Guest Column: The cost of a diverse Naval Academy

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0

Annapolis Diversity - 2009-07-06 08:19:44

My son went to the USNA many years ago, but resigned during his first semester due to the abhorrent behavior of the senior cadets -drinking in the dorms, harrassing plebes when supervisors we not around - and the policies of the Academy - underachieveing athletes who were recruited by the Academy, but who didn't meet academic standards. The jocks got tutoring by the academically qualified plebes, who were punished if the jocks did badly on their tests. Jocks also got extra priveleges and extra food. It was a dispicable place. Now those graduates are running the Academy. The Academy should be closed and let ROTC and OCS provide our future Naval officers.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Bob B. - Cary, NC - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0

diversity - 2009-07-06 00:49:56

i suggest we go even further

diversity should be the number one priority

for surgeons; from now on

every practicing surgeon

must match the demographic makeup

of his/her/its patients

blacks must operate on blacks,

only women can operate on women

and

we need a transgender doctor to perform

an addadictomy

what is the world coming to?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

rocky bridges - sacramento, ca - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0

Leadership - M. Gibson - 2009-06-27 10:09:30

We should be concerned with the previous 30-40 years, not the entire history of the Navy and Naval Academy. What evidence do you have to support your claims concerning the superior performance of Naval Academy graduates compared to officers from other sources? My preliminary search found a 1990 Congressional Budget Office (limited) analysis that indicated Naval Academy graduates were superior in some respects. Subsequently, however, USNA Midshipmen no longer receive regular commissions, but only reserve commissions, just like ROTC and OCS graduates. Is that due to a lack of superior performance by academy graduates? Can you cite recent data on promotion and augmentation rates or other performance indicators? If Naval Academy graduates are not 3-5 times better than officers from other sources, the Board of Visitors should find out why because a Naval Academy graduate costs the taxpayer 3-5 times more than an officer from the other sources(depending on how you estimate these costs).

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Andrew Van Sant - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +3

So disappointing - 2009-06-24 20:55:13

This is the result when managers, rather than leaders, are appointed to leadership positions.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Kevin E. - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +11

Leadership... - 2009-06-24 15:26:35

Leadership is not just about getting out in front of your troops and pushing them past the next objective, it is so much more than most can ever fathom. Its about doing the right thing when you know that nobody is looking, it is about chosing the harder right instead of the easier wrong, it is about realizing you are a significant part of something much bigger than just yourself.
The Naval Academy is a cost effective institution because of what it produces - the backbone of the highly professional officer corps of the United States Naval Service. Not only does it produce more than 1000 new junior officers for both the Navy and the Marine Corps each year, it also produces the highest percentage of career officers for the Naval Service - and that is its major benefit - highly professional men and women committed to ensuring the military is a place of unmatched honor, integrity and courage.
While it is true that most MIT grad could be trained to do most of the things the typical JO from the Naval Academy would be expected to do during their first few years on Active Duty, and it is also true that there a a good number of career officers that came from other sources than Annapolis, however no institution can match USNa for its track record for the sustained superior performance of its graduates over its almost 175 year history.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

M. Gibson - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +8

NAPS - 2009-06-24 15:08:10

The Naval Academy Prep School is just that - a prepatory school to help prepare otherwise good candidates to withstand the academic rigor of the Naval Academy - noything more, nothing less. It is not a place the Naval Academy Athetic Association uses to provide a "Red Shirt" year to its athletes. Every candidate that is sent to NAPS is selected for that assignment based on the decision of the Admissions Board at the Naval Academy. Additionally, no athlete at NAPS is committed to attend the Naval Academy and can allow themselves to be recruited again by any school if they so desire. NAPS provides a means for some of those deserving enlisted people who have shown a desire to move into the Officer Corps, a place to send athletes who need a bit more academic work to be successful at Navy and also a place where non-athletes (yes a large portion of these are minorities) can get some extra preparation to help them be successful when they come to Annapolis.
Besides, if NAPS has a bunch of "Blue Chip" athletes, I'd like to know what they are doing with them, because none of them ever seem to get to the playing fields in Annapolis. Navy gets some really good over-achievers to take the field against true "blue chip" athletes from most of their opponents, but just because the teams enjoy success does not make any of them "blue chippers".

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

f. flintstone - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -5

NAPS - 2009-06-23 12:23:55

I taught at NAPS for 5 years. Generally, standards were high and students worked very hard. However, there was some underlying pressure to pass people that were marginal. I didn't get the feeling that this was due to their minority status, but NAPS does have a higher percentage of minorities than the general population. NAPS also has quite a few "blue-chip" athletes that are effectively doing a red shirt year before attending the Academy.
BTW, when I was there the students pursued congressional appointments to the Academy, perhaps taking them from other candidates, even though everyone knew if you graduated from NAPS they would be accepted - regardless whether they met this or any of the other "requirements".

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

K. Jones - Seattle, WA - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0

Reggie's Comments - 2009-06-21 14:05:48

Don't be too baffled by Reggie's comments. He posts unpopular and idiotic comments on almost all the articles. His comments are never seen unless you unclick due to their low ranking. He either posts his inflammatory comments to upset people or he truly is a stupid and angry man.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Anne Brown - Crownsville, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +7

Leadership - 2009-06-21 08:19:01

If you want Leaders of Men who can take a heavily fortified beach and plant the US flag, does it really matter what admissions standard is used? I don't think leadership in battle correlates with SAT scores.

If you want a bunch of brainiacs, recruit MIT graduates and send them through OCS, offer to pay back the cost of the MIT tuition for a service commitment (much cheaper than the cost of a USNA education).

