Mike Nelson

Let's talk standards and professionalism. Why are Confederate flag tattoos acceptable throughout the military (except the Marines) and beards are not? One is completely voluntary, no permission required, and the other requires a medical waiver to address a condition caused by shaving (PFB or razor bumps) For decades, guys sporting such tattoos would stop Black military men and ask to see their "papers," as if they were a possibly enslaved person, trying to get away with something illegal, like running away. It happened to me. Now, no papers are required to be carried, but the stigma remains (for the beards). It affected my professional opportunities, big time. I lost a flag aide opportunity because I could not shave every day. How often do you suppose someone is stopped and questioned for having one of these tattoos, and subsequently lectured on professionalism or lack thereof? I saw them every day for decades, in uniform. Read the article and ask yourself what makes the difference. Why is the "standard" different for the Marines, who apparently are not having difficulty meeting their recruiting goals? Are the Marines more "professional" than the other services? The USAF is cracking down on shaving. Tattoos too? Someone should do a survey on the John C Stennis, comparing the number of Confederate Flag tattoos to the number of beards. I all but guarantee you that only white people will have the tattoos (only Sailors, no Marines) and the majority of beards will be worn by Black males. How about in the rest of the military? When Admiral Michelle Howard assumed command of her first ship, she was told that Sailors now under her command were seen scraping Confederate Flags off their vehicles in the parking lot. Why do you suppose that would happen? Make your case for equivalency, if you have one. I suspect there are vastly different ones, if the article is any guide.

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https://lnkd.in/ept__JwH As AMCITS are still being held hostage by HAMAS ...  Ronald Reagan gave his landmark speech  in 1983 introducing the concept of an advanced integrated weapons system to defend the United States  attacks from nuclear tipped ballistic missiles.  Reagan was a staunch critic of the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction  which had been in place to preclude the first use of nuclear weapons. Despite pushback  from many scientists in both the private industry and  even military senior leadership, Reagan was convinced that the Soviet Union would be unable to match the United States in its quest to build a similar defensive weapons system.  The concept was termed the  Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or derisively by many simply as “Star Wars.” Some lauded his vision; however, many of his opponents and the media mocked him and called the concept simply sheer fantasy that would never come to fruition. Then Senator Joe Biden the voice of the Democrat Party derided SDI  in a 1986 speech to the National Press Club: “Star Wars represents a fundamental assault on the concepts, alliances and arms-control agreements that have buttressed American security for several decades, and the president’s continued adherence to it constitutes one of the most reckless and irresponsible acts in the history of modern statecraft.” But in spite of this, Reagan pressed on and was convinced that the former Soviet Union would not have the financial resources nor the advanced technology to field such a similar system. Fast forward to 1989  and before our eyes the former Soviet Union was imploding from within due to a faltering economy and the realization the USSR could not compete with the United States militarily especially if we implemented Star Wars which would render their massive nuclear arsenal obsolete. Although not a space-based platform, we witnessed Reagan's concept of a large-scale integrated weapons defense system in action when Israel intercepted all most all of  Iran's 300 cruise missiles, drones and rockets aimed at Israel with aircraft, the Iron Dome, and the Arrow Missile defense systems. This was only round one and I suspect we will witness more missile and drone barrages from Iran or its proxies before the conflict is brought to its logical conclusion – the elimination of Hamas. I am sure “The Gipper” was smiling knowing that a concept he envisioned almost forty years ago was brought to bear against the country that held Americans hostage under the Carter Administration released an hour before his inauguration. Now we have Americans held hostage for months under the feckless Biden-Harris Administration. Tyrants respect power not weakness. Strategic leaders craft a vision and inspire others to achieve beyond what they thought possible. Others merely keep the seat warm  – I will let you draw your own conclusions.

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