necessary.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Noel7 — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 03:33:03 GMT

@LinaL wrote:
@Noel7 wrote:
That general is amazing, what a guy! I just heard his speech for the third time today. He commands attention and is a fantastic leader. There should be more like him.
(my bold)
I disagree. I don't find him to be amazing. I find him to be (from what I gathered from his words) a decent human being who should be the norm, rather than the exception. It's sad that he should have had to make that speech.
Kudos to him. We need many, many more like him.

You made the same point I did in saying he should be the norm and I said there should be more like him, which actually you repeated almost word for word. But if you think that's disagreeing, ok.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

LinaL — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 03:37:27 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
@LinaL wrote:
@Noel7 wrote:
That general is amazing, what a guy! I just heard his speech for the third time today. He commands attention and is a fantastic leader. There should be more like him.
(my bold)
I disagree. I don't find him to be amazing. I find him to be (from what I gathered from his words) a decent human being who should be the norm, rather than the exception. It's sad that he should have had to make that speech.
Kudos to him. We need many, many more like him.
You made the same point I did in saying he should be the norm and I said there should be more like him, which actually you repeated almost word for word. But if you think that's disagreeing, ok.

I'm not disagreeing with the rest of your statement that I didn't bold. I didn't mean to steal your thunder. I, simply, don't (or don't want to) find basic decency amazing.

I didn't think I repeated you verbatim. Been a long day. I'm tired. Sorry if I plagiarized.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

sidsmom — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 03:53:02 GMT

This is apropos to not only the AF Academy but to everyone and

Life in General. There have been several topics of late which

caused ‘difference of opinion’ where unnecessary name-calling &

disrespect of the person was not warranted..when they

did nothing wrong. The person discussed needed to be treated

with dignity...if not, “get out”, like Lt.General Silveria said.

Words we all could live by.

I’ve shared & retweeted this speech a zillion times on social media.

Very. Important. Words to. Hear.

And the posters before and more likely after me will be giving him a

big ‘woo-hoo’ when they have been ugly-with-words in the present/past.

Hopefully they will take a look within....and reflect. If not, ‘get out’.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

JaneMarple — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 03:43:57 GMT

Thank you General Silveria.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Noel7 — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 03:47:25 GMT

@LinaL wrote:
@Noel7 wrote:
@LinaL wrote:
@Noel7 wrote:
That general is amazing, what a guy! I just heard his speech for the third time today. He commands attention and is a fantastic leader. There should be more like him.
(my bold)
I disagree. I don't find him to be amazing. I find him to be (from what I gathered from his words) a decent human being who should be the norm, rather than the exception. It's sad that he should have had to make that speech.
Kudos to him. We need many, many more like him.
You made the same point I did in saying he should be the norm and I said there should be more like him, which actually you repeated almost word for word. But if you think that's disagreeing, ok.
I'm not disagreeing with the rest of your statement that I didn't bold. I didn't mean to steal your thunder. I, simply, don't (or don't want to) find basic decency amazing.
I didn't think I repeated you verbatim. Been a long day. I'm tired. Sorry if I plagiarized.

Disagreeing does not equate to stealing thunder. IMO his behavior was amazing. You don't see that, fine.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Kachina624 — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 03:54:39 GMT

I'd like to hear what he has to say about sexual harassment. That has been the big bugaboo at the Air Force Academy. Now that the Air Force Secretary is a female and Air Force Academy graduate, maybe she'll get their attention.

I haven't heard anything about racial issues there.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Noel7 — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 03:57:26 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I'd like to hear what he has to say about sexual harassment. That has been the big bugaboo at the Air Force Academy. Now that the Air Force Secretary is a female and Air Force Academy graduate, maybe she'll get their attention.

Hi @Kachina624

I don't think he used the term sexual harassment but he pressed the point of respecting women at all times and treating people the same no matter what gender.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

dooBdoo — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 04:11:52 GMT

sidsmom wrote:
This is apropos to not only the AF Academy but to everyone and
Life in General. There have been several topics of late which
caused ‘difference of opinion’ where unnecessary name-calling &
disrespect of the person was not warranted..when they
did nothing wrong. The person discussed needed to be treated
with dignity...if not, “get out”, like Lt.General Silveria said.

Words we all could live by.

I’ve shared & retweeted this speech a zillion times on social media.
Very. Important. Words to. Hear.

And the posters before and more likely after me will be giving him a
big ‘woo-hoo’ when they have been ugly-with-words in the present/past.
Hopefully they will take a look within....and reflect. If not, ‘get out’.

@sidsmom, It would be a welcome change if all of us could look within and reflect on this, and examine the way we treat others. Unfortunately, self-awareness is difficult and rare. It's rare particularly in this age of finger-pointing, casting blame on others, and cheering people who insult, ridicule, or verbally abuse as if it's a lovely sport. I count myself among those who need to look more squarely in the mirror and find new insight into the times I'm a "part of the problem" instead of "part of the solution."

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Nancy Drew — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 04:15:51 GMT

I heard this kind of speech for years in the military. Why is this getting special attention? A good speech but leaders are always giving good speeches. Action and follow through are the problem.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

stuyvesant — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 04:20:33 GMT

I was struck by the general telling everybody pull out your cameras. Film this.

We all know the cell phone cameras have forced us to face a lot of ugly situations. By having everybody stand there and film him, it was almost like he was forcing everybody to switch over to the side that confronts the difficult issues instead of finding excuses for them. Keep this if you need a reminder, I think he said.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

JaneMarple — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 04:23:31 GMT

Did anyone see the handwritten note on the dormitory door? I suggest to those who are asking about why the General's need for the speech to google it.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Noel7 — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 04:22:03 GMT

@Nancy Drew wrote:
I heard this kind of speech for years in the military. Why is this getting special attention? A good speech but leaders are always giving good speeches. Action and follow through are the problem.

@Nancy Drew

It was a response to racist harassment within.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Nancy Drew — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 04:23:10 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
@Nancy Drew wrote:
I heard this kind of speech for years in the military. Why is this getting special attention? A good speech but leaders are always giving good speeches. Action and follow through are the problem.

@Nancy Drew

It was a response to racist harassment within.

Okay I am going to go google it. I was not aware.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Noel7 — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 04:24:18 GMT

@JaneMarple wrote:
Did anyone see the handwritten note on the dormitory door? I suggest to those who are asking about why the General need for the speech to google it.

Thanks @JaneMarple !

I didn't see it, I'll see if I can find it.

Re: US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Noel7 — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 04:29:20 GMT

I don't see a copy of the notes, but they were on the doors of five African American cadets, with slurs and telling them to go home.