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

mike o. - Crownsville, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +1

Comment removed by HometownAnnapolis staff. - 2009-06-20 21:36:15

Staff message: Why is this comment hidden?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

- Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -4

correction - 2009-06-20 21:01:11

I am glad to see I was wrong: the author DID use his name, at the very top, unlike so many federal employees who criticize affirmative action. I retract part of my post below. I had seen at the bottom "the author is a professor" and wrongly assumed that this piece was anonymous. A rara avis of courage, Prof. Fleming.... Perhaps the von Brunn tragedy is causing some to rethink our disastrous reticence. My apologies. (I was unable to edit my post afterward.)

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

John de Nugent - Sarver , PA - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -4

Von Brunn's ire over this issue - 2009-06-20 20:46:58

Many here may recognize my name as the acquaintance by phone of James von Brunn, who went into the Naval Academy not long ago to protest this issue of the gradual minority takeover of the Academy. Obtaining no hearing there, he snapped.

Now we are seeing a minority takeover of the entire society, including the very White House, where besids Barry Soetoro we see his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel -- literally an Israeli-US dual citizen. The Sec'y of Homeland Security, Napolitano, is an overt lesbian. Her mother's maiden name was Winer. The Attorney General is black, Holder, and his first speech accused America of being "cowardly" about race (i.e. black complaints).

I note that the author of this article, a USNA professor, refuses to use his name. It is exactly this climate of FEAR, of ever-growing fear especialy since Obama entered the White House -- the man who cannot simply produce his birth certificate or any evidence of US citizenship, and never wore the US uniform -- it is this craven FEAR by fellow citizens that made James von Brunn snap -- a decorated Navy PT boat captain in World War II.

Woe to this country when only 89-year-old men say what is on their mind and, when no ojne listens, they turn to a gun.

Someday there may be a conflict with China, and woe to a US Navy full of C-student officers. The Chinese skippers will NOT be C-student officers, and they will be firing lots of stolen US technology at us that Chinese-American procured for them.

I myself had three meritorious promotions in the Marine Corps reserve while at Georgetown and was strongly urged to apply for Marine Officer Candidate School. But when my white civil rights concerns were discovered, I was rejected, regardless of qualifications. (My father fought at Iwo Jima and in Korea as a Marine officer; I was eager to follow in his footsteps.)

I then pursued the pre-med program at Georgetown and did very well. One day, crossing the green, I chatted with a black female fellow student, also in pre-med. She told me that she could get into Georgetown Medical School with a C+ average.

Woe to the patient being treated by a C+ doctor.

Woe to a nation too afraid to use its name or speak out before it is too late. I WILL speak out, so these von Brunn incidents can be avoided and white Americans have a voice for their civil rights.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

John de Nugent - Sarver , PA - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -5

Diversity - 2009-06-20 14:05:31

First of all, I think this article is pure rubbish, but has stimulated a lot of comments! USNA's selection process involves many esteemed Congressmen and highly educated individuals who want well rounded Officers for our Fleet. This process doesn't weed out highly qualified individuals, but embraces them. To Mr. Kent Granzin - Hendersonville, NC, who commented, "As a Naval Academy graduate who subsequently taught at three state universities over 35 years, ... The lower the individual abilities of the students in a class, the lower the quality of the instruction. When students can't grasp concepts, what can be taught to the class as a whole is "dragged down" to reflect that lower level of the group." This is not the case in any Academy class that I attended. Additionally, if this is the way you teach on a University level, you should be fired! And to all those who are commenting on the quality of our young men and women, answer this question: Has a minority student ever graduated at the bottom of his/her class?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

jay mcmillan - Huntington Beach, CA - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +13

Diversity at USNA - 2009-06-20 12:33:05

I am appalled to learn "the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced in Annapolis recently that "diversity is the number one priority" at the Naval Academy." I prefer not to criticize comments by the CNO, however, he is off point on this one. The number one priority at USNA is fulfilling it's mission - to develop career naval officers. Recruiting, educating and training men and women whose service will play the vital role of assuring our national security through sea-power. Diversity has nothing to do with it. Capability and potential for competent career military service has everything to do with it. Of all people, the CNO should be lifting this banner. His comments, if taken to inappropriate levels of execution by his subordinates, may prove harmful to the Naval Forces under his charge. The demographics of the U.S. Naval Academy should reflect one thing only - the most qualified pool of candidates possible - gleaned from every walk of life. Racial quotas (or goals) should be eliminated altogether from the selection process. In fact, race should play no part whatsoever in the application prcess, and should be removed from all applications received at all the service academies. If, as a result, the matriculating class on Induction Day 2010 is 100% any color, fine - as long as they are the most highly qualified candidates avaliable. Get out of politics, Chief, and back into warfighting where you belong. Your comments are out of the pale of your job description, reflect a mindset inappropriate for your position, and should be immediately retracted and corrected. We are after all, at war.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

BOB HENDRY - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +8

Jennifer C. - 2009-06-19 19:21:49

The reason the US will collapse is because of our dumbed-down school curriculum. You must be a product of one of these schools. Im really curious where you learned this history. Have you ever been to Russia or one of the countries of the FSU?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Nathan D. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +14

USSR's problem? - 2009-06-19 09:09:10

What a creative way to try to twist history to defend a baseless statement.
The USSR in no way failed because there were too many *white* russians in their military's officer corps and too few in their enlisted ranks - the USSR failed because it could not keep up economically with the free world (most specifically the US) because of the inherent inefficiencies and almost blatant graft that was a constant draw on that countries resources - both human and material.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

f. flintstone - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -12

USSR's problem - 2009-06-18 23:49:30

One of the main reasons why the former Soviet Union collapsed is because nearly all of the officers were white Russians and most of the enlisted were not. There was no melting pot, no room for advancement, no inclusion. The former USSR reverted to their former minority-dominant states.... The attempt to 'Russianize' the non-European states failed as the minority populations in the satellite states ballooned. White Russians held government positions throughout every USSR satellite state (the Balkans, the various 'stans' etc.). The indigenous ethnic minorities were not trusted. As he minorities grew so did their resentment towards white Russians, once they outnumbered the white Russians ethnic nationalism took hold, massive rallies took place, and the USSR Empire quickly began to collapse. The United States has rightly understood it's strength has been the diversity of the 'melting pot.' It is only fair to give everyone an equal chance to achieve and succeed, that includes helping those who have been traditionally disadvantaged and discriminated against.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Jennifer C. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +4

Whites in NAPS too... - 2009-06-18 23:25:08

I know quite a few midshipmen and at least one cadet that had to go to the Naval Academy Preparatory School or the West Point equivalent. All of them are white!

