Yup, this is Wisconsin....parts of it anyway, more than I'd like to think.
Today was one of the worst days I’ve ever had in the Army in almost 24 years. Today I sat down with my entire Battalion to discuss the current issues we are facing as a nation. I wasn’t prepared.
Fort McCoy is in a very rural community. Very rural. It is nestled in between the towns of Sparta, Wisconsin and Tomah, Wisconsin. Each town has a population under 10,000, and the demographics are not diverse. Both towns are situated in the poorest county in the state (Monroe), and we are 45 minutes to an hour away from the next biggest town. It’s not a bad place to be stationed if you like peace and quiet, small town living, and you aren’t black or brown.
I had asked my Commander earlier in the week to talk to the Battalion because Ive been bothered for a bit now about how things are going in the country. I have several people in my life who I talk to on a regular basis. People who I genuinely care for, and people I tremendously respect. Over the last two weeks I’ve heard, Rich that could have been my son. Rich I just tell my kids all they need to do is get home safe. Rich I’m scared to let my kids out of the house. I have two boys and the thought of people I care about living their lives like that breaks my heart.
Today I wanted my Battalion to know that while I can’t view the world through their eyes, I don’t live their lives, and while I can’t walk in their shoes everyday, I recognized their is a problem, and I would be there to listen to them and help where ever I could. And thats how I lead off the discussion. What I got back gutted me.
I sat in front of a room full of people who are like family to me. I would do anything for them. By the very nature of my profession, I would give my life for them. I’ve been their Command Sergeant Major for over two years now. These are people I see everyday. I had no idea that I have Soldiers who wear their uniforms to grocery shop because they are scared of how they are treated in Walmart when they don’t. I had no idea that I have Soldiers who’s kids regularly come home from school crying because another kid called them the n-word...again. I had no idea that I had a Soldier who had to take their child out of school because they were being so tormented over the color of their skin. I had no idea I had a Soldier who’s wife was turned down for a job at a local bank because, “we don’t hire you’re type in this town.” I had no idea that a few weeks ago one of my Soldiers, who is one of the most kind and gentle women I know, was told to “get out of the crosswalk n-word” as she was out for her evening walk. I had no idea that I had Soldiers who felt like this is the worst place they had ever been stationed in the Army. Not because of the unit, but because of the racism in the surrounding area. I had no idea.
I spent two and half hours listening to them, letting them vent their fears and frustrations, and crying with them. I’m still a wreck three hours later. I’m not able to type this without choking up. These aren’t towns I want to live in. This isn’t the America that I want to live in. Something needs to change. Something needs to drastically change.
Where do you begin? How do you change an entire community? How do you get so many people to try and see life through the eyes of another person so that they understand how unfair and unjust the system really is. I don’t know. All I know is I’m going to do my best to figure it out with them, and hopefully I can make a small yet positive difference in their lives. Hopefully.
*from Facebook, posted by a personal friend, who is also personally friends with this man.
= new reply since forum marked as read
He should write this up and send it as a Letter to the Editor of the local newspaper.
No need to mention names, just tell this story so the people in this little town can see themselves in black-and-white. A little bit of shaming never hurt. My guess is that a lot of these people are oblivious most of the time. Let them know how hurtful these words and actions are to the people who receive them.
It might take a couple of tries, but I believe something good will happen. Maybe even contact the minister at the town church, and make him aware of what's going on. Racism won't end until we all understand the evil it is causing.
