DEI Is Not the Enemy of Excellence

Silence is not an option. The events of the past 36 hours—the hypocrisy, the lies, the sheer disregard for human life—demand a response. And not just any response—a clear, unflinching, unapologetic declaration of truth.

Because, as the brilliant and noble Maya Angelou once stated, ‘When people show you who they are, believe them.

A President Without Empathy, A Government Without Competence

First, let me begin by extending my deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this tragic crash. In times of crisis, leadership should be a beacon of compassion, integrity, and action. Instead, we were met with indifference. A president who finds time for frequent visits to the golf course but not for the grieving. A leader who, when asked if he would visit the crash site, dismissed it like an inconvenience. This is not surprising. It is not new. It is who he has always been. And when people show you who they are, believe them.

The DEI Scapegoat Strategy

Rather than providing real leadership, this administration wasted no time finding a scapegoat—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Before the facts are even known, DEI was blamed. Not infrastructure failures. Not vacancies in key safety positions. Not deregulation. Just DEI.

This is not about aviation safety. It is a deliberate political strategy, a weaponized talking point designed to stoke division and distract from their own failures. Every crisis under this administration—whether wildfires, supply chain disruptions, or public safety breakdowns—follows the same pattern. Blame the most vulnerable. Repeat the lie often enough, and people will start to believe it. Repeat it loudly enough, and those who know better will hesitate before speaking up. This is how false narratives take root. This is how truth is drowned out.

The Real Threat to Safety???

Let’s talk about actual facts.

A week before this crash, the FAA Administrator resigned, leaving the position vacant. The heads of the TSA and Coast Guard were also dismissed, with no immediate replacements. The Aviation Security Advisory Committee, a panel of experts responsible for air safety, was dismantled. These are not minor oversights; they are deliberate acts of vindictive incompetence. And yet, rather than addressing these failures, this administration turned its irrational lightly veiled bigotry on the very professionals working tirelessly to keep us safe—pilots, air traffic controllers, aviation technicians.

DEI did not cause this crash. The gutting of regulatory oversight  and support did. The prioritization of political theatrics over actual governance did. But instead of accountability, they offer distraction. Instead of solutions, they peddle scapegoats. Shameful, disgusting, we deserve better.

The Hypocrisy of the So-Called “Meritocracy”

This administration claims to value merit, but let’s examine what they themselves have earned. The president inherited wealth, dodged responsibility, and failed upward, over, and over, and over, and over his entire life – excluding 2016 and now in 2024. His vice president was handed political power through staggering wealth, privilege and connections. And yet, they dare to lecture others about qualifications? His secretary of state has absolutely no business to anyone with a modicum of common sense commanding the MOST powerful military force in the world. What bizarre multiverse are operating in folks??

These three are the very embodiment, poster childs, exemplars of mediocrity propped up by privilege. And let’s be clear—this is not just an attack on Black and Brown professionals, on LGBTQ+ workers, on women in leadership. This is about anyone who does not belong to their inner circle of wealth and influence.

To my white brothers and sisters—understand this: They will abandon you, too. They are using your fears to consolidate power, and when they no longer need you, they will discard you just like everyone else.

To my Latino brothers and sisters—I know the politics in our respective communities are complex. But I urge you, read Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right by Paola Ramos. Understand what is happening before it’s too late.

The Strategy of Fear and the Power of Truth

What we are witnessing is not ordinary politics—it is a desperate, calculated power grab fueled by fear. Not just any fear, but their fear. The fear of losing control. The fear of change. The fear of a future where they are no longer the dominant force in society.

They see the demographic shifts on the horizon. They see a nation evolving, becoming more diverse, more representative of the people who have long been marginalized. And they are terrified. Not simply because they will have to compete on an even playing field—something they have never truly had to do—but because, deep down, they fear something much darker.

They fear that when they are no longer in absolute control, the new majority may do to them what they have done to others for centuries. That’s their conscious speaking. They fear the possibility of being treated with the same disregard, the same oppression, the same systemic subjugation that they once wielded so freely. They have built and maintained a system that benefits them, often at the direct expense of others, and now they cannot fathom existing under a system where they are not the unquestioned rulers of it.

This fear drives them to act—not with humility, not with a willingness to adapt, but with desperation. They will use every tool at their disposal—lies, manipulation, division, voter suppression, even violence—anything to cling to power. They will gaslight the public, rewriting history to paint themselves as the victims. They will fan the flames of resentment, convincing their followers that any shift in power is an existential threat rather than the natural course of a democracy.