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Jennifer C. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +7

Good plan - 2009-06-18 17:40:03

Can we ask that "having the best and most qualified officers graduate Annapolis" get somewhere in the top 20 priorities?

I realize diversity of skin color is more important than qualified officers in a military; and there are likely many other things more important in an officer than qualifications, skills, and knowledge... clearly skin color is one.

Ah, who am I kidding. Diversity is all, quality of officers is a useless construct of the white male society. Who needs qualified officers when we can get them the right size, shape, and color?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

ert dfg - Chicago, IL - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +8

Diversity - 2009-06-18 08:26:54

Diversity is difficult for any University. Top minority applicants are sought after by all the top schools. Scholarships and other incentives are given without the mandatory 5 year military commitment. Without alternate methods in place diversity would never be achieved at any military academy.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

K A. - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +4

Orlando Gotay - 2009-06-18 07:30:45

Mr. Gotay,

Good for you, sir. You have the right attitude and serve as a good example of what we should seen in an officer.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Karl Newman - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +22

Define Diversity - 2009-06-18 00:51:40

When did diversity become equivocal with the physical appearance of a person? While we search out every color of the rainbow, we are missing the true importance of diversity. Selecting candidates due to the color of skin or nature of sex is degrading. We should search for diversity in background, experience, and culture. The Navy needs diversity of ideas, minds, values, and experiences to lead future generations.

The admissions board must re-evaluate its approach to entrance qualifications. Ethnicity or sex may indicate a difference in physical appearance, but does not ensure diversity. Just as SAT scores, GPAs, athletics, and extracurricular activities may help discern candidates whom are likely to succeed, but are not necessarily an indication of success. As an alumni, I have noticed that some people at the top of my class are poor leaders. I also noticed that some graduates at the bottom of my class are quite talented officers. The fact remains that a person's intelligence, ethnicity, athleticism, or sex are not guarantees of an outstanding Naval Officer. The Navy should recruit the spectrum of society and ensure a proper evaluation system is in place. The fault lies not only with the recruiting process, but also with how we evaluate and treat our midshipmen during the course of their education.

Bottom line: We are taking the wrong approach to the selection of midshipmen. We can not judge a candidate by his or her physical appearance.

If I were to find that I was being promoted due to my sex and not my performance, I would have to respectfully resign my commission and find another way to serve my country.

I wish to be treated as an officer, not a quota. I deserve that respect.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Julie G. - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0

A Point about Jackie Robinson - 2009-06-17 17:26:58

While I will agree that Jackie Robinson was selected (instead of other more seasoned players) in part because of his temperment, but to try to say he was just another "average" player is nothing short of rediculous. He was a four sport star at UCLA, after getting out of the Army he was selected to the 1945 Negro League All Star team and in 1946 he lead the International League with a .349 batting average and .985 fielding percentage and was named the league's Most Valuable Player.
Robinson's record in a decade of Major League baseball certainly does not support the idea he was just an average player - he was named the 1947 Rookie of the Year, he was named to the All Star Game six consecutive years (1949-1954), and he was named the National League MVP in 1949.
In a famous three-hour exchange on August 28, 1945, Rickey asked Robinson if he could face the racial animus without taking the bait and reacting angrily a concern given Robinson's prior arguments with law enforcement officials at Pasadena Junior College and in the military. Robinson was aghast: "Are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?" Rickey replied that he needed a Negro player "with guts enough not to fight back." After obtaining a commitment from Robinson to "turn the other cheek" to racial antagonism, Rickey agreed to sign him to a contract for $600 a month.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Mark G. - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +24

"Diversity" - 2009-06-17 13:53:22

As a Naval Academy graduate who subsequently taught at three state universities over 35 years, I have one comment. The lower the individual abilities of the students in a class, the lower the quality of the instruction. When students can't grasp concepts, what can be taught to the class as a whole is "dragged down" to reflect that lower level of the group.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Kent Granzin - Hendersonville, NC - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +9

A Point about Jackie Robinson - 2009-06-17 13:09:01

Mark C.: Jackie Robinson was chosen by Branch Rickey to integrate baseball not for his talent and ability, but rather for his temperament. There were many more talented baseball players from the Negro Leagues who were passed over for the chance to make it to the "big" leagues, but Jackie was chosen because he was an average player who wouldn't retaliate when he faced threats, violence, and vulgarities on the road. It's funny that several comments have mentioned the "stigma" placed on minority Midshipmen who are "beneficiaries" of "affirmative action", but wouldn't the insult to one's self-concept (i.e., the implicit thought that one isn't "good enough" to succeed) be worse than stigma? Jackie Robinson knew he wasn't the best player (read his biography), but he was grateful to have the opportunity to play and made the most of it. It seems that some of these minority Mids who didn't have stellar academic records have also done the same. What some of you don't quite seem to grasp is that every minority Mid who "makes it" is evidence that the admissions criteria is less than perfect. Nobody's talking about the variability in schools and standardized tests like the SAT really measure.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Shawn B. - Odenton, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -25

Walt - 2009-06-17 09:29:38

Walt, you are doing one of the best parodies of Don Dwyer's constituents I have ever seen. Except for Don Dwyer of course --he is a walking , talking parody.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -41

orlando the alien - 2009-06-17 07:10:16

Orlando,

Fleming was not talking about you people, he was talking about real american native people of color, He has no problem with y'all un assimilated spanish speakers because y'all do his landscaping for him at a reduced cost in his Severna Park palace to whiteness.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +21

Interesting perspective - 2009-06-16 23:48:25

Sir--I am one of those minority folks who did not speak English as a first language. It took two tries to get admitted to the Academy, as well as a year of Naval Academy Prep School. I graduated 781 out of 1022. I am quite proud of that, and I remember that 1400 of us took the oath on that hot induction day, July 6, 1983. There were six of us from Puerto Rico.

