Support our troops ... unless they speak out against racism
Col. Ben Jonsson blocked from promotion because of Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt
Besides Andrew Sullivan’s discussion with Charles “Chip” Gallagher and activist Lisa Bond during “Race2Dinner,” and Donald Trump’s delusional take on “the Blacks” fandom, I honestly didn’t expect tone deafness on racism to get any worse. That is, until I read a recent report from Military.com about Col. Ben Jonsson.
If his name is unfamiliar to you, start by reading the colonel’s article in AirForceTimes.com: “Dear white colonel … we must address our blind spots around race.” He starts off the post without mincing his words.
As white colonels, you and I are the biggest barriers to change if we do not personally address racial injustice in our Air Force. Defensiveness is a predictable response by white people to any discussion of racial injustice. White colonels are no exception. We are largely blind to institutional racism, and we take offense to any suggestion that our system advantaged us at the expense of others.
And that 832-word article appears to have led to an ongoing professional dispute. After President Joe Biden’s administration nominated Jonsson to receive a promotion to brigadier general in January 2023, his promotion was first blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. over the Pentagon’s abortion access policy. After that was over, now Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., has tapped himself in to solely block Jonsson. And it appears to be because of that July 1, 2020 article on anti-racism.
Why? Schmitt's office has decided diversity is “divisive.” In fact, he put a hold on six officers in a fight to "eradicate" diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and is trying to do away with 40 federal DEI departments.