United Against Anti-Semitism??

I see a lot of these signs on the roadside lately and, yes, of course I'm united against anti-semitism.

I'm also united against Islamophobia. And homophobia. And racism and bigotry and prejudice. And so many other things.

Basically, I am united against "otherism". If you look at another person and instantly categorize them by some attribute other than the human being, then sorry, I think you are part of the problem facing all of us right now.

Most of you know that I spent most of my twenties in the military. And while I'm not saying there are no problems in the military, it is the greatest meritocracy that exists (as far as I know). You either can get shit done or you can't and that is all that matters. Not your race, not your religion, not ancestry, not anything other than your skillset and the job in front of you.

I served with people of all faiths and people of no faith. I served with people of every skin color and every accent & dialect (although sadly, my own Boston / New England dialect was rather rare 😔). I commanded a team of over sixty people. The only thing they were ever judged on was whether they got their shit done or not.

James Taylor tells us to "shower the people you love with love". I'm sorry. As much as I love me some good JT from the '70's, he missed the mark by a long shot with that one. I say shower the people you can barely stand with love. Do that and we might just have a future.

I don't know about you, but I am praying for Gaza and Israel this weekend. Please join me if you are so inclined.

🙏✝🙏☦🙏✡🙏☪🙏🕉🙏☸🙏☯🙏🛐

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DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

This is why I am so angry at the removal of DEI. It applied to everyone in any position of the government.

And should have been in the USA constitution, making it applicable for everyone in the whole USA.

Performance issues where not a exclusive part of DEI.

Meritocracy definitely has issues with inclusion. It avoids the fact that everyone has different abilities. And rewards only those that perform, at the sake of inclusion.

Why the military often retires those with disabilities incurred during action. Like a rag being thrown away.

They can have other abilities and not be penalized for their disabilities.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@DeWayfarer

Meritocracy definitely has issues with inclusion. It avoids the fact that everyone has different abilities. And rewards only those that perform, at the sake of inclusion.

Not at all. A meritocracy only requires that everyone do their best with their skillset.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@sarabee1995 Please. I know of far too many vets that could, yet were not included.

You don't want to do it their way, it's over. Yet there is no single way.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@DeWayfarer

You don't want to do it their way, it's over.

Ummm, yes. That's right. That's true whether the person in question is injured or not. People on my team who did not want to do things my way were no longer on my team.

But I had six specialists with greater than 50% disability who continued to serve. Obviously we were not a front line unit, but nothing about having a disability alone prevents someone from serving.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@sarabee1995 It happens all the time. And I talking about in the thousands. I'm a vet myself. I know these vets. My next door neighbor is one.

Their way just didn't follow into the military way. This is where the military has it wrong.

They can contribute. Just not the military way.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@DeWayfarer Yes, if you are in an infantry unit and can no longer walk, you will be discharged to the VA.

But while serving, whether with a disability or not, you don't get to choose how to do your job. You do it in the manner prescribed or you don't do it. That is true. But I don't see what that has to do with DEI.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@sarabee1995 Ever try to deal with a disability, when they are attempting to tell you how to deal with it?

Not going to work. Everyone is different.

What that has to with is that last "I" in DEI... Inclusion.

The military is notoriously bad for doing exactly what you are saying. " you don't get to choose how to do your job."

Their job is learning how to deal with their disabilities FIRST! And in the manner that only they can figure out.

The military must be "Inclusive" in letting them figure it out themselves.

Not say you must drop out, since you are not doing it their way.

Being "Inclusive" is not ordering you. Being inclusive is letting them figure it out themselves.

Everyone is different. Only those with the disabilities can figure it the best way. Not the military.

While DEI covers disabilities under "Diversity", "Inclusion" covers other parts of disabilities as well.

My past post covers some of this in it's definition of DEI...
https://similarworlds.com/politics/5313932-Politics-TL-DR-chatGPT-mini-4-0-AI-comprehensive-definition

As to disabilities across all services this is a breakdown..

Breakdown of Relevant Statistics:

About 10-20% of military personnel deployed to combat zones suffer injuries that lead to disabilities.

Among all veterans, about 13% have a service-related disability.

Of the disabled veterans, 24% of those who served in combat report disabilities, compared to 8% of those who did not see combat

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@DeWayfarer Sorry. We disagree.