To this day, I am grateful to the Blue and Gold officer who had faith in me, as well the Admissions Board and others who saw in me the potential to graduate. I did not disappoint them.

The Naval Academy's mission reads, in part: "to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government."

As an official in the government of Puerto Rico's capital city, I am giving back to others, what has been given to me...whether the distinguished professor thinks it was right or not.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Orlando Gotay - Guaynabo, PR - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +2

Comment disabled due to community reporting. - 2009-06-16 22:02:44

Why is this comment hidden?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

- Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +2

Diversity - 2009-06-16 18:26:43

I have been at the Academy teaching chemistry for 26 years. I am for diversity; against lowering standards. I have not changed the way I have taught my class; a student will get the same grade in my class today as they would 26 years ago. The minorities in my class have the same standards as white males. I assume that applies to every other class taught at the Academy. To my knowledge, minorities are not being treated differently in the classroom. It is possible that the academically challenged minorities don't end up in my class, but I feel comfortable saying that, based on my experience, academic standards in the classroom haven't been lowered.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Mark C - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +5

Abbott, Abbott, Abbott....*sigh* - 2009-06-16 16:44:30

Tsk, tsk. First of all, we aren't friends, now are we? I thought not.

You just *might* want to go back and check your math. It's rather....lacking. Basic addition is a real butt-kicker, ain't it?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Karl Newman - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -19

Karl, Karl - 2009-06-16 14:33:22

I guess your 24 years and your 12 years makes 36 years, right? That's the problem with Annapolis people. You just don't know when and who to salute. You're a short timer my friend. Write again when you've really done something for your country. Sounds like 20 years and out, right? Guess you couldn't make much rank in the military. Good luck to you my friend!

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

S. Abbott - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -20

Comment disabled due to community reporting. - 2009-06-16 13:57:41

Why is this comment hidden?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

- Karma: Terrible

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +27

Reggie, Reggie, Reggie ... - 2009-06-16 13:50:25

I guess my reading comprehension must still be suffering from my archaic education please forgive me but I was unable to find the fact your referred to with regard to Prof. Fleming stating he was unable to teach anyone. The closest I could find was his assertion that in his experience, many of the minority midshipmen struggled to master some of the basic concepts of the English course he teaches. Based on my experience as a graduate and a former member of the faculty, I would say that his assertion is pretty accurate.

You go on to state the Naval Academy is filled with professors that were rejected by the IVY League I guess this is another of your facts eh? I would like to know on what information you based this fact given the fact that about 50% of the teaching faculty is comprised of Junior Officers that have returned from the Fleet for a couple of years to impart their experiences and knowledge on the Midshipmen and the other half is comprised of some of the most respected teaching Professors in the nation. Understand that even as a full professor with tenure, Fleming, along with all the other professors, PhDs or not, do actually teach as opposed to most of the IVY League with their Graduate Assistants.

While I would agree that Adm Fowler and Adm Roughead have brought some progressive leadership to the Naval Academy, in this case, Prof. Fleming justifiably asks at what cost. If the leadership is bending over backwards to recruit qualified minorities from areas that have historically been under-represented by the composition of the incoming Plebe classes, and those they convince to apply and accept appointments are at least equal or superior to those non-minority applicants who would have otherwise been offered those appointments then the leadership is doing absolutely the right thing. However, as Prof Fleming has suggested, if the leadership is lowering the standard to admit minority students into the Naval Academy just because they desire to change the complexion of the Brigade to better match the Fleet (which has much lower requirements of academic success), then they are doing a disservice to the Navy, the Naval Academy, the non-minority students who are displaced in the process and, in fact, all minority Midshipmen and Graduates because of the stereotype the separate requirements perpetuate. I think a good analogy along these lines would be to ask how much longer it would have taken Major League Baseball to integrate if Branch Rickey had signed a second rate talent to the Dodgers instead of Jackie Robinson in 47?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Mark G. - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +5

T. O'Brien - - 2009-06-16 12:53:45

Spoken just like a true follower of the Ideas of von Brunn.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Mark G. - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -49

Military Spending Needs To Cut By T - 2009-06-16 11:11:38

The U.S. military does not serve the interests of the American people. It's just another part of the Zionist apparatus that fight wars for Israel and serve the interests of Jews colonizing other parts of the world. Without these war-mongerers, our military and our tax dollars spent on it could be cut by two thirds! Good luck fighting wars for Israel Admiral!

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

T. O'Brien - , - Karma: Terrible

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +5

Israel Defense Forces - 2009-06-16 09:02:42

"Are there any non-jewish isreali sailiors or Officers?"