And if holding onto power means burning this country to the ground, they will not hesitate – clearly and half the country handed them the matches willingly. Because, in their minds, a nation they do not control is a nation that might one day hold them accountable. And that is a future they refuse and are terrified to accept. 

What Must Be Done

We can no longer afford to be shocked. We cannot afford to be silent.

We must match their energy with truth.
We must flood the zone with facts.
We must speak boldly, unapologetically, and relentlessly in every space we occupy.

That means in lunchrooms.
In grocery stores.
In boardrooms.
In churches.
On social media.
Everywhere.

Because this is not just about the next election. This is about whether democracy and basic fundamental freedoms survive. Ya see The US is the big chip on the global board, as imperfect as we are, we fall and go down the road of tyranny. Other countries despite valiant efforts will face an incredible task of global resistance.

To the professionals under attack—stand firm. You are not alone. We see you. We stand with you. Do not quit. Don’t. You. Dare. Quit. Make them fire you if they must, but do not make it easy for them.

And to those who once believed in this administration but are now questioning—good we need you now more than ever. That means your conscience is still working. You’re forgiven now, make amends. Now, act on it.

This Is the Moment

We do not have the luxury of hesitation. The time for hoping things will fix themselves is over. The time for action is now.

Stand up. Speak out. If we are fortunate we will see another vote and when we do, get ya ass out the house to make sure you cast your vote and that it is counted. Like your very life depends on it. Because it does.

This is not just about who wins or loses an election. This is about who we are as a nation.

And I (along with MILLIONS of others), refuse to let this country fall to genuine evil not manufactured evil without a fight.

One of the individuals above.

Military Positions:

1. Commander, XVIII Airborne Corps (2008–2009) – Led one of the U.S. Army’s most elite corps, including its deployment to Iraq.
2. Director of the Joint Staff (2009–2010) – Advised the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on key military matters.
3. Commanding General, U.S. Forces – Iraq (2010–2011) – Served as the last commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq, overseeing the final withdrawal of American troops.
4. Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army (2012–2013) – The second-highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Army, responsible for day-to-day operations and strategic planning.
5. Commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) (2013–2016) – Led military operations across the Middle East, including overseeing operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Civilian Positions:

6. Board Member, Raytheon Technologies (2016–2020) – Served on the board of one of the largest U.S. defense contractors.
7. Secretary of Defense (2021–Present) – Became the first Black Secretary of Defense in U.S. history, leading the Department of Defense under President Joe Biden.

1. Second Lieutenant – 1975
   • Commissioned into the U.S. Army after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy (West Point).
2. First Lieutenant – ~1977
   • Promoted after approximately two years of service.
3. Captain – ~1981
   • Advanced to a company-level leadership position.
4. Major – Late 1980s
   • Took on higher staff and command responsibilities.
5. Lieutenant Colonel – Early 1990s
   • Commanded battalion-sized units.
6. Colonel – Late 1990s
   • Commanded brigade-sized units and held senior leadership roles.
7. Brigadier General (One-Star General) – 2001
   • Entered general officer ranks and took on broader operational responsibilities.
8. Major General (Two-Star General) – 2006
   • Commanded larger formations, including divisions.
9. Lieutenant General (Three-Star General) – 2009
   • Appointed to high-level strategic leadership roles, including Director of the Joint Staff.
10. General (Four-Star General) – 2010

• Became a four-star general upon assuming command of U.S. Forces – Iraq and later U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

The Other.

Military Ranks and Service:

1. Second Lieutenant (O-1) – 2003
   • Commissioned as an officer in the Army National Guard after graduating from Princeton University and completing ROTC training.
2. First Lieutenant (O-2) – ~2005
   • Promoted after serving in Iraq as an infantry platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
3. Captain (O-3) – ~2007
   • Served in Afghanistan with the Army National Guard, working as a civil-military operations officer with the Counterinsurgency Training Center in Kabul.

Post-Military Career & Positions

Executive Director, Vets for Freedom (2007–2012)
Advocated for continued U.S. military engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
CEO, Concerned Veterans for America (2012–2015)
Led conservative advocacy efforts focusing on VA reform and military policy.
Media Commentator (2014–Present)
Frequent contributor to Fox News, offering commentary on military and political issues.
Co-Host, Fox & Friends Weekend (2017–Present)
Became a full-time host, discussing political and military topics.

What Was That About The Best of the Best, The MOST Qualified.