As my introduction I would like to draw your attention to the very recent example of wokery within the UK Ministry of Defence. A typical media headline reported as follows:
“‘Speech without offence’: MOD releases Guide for inclusive language.”
The historically significant peace-time waywardness of Whitehall is evident here.
According to the press, this quite unnecessary burden was inflicted on our Armed Services with the full agreement of the 3 Service Chiefs. Thanks to various “gagging” restrictions placed on the latter by senior civil servants and ministers, we are unable to assess if this “agreement” was solicited through undue pressure from above (woke-inspired senior Civil Servants). I suspect this was the case for at least two of the Services, the Royal Navy and the Army. But what were its origins?
Forces.net reports that it was “written by the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Diversity and Inclusion Directorate (yet more wokery!) and inspired by the Wigston 2019 report on inappropriate behaviour * within the forces, it hopes to become a reference point for many” (*Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston, RAF, to be precise).
It sounds as though the MOD and our Armed Service Chiefs need to be reminded that one of their prime functions is to provide the warfighters needed for our Military National Security and Deterrence. From top to tail, Forces personnel are highly educated and more than capable of addressing the technological challenges of this digital age. It is therefore an insult to their intelligence and integrity to instruct them in great detail how to address each other. They do not deserve to be treated like children in kindergarten. This is progressive wokery at its worst. And it must have an adverse effect on the morale of every soldier, sailor and airman. Each must be wondering whether our Ministry of Defence Staffs have lost the bubble. Do they not have more pressing issues to attend to?
The same question must be asked of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Milley, in the United States who publicly supported controversial and misinformed conspiracy theories such as “White Supremacy”. (As, it would appear, does the disastrous Biden Administration!)
I am not attempting to get involved with politics but I am extremely concerned about the manner in which wokery can and does adversely affect the morale and fighting efficiency of our armed forces. This is a strategically important military matter.
Despite this unwise over-supervision of our men and women in uniform by armchair Air Marshals and Civil Servants within MOD, a shining light of operational warfighting capability and excellence is being demonstrated by the Royal Navy with the deployment of the HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group (CSG21) on the global stage. This Group has been ably supported by the embarkation of 617 Squadron F-35B fighter aircraft led by Commander Mark Sparrow, Royal Navy, and aircraft of the United States Marine Corps. They are in the frontline, have heavy 24/7 responsibilities and should not be distracted with witch hunts generated by the progressive left.
Sharkey People wish to be treated with respect, recognised for their skills and as equals regardless of gender. These principles have always been evident and encouraged within the armed forces. There is no harm in reminding everyone from time to time and warn people of unconscious bias, but to escalate the basics to a level of controversy is of no benefit. Indeed it is a distraction. For example, I see no merit in promoting preferred pronouns adjacent to signature blocks to demonstrate empathy with ambivalent minorities. That empathy should be evident in our everyday engagements in what we say and do. Of course we recognise individuality – indeed we thrive on it. Perhaps we should make more use of traditional words such as chivalry, loyalty and honour to re-affirm tried and proven standards of behaviour.
Well for some time, I thought that Sharkey had lost his marbles but THIS time, we fully agree with his post! There is no place for WOKE in our society it is simply rubbish. What is needed, especially in the Armed Forces is understanding (of a different point of view) and RESPECT! My recollection??? is that personnel in the AF should be properly addressed by their RANK or title (or in Sharkey’s case by his nickname). A little teasing is permitted when it doesn’t cause offence. All of our term-mates came from all over the world and have worked (Woked?) harmoniously with one another over almost 60 years. So there!
Sharkey
People wish to be treated with respect, recognised for their skills and as equals regardless of gender. These principles have always been evident and encouraged within the armed forces. There is no harm in reminding everyone from time to time and warn people of unconscious bias, but to escalate the basics to a level of controversy is of no benefit. Indeed it is a distraction. For example, I see no merit in promoting preferred pronouns adjacent to signature blocks to demonstrate empathy with ambivalent minorities. That empathy should be evident in our everyday engagements in what we say and do. Of course we recognise individuality – indeed we thrive on it. Perhaps we should make more use of traditional words such as chivalry, loyalty and honour to re-affirm tried and proven standards of behaviour.
Well for some time, I thought that Sharkey had lost his marbles but THIS time, we fully agree with his post! There is no place for WOKE in our society it is simply rubbish. What is needed, especially in the Armed Forces is understanding (of a different point of view) and RESPECT! My recollection??? is that personnel in the AF should be properly addressed by their RANK or title (or in Sharkey’s case by his nickname). A little teasing is permitted when it doesn’t cause offence. All of our term-mates came from all over the world and have worked (Woked?) harmoniously with one another over almost 60 years. So there!