Actually, there are. Service in the IDF is open to any Israeli citizen. In addition, the Druze in the Galilee (who are Arabs) are drafted along with Jewish Israelis.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Karl Newman - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +19

State Sponsered Racism - 2009-06-16 01:04:47

Reggie would you feel the same way if the isreali navy was becoming more diverse? Are there any non-jewish isreali sailiors or Officers?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

joe b. - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -64

My words/ your racism - 2009-06-15 21:52:22

Mr. Benson , my friend:
I stated that the Fleming was unable to teach to non-white students and you rephrased it as " non-stellar' students. I never said that non-whites mids were anything less than stellar, that is you view and therein lies the real problem with you and your ilk. I understand why you are an advocate of Fleming.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +39

Facts and fairness - 2009-06-15 21:32:49

Reggie's comment baffles me. I did not understand that Prof Fleming was unable to teach less than stellar students. I known of him and his work, and as a former teacher, I consider him a valuable member of the USNA faculty. Let us separate fact from opinion and eliminate the character and institution assassination. Mr. Fleming and the USNA are valuable parts of our great nation; disagree if you want bt refrain from the name calling and trite phrases please.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

eric benson - Coats, nc - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -67

John V : facts - 2009-06-15 20:30:04

Great quote, especially in light of Fleming's admission that he is unable to teach to non-white students. These facts however are self-evident. It is the facts that lie beneath the obvious the obvious that need to be examined by people like me and other great civil rights advocates. The problem we are having with this archaic institution ( USNA) filled with Professors that were rejected by the IVY leagues is they are trying to hold on to a tradition that has been let go by advanced cultures everywhere. Along come a progressive team of Leaders ( Roughead, Fowler) and those clinging to the White power history of the Navy are incapable of obeying orders. This type of insubordination runs counter to everything the military stands for and once we expose the depth of favoritism that has allowed people like Sen McCain's son( a solid C- student) easy entry into The Academy we will illuminate why Fleming is unable to understand statistics and interpret them correctly. My Friends, the Navy is much smarter than Phlegming and will not allow his libelous comments to stand unchallenged. I also doubt you will find anyone other than him, a disgruntled misanthrope, willing to bite the hand that feeds him. He is , simply put, a traitor and should be eliminated sooner than later,

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +29

Outcome Based Admission - 2009-06-15 19:39:47

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." (John Adams)

Below the surface and away from the public eye, I can only imagine that the ducks feet are paddling pretty furiously in the admissions building and on the Commandants staff over this one.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

John V. - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +15

Diversity? - 2009-06-15 18:58:59

Prof Fleming is right on the mark. It seems that 'diversity' is in the eye of the beholder. It is no surprise that we 'need' greater minority representation at the Naval Academy; the all-volunteer force and the economy sparked by the events of the past eight years have increased minority represntation in the Armed Forces. Another misguided policy, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, has further skewed full American representation in our Armed Forces. As long as the power structure in our Congress and our Armed Forces continues to be predominately white, male, straight, conservative we will see no progress. This observation comes from a 1971 graduate of the finest service academy, USNA, who fits three of the aforementioned catagories (WMS, if you need me to be explicit). As a proud member of USNA Out, I am embarrassed and ashamed at the limited view of diversity espoused by my Navy and my Naval Academy. As a midshipman, the Honor Concept reinforced the values given to me by my parents; our current leadership would do well to be honest with the rest of us.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

eric benson - Coats, nc - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +54

Finally! - 2009-06-15 17:17:46

Someone tells it as it is.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Emma G. - West River, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +54

The Best Crew - 2009-06-15 16:18:38

I have thought about the subject here a little more I have decided I want a crew on my taxpayer funded Naval vessel like the ones on Star Trek. They where assigned to crew Flagship Enterprise not because of diversity, but because they where the BEST in their fields of expertise.

I want a fearless quick thinking commander like James T. Kirk, a brilliant logical weapons/science officer like Spock, an astute intelligent discerning communications officer like Lt Uhura, a sharp razor like mind at the helm like, Lt Sulu, a Jack of All Trades Chief Engineer like Scotty, and a medical officer with the medical skill, humanity, and compassion of Bones! This list goes on but you all know what I getting at here.

We need the best, the very very best at the helm of our modern day Navy and for that matter all of our precious military, not someone who would like to be the best and qualifies only to fill some ethnic diversity quota.

To any young midshipmen or other aspiring officers that might be reading this I say, be the very best you can be and if that is not enough then give all your loyalty and support to those who are the Capt Kirks of the service! Your life and those of your comrades-in-arms depend on it!

Peace Be Unto You and Yours!

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Tommy Barrios - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +46

Anyone's Opinion??? - 2009-06-15 15:38:52

BTW Reggie,
Every comment of your is marked "Comment hidden due to low ranking" What does that tell you? This world is a difficult one but your never going to get rid of the hard working, honest, All white Americans who will stand up for what is right and not allow all of this equal opportunity BS to ruin us. By the way, I wanted your opionion. I own my own business, as I was registering for a museum building organization, I had to pay a $650.00 fee to join however in bold black letters, it said if I was African American, Gay/Lesbian or Asian I did not have to pay. Needless to say I shelled out an honest $650.00. Is it me or is that discrimination?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Rachel B. - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +38

Diversity=? - 2009-06-15 15:19:53

I cannot say much more on this subject than has been eloquently and thoughtfully submitted already, except to add; Diversity = Divisiveness, period!

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Tommy Barrios - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -96

so in summary.... - 2009-06-15 14:04:19

Prof. Fleming is a racist not equipped to instruct people from diverse backgrounds, as such it is best that he leave the academy at once in order to do no more harm than hehas already. His insubordinate attitude simply is not conducive to a military environment. All great Americans have come to this decision through the stimulating dialogue that Phlegming started and for that he deserves credit.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +38

Strength of Leadership - 2009-06-15 13:09:01

What does it say of the military members of the Admissions Board that none of them had the courage to speak out? Integrity compels those involved to do more than simply turn a blind eye to abuses in a system. Perhaps integrity has been left behind as too harsh in a world of "core values" that are meant to be soft and feel-good.

BZ to Professor Fleming.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

paul j. - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +5

intellectualism vs. racism - 2009-06-15 12:38:12

When we award honors due to hereditary traits such as intelligence, we are going to have people feeling like race is an issue. IQ is a race based issue at this point, and if you want to be promoted, keep your mouth closed, because we know that those of less intelligence will be making huge mistakes, and blaming the rest of us. What we need is an itelligence subsidy, where we keep intellectuals trapped in subordinate positions, so they can think for the more pc idiosos you find more acceptable to put your name beside.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

christopher l. - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +16

Oh Reggie.... - 2009-06-15 11:37:19

....now, now. Don't let the likes of lil' ol' me draw you out from under your bridge. Now run along and be a good little troll. :)

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Karl Newman - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -77

Student Survey - 2009-06-15 10:09:52

I'd venture to say that Fleming is well tolerated by the white students and impatient and supercilious with non-whites. I truly believe the statistics he cites are in fact caused by institutionalized prejudices and traditions. Adm. Gary Roughead and Vice Admirable Fowler are on a mission to change things and apparently this change is painful for those white men that hold on to the values of a bygone era.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +29

Reggie - 2009-06-15 10:03:40

So reggie what is your chosen career? Or do you simply have a "lifestyle"?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Sober Thoughts - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -83

K Newman - 2009-06-15 09:59:04

I am sorry you were passed over for promotions in your career. Perhaps you should have tried to make it on your own instead of relying on the governemnt for your livelihood and self-esteem. I hope you find happiness outside of tax payer funded employment.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +27

S. Abbott - 2009-06-15 09:31:52

How about twenty-four years Navy and Navy Reserve and twelve years as a civilian at the local, state and federal level? Been there, done that, have the service record entries and personnel files. I know of what I speak. How about you?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Karl Newman - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -47

Annapolis at it's Best - 2009-06-15 09:22:49

I'm not surprised at any of the comments here. I am surprised people feel they can come in public and spout all the hate and try to justify it. I seriously doubt any of you have experience in government beyond a few years in the military, if even that. Lack of education is a breeding ground for hate. Good luck Annapolis.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

S. Abbott - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Terrible

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +58

Enough already.... - 2009-06-15 09:09:14

The guy we have now as Chief of Naval Operations is a disgrace. This PC crap has been going on for years, but he's taking it to new levels. The scandal-ridden Naval Academy is a joke and has been for years, the warrior Admirals and Marine Generals that brought us through some of the toughest times in this nation's history would be appalled and outraged if they were alive today to see what has become of their once proud and cherished Academy and Navy.

The Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of Defense need to clean out the Navy's upper leadership, but don't expect that to happen anytime soon. The onward march of the PC Police has been going on in increasing measure for as long as I can remember, but things have really come to a head in the last decade. Nobody has the testicular diameter to clean house. All this PC garbage will cost us dearly in blood and treasure when the Navy engages in the next big naval war....and someday there will be another naval war. Count on it.

I'm glad I'm retired. The more I read and hear about this stuff, the less I want to do with the Navy. It's like being an alumnus of a formerly great university that has been taken over by 60s radicals and now specializes in '(name your victim group) Studies' programs instead of science and engineering. It just sickens me.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Karl Newman - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -88

those who can't teach, teach - 2009-06-15 08:40:52

Fleming should consider a career in one of the IVY league institutions if he is unable to teach effectively to those not of white skin. He is obviously in the wrong place.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +31

What a surprise - 2009-06-15 08:33:04

We have a President who bows down to the Saudi and quotes the Quran, why the surprise of the "diversity"?? Fellow Americans, we have done this to ourselves, rather directly or indirectly as it may be.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Jen Rhoades - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +56

21st Century Witches - 2009-06-15 08:31:50

It is amazing how quickly the accusations of racism appear when anyone has the fortitude to actually discuss this topic in the open. Of particular note is that the shrillness of those accusations is directly proportional with how many facts are referred to by the "heretic" who dares to open the dialogue. Perhaps we need to treat people who are accused of racism like they did during the Salem witch trials. Hold their heads under water. If they drown, the obviously must be a racist. Our avoidance of intellectual dialogue on this topic can only weaken our values and, in this particular case, our national security.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

David P. - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -74

the other GOP tired tactic - 2009-06-15 08:28:36

"Our potential future enemies are watching this foolishness..." yeah right.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +51

Tina Reincarnated - 2009-06-15 08:26:28

Wasn't there some other insane poster who constantly used the term "my friends" because her arguments were baseless and it was her pathetic attempt to distract you from that?

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Sober Thoughts - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -83

Racism the new GOP platform - 2009-06-15 08:25:34

My conservative friends, your cries of racism are simply the sounds of the death of the GOP as it has been for the last 8 years. Let your cries of reverse discrimination be heard throughout the land not for the control they are supposed to exert over the national dialogue but of your certain and welcome death. after this final hue and cry of the loss of white dominance in our great society, may you all rest in peace.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +67

Sacrificing Equal Opportunity - 2009-06-15 08:18:50

This is a direct contradiction of the Navy's own rules about Equal Opportunity.

Quoted from the Navy Personnel Command's website: "Equal Opportunity (EO) is a fundamental element of the Navys core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. The Navy Regulations regarding Equal Opportunity (Article 1164), reads 'Equal Opportunity shall be afforded to all on the basis of individual efforts, performance, conduct, diligence, potential, capabilities and talents without discrimination of race, creed, color, gender, or national origin. Naval personnel shall demonstrate a strong commitment to stand on these principles and carry them out.'"

Are we now sacrificing Equal Opportunity at the altar of Diversity? Equal opportunity is the foundation that allows a diverse military to operate as a meritocracy. It is what created and fostered the diversity we enjoy in our commands today.

If the CNO is willing to throw something as important as Equal Opportunity under the bus, no standard or principle is sacred.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Gene Estes - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +61

diversity in the USN - 2009-06-15 08:07:40

Mr. Fleming has shown a lot of courage in his excellent article. Let's hope he keeps his job in today's climate of academic intolerance. For the CNO to say that "diversity" is his number 1 priority at Annapolis is appalling. But the problem is not confined to USNA. My son recently was turned down for a Naval ROTC scholarship. The same day, however he received an e-mail from the Naval Service Training Command in Pensacola, informing him that he might still be eligible for a scholarship if he were to attend a "historically black" college or university. It's time for the Navy to get back to training our future war fighters and quit playing political correctness games. Our potential future enemies are watching this foolishness...

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

David W - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -83

and professor - 2009-06-15 08:03:27

perhaps it is your bigoted racial prejudices that block you from being able to effectively teach " lower-track courses, in mandatory tutoring programs ". Clearly your prejuduces are outwardly manifesting themselves in the failure of you to teach these very basic courses. Perhaps you are the source of this institutionalized racism that the current Superintendent is hell-bent on destroying. let's hope he destroys you.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -81

legacy rights - 2009-06-15 07:50:32

My friends, this discussion is best kept at the country clubs. If it were not for preferential treatment of candidates that may have been born to drug addicts and/or absentee mentally challenged father-figures how could have Sen. McCain's son gotten in to the pillar of tradition we call the USNA ? Simply put, he would have been left out in the cold with all the other dim-witted trust funders out there my friends. So I ask you, my friends, do we really want to speak of this preferential treatment policy in front of the commoners ? I think not.Moreover, if you girls are so darn interested in competition why did you not apply to Harvard, or Yale, or Stanford, or MIT ? I think we know the naswer to that one my friends, but it is possible that George Herbert Bush could still pull some strings for y'all.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +27

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION - 2009-06-15 07:42:25

Nothing teaches young white males a sense of superiority like blatantly holding them to the highest standard and slashing standards for everybody else. If diversity bullies set out to actively encourage white supremacists to look down on minorities I'm not sure they could find a better way of achieving that affect and deliberately creating a sense of white superiority. Their own reaction to reality and unfair and unjust discrimination undermines their entire purpose.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Curtis W. - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +76

Are merit-based admissions racist? - 2009-06-14 23:41:38

As an active duty naval officer and USNA alumnus, I think there are some fundamental problems with the current policy that is geared to make the officer corps of the Navy reflect the minority makeup of the enlisted corps. A few to ponder:

1. Having two paths to admission, one for white males and one with lesser standards for minorities and women is inherently racist in that it perpetuates an implied bigoted belief of minority inferiority; namely that minorities, in particular blacks and Hispanics, cannot compete for admissions with white students. This only serves to hurt those minority students accepted who actually were competitive with their white male counterparts during the admissions process but who will forever carry with them the stigma of suspicion by others who think they were admitted, promoted, selected, etc., based on lower standards. Are those who wonder if a black officer was held to a lower standard than they were racist? Are they still racist if the black officer actually was held to a lower standard than they were asked to meet? Is this short term feel-good policy actually going to help prevent racism and bigotry in the long term? Or does it only serve to reinforce bigoted beliefs?

2. It can, and should, be interpreted as a policy that basically states: "We are willing to have a lower quality Navy if that is what it takes to ensure it is one in which the officer and enlisted populations are demographically identical. Sadly, potential competitor militaries will not shackle themselves with such self-defeating policies. Perhaps we should add a clause to the Laws of War that states officer and enlisted demographics should be matched in order to make sure war is fair. Perhaps we should also offer admission to physically and/or mentally handicapped students?

3. Such a policy obviously has a negative impact on incentivizing the pursuit of excellence by minorities in our high schools. To think a teenager of any ethnicity wouldn't slack off a bit more if he/she thought they would still be allowed into the college of their choice is naivety to the point of criminal negligence. The Naval Academy is telling a whole generation of young people, "don't worry, you don't have to work as hard as your white male classmates to get into the Academy."

4. The policy also reinforces the Navy's current failure to have minorities and women promote at the same rate as their white male counterparts because promotion and screen boards are typically governed by precepts which ask that minority status is considered as a secondary characteristic of the officer's potential; behind "sustained superior performance," which has always been the principle consideration in choosing the best and brightest in our profession for positions of increased challenge and responsibility. In effect, minority status is a tie-breaker on selection boards and generally only used in the "crunch" when those who weren't quite as competitive are being considered for the remaining promotion slots or positions being screened for.

5. Finally, the policy allows the U.S. Navy and Naval Academy to escape the truly hard task of competing for those minorities who actually can meet the same admissions standards as the white males. We know they are out there in our nation but we have failed to compete with other colleges and industries for them. Perhaps we could ask other professions if they would limit their diversity recruiting efforts in order that we might get our fair share of the minorities who don't need a pass on the standards for admission to the Naval Academy. I guess it's really just poetic irony that we attract minorities who can't compete on a level playing field since we are apparently an organization that can't compete on a level playing field for those minority students who could.

And so go the meritocratic principles we should all strive for, undermined by the myopic desire for diversity...

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

David P. - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +52

raycistst - 2009-06-14 21:50:34

n chit...... go ahead and flip it around. see what happens. What ever happened to the best person/student for the position?



Hell, I had to work hard to get into college.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Walt E. - Riva, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +14

What To Do? What To Do? - 2009-06-14 20:04:30

If Vice Admiral Fowler was indeed correct when he insisted recently that we needed to have Annapolis graduates who "looked like" the Fleet, where enlisted people are about 42 percent nonwhite, largely African American and Hispanic, what is the option?

Try to have the fleet become more white?

I really don't see where Fleming did anything here other tha cast a few stones.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Marty Norman - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -68

Racist Fleming - 2009-06-14 20:03:47

Bruce Fleming is the new breed of racist that is growing out of the rotting flesh of the conservative corpse. They are emboldened by their minority status and are lashing out in any way possible before the last and final gasp. But not to worry my friends, get the forks, they're done.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

reggie schmoenberg - annapolis, md - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +75

Thank you! - 2009-06-14 15:41:57

Finally, someone has the guts to expose what's going on the academy as the Supe pursues his diversity crusade. Diversity is now the primary concern of the academy, not recruiting the best possible students and graduating the most capable and well-rounded Navy and Marine Corps officers. As a grad and current military staff member, I've seen firsthand that there are two standards at USNA - one for white males and one for females / non-white males. On numerous occasions I've seen minority midshipmen retained for repeated conduct infractions which white males would have been separated for.

Now, before I get labeled a racist for not supporting the academy's diversity push, allow me to say this. I support diversity, but I do not support the lowering of standards or the use of reverse discrimination in order to achieve diversity. From another angle, the Supe says that officers need to look like the enlisted corps they are leading. My question is why? Is he saying that a black officer cannot lead a white sailor or vice versa? That is just ridiculous.

Lets recruit the best candidates from America, regardless of skin color. There are plenty of well-qualified minorities who can compete for admission without being given a free-pass due to their race. One day, we may even have a minority president. . .

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

J. Gish - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -60

Obviously Not Ever in the Military - 2009-06-14 15:18:14

It's quite obvious from this "article" that Mr. Fleming has not experienced the Navy outside the walls of Sampson Hall. If he did, he would know that there are many more indicators of success than SAT scores and grades, which is why every Naval Academy applicant also has to interview with a board of graduates convened by his or her Congressperson. Numbers or tests cannot measure the qualifications gauged by personal interaction. But, what would I know; Im just an affirmative action baby, right?
As a female, non-white graduate (an "exception," since I scored over 1400 on the SATs, had leadership experience, and graduated USNA with a 3.41), I have also had the pleasure of bringing that diversity to the officer corps. As a white male, Mr. Fleming has only ever seen himself reflected in every leadership position. But a majority of the Navy has not. Mr. Fleming has never overheard a sailor exclaim to her mother Mom, our new division officer is blackand a female! Nor has he helped that sailor transition into an officer program because that person finally believed that she could also be a leader. The lack of diversity in leadership positions is a very serious problem in the fleet and it affects our ability to recruit and develop the best leaders in the world. I support the CNO and the Supe in their attempts to strengthen our Navy through diversity. In the fleet, success is determined by personal effort and an ability to connect with the sailors, not by ones GPA.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

M. Beausey - , - Karma: Terrible

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -40

Bias - 2009-06-14 14:41:29

I find it amazing that over the years Bruce Fleming has never had a good thing to say about the Academy. Every time he writes an article,it is against something that the Academy is doing. Bruce, if you really feel that strongly, why don't you quit and work somewhere that shares your views. You don't seem to have a problem continually drawing Government dollars.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Steve M. - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Terrible

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +47

Diversity - Naval Academy - 2009-06-14 14:15:08

Bravo to Bruce Fleming for his column.
Three points I'd like to make: #1, to have a high diversity count at the entrance/plebe year may be great, but let's see the diversity count at graduation.
#2, being a leader requires a sense of focus, personal goals, and direction. As a leader of the crew/troops, one must be able to read, write, and speak with confidence. #3, since diversity is the priority at the Naval Academy, let's have ALL midshipmen play football and other competitive sports and monitor the ticket sales.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

J. Regula - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +63

NA diversity - 2009-06-14 13:38:29

As a NA parent, this opinion makes me crazy. i only wish my son had not already graduated and I could sue for his not being admitted. As anyone who has ever been through it can tell you, the admissions process, as it appears to the applicant, is daunting and implies that one is competing with only the very best students w/impeccable credentials. I had long heard about the admissions board and its "casting of the die" having virtually nothing to do with the applicants qualifications and a lot to do with politics. This cinches it for me. I hope some white male NHS member, who doesn't get in because he is not diverse enough, sues and wins!

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

sharon d. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. -46

Diversity at the Naval Academy - 2009-06-14 11:45:39

No woman attended the Naval Academy before 1975. The first black cadet graduated in 1949. In the following twenty years, another 35 graduated. The first black admiral was appointed in 1971. When John McCain graduated, it is safe to say that he had virtually no peers in the officer ranks who were African-American. When McCain was released from captivity, he had never served under a black or woman commander. Long past the point where it was seemly, John McCain opposed a holiday in Arizona honoring Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. I may not have been because he is a racist, but it certainly is because he never dealt with blacks as peers or superiors.

I am sorry that an English professor at the Naval Academy has such a poor perspective on diversity. Such a narrow world vision should not be part of the learning experience at the Naval Academy. The cost of discrimination against women and minorities has been far higher than any expense that the nation will incur promoting diversity. Perhaps Fleming should retire.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Thom Hartman - , - Karma: Terrible

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +63

Bravo Zulu - 2009-06-14 11:30:22

You are speaking for those who cannot. Truth and facts are rare but powerful things.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Phibian Salamander - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +56

diversity means... - 2009-06-14 09:48:18

hire and promote more non white males. don't sound very diverse to me. sounds like racism to me

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

a. e - , - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +63

Great article - 2009-06-14 09:17:25

It's a relief to hear someone at the Academy admit the situation which most of us have known about for years. Now we can only hope that the policies will change - and we all know that's about as likely as the sun starting to rise in the north.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Michael Calo - Glen Burnie, MD - Karma: Neutral

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. +54

Fantastic article... - 2009-06-14 08:26:24

Mr. Fleming and "kudos" to the Capital for having the courage to print it, but I doubt that it will matter. Too many powerful forces behind it and the academies are only the tip of the iceberg. Many federal programs, from IT projects to sweeping critical mission programs fail miserably. Simple processes that should be no brainers cost twice as much and take double the people than in private industry. Today, the most common reason to work for government is not public service; it is retirement benefits and security. Promotion to leadership positions is no longer based upon merit; it is a numbers game with high paying equal opportunity advocates monitoring the process in favor of minorities (racial and gender), only in the name of "diversity." Leadership in the federal government has become an inside joke and even competent managers wont challenge it the most common refrain that I hear is, Im not going to fall on my sword.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Nathan D. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral