Cussing Like a Sailor = Court-Martial?
Jan. 11th, 2006 12:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
andverygingerI know, I know. I've not updated in a few days, and now I feel the need to do a political post. Feel free to hide your eyes now.
I was checking the columns today, like I do every day, clicking on the links that interest me. Today's perusal of Townhall.com came across this column by Kathleen Parker. It chronicles the background of the court-martial of Navy LT Brian Black, who teaches at the Academy in Annapolis. Apparently, he was speaking coarsely to some middies -- as sailors are wont to do -- about things, namely serving aboard a patrol craft and his ex-wife. Writes Parker: "Unfortunately for Black, among the midshipmen was at least one sensitive female. He also made some other equally spicy comments about his ex-wife, of whom he apparently is no longer fond, that were overheard by, but not spoken in front of, female midshipmen. Now he faces a special court-martial and three criminal charges."
There are a couple of things that I need to preface my comments with:
1) One of the first things you learn in any military service is the chain of command. When mitigating a dispute, the first person in that chain of command is the person you have issue with. If the problem remains unresolved, it is then taken to the division officer. Once more removed beyond that, and it goes to the commanding officer. Thus, there should be several routes to take a situation before it is referred to a court-martial. Unless, of course, you just want to be really nasty.
2) The term "cussing like a sailor" exists for a reason. Yes, Navy personnel are told they really shouldn't "talk like that," but it still happens. And not just in the Navy. I know some really foul-mouthed Army and Air Force folks, too. Thus, it should be standard knowledge when volunteering for service, that at some point in your career, you're going to encounter some very colorful metaphors. Then again, maybe I just assume too much in thinking people are aware of this before they go in. Or maybe I just didn't lead a sheltered life.
So, this female midshipman takes the comment to her commanding officer. Afterward, it seems that LT Black was probably counseled for his language, and offered an apology to the midshipman. This, as Parker writes, should have ended it, should have been a resolution -- even if the middie didn't exercise the chain of command by first taking her concerns to the LT herself. Instead, the middie's CO decided to drag things out and perform her own investigation. Three criminal charges resulted from it: "(1) failure to obey a lawful general order or regulation; (2) conduct unbecoming an officer; and (3) indecent language." These are charges that can end LT Black's career.
I will take a moment to say that there are some terms that even I -- as a former sailor -- find offensive. When I find myself around people using those terms, I usually find other folks to talk to, or I might say something directly to that person. Some words just should not be repeated.
That being said, there is a such thing as taking things too far, as I think the middie in this case has done. Again, maybe I'm not the norm, maybe I'm assuming too much, but she should have known going in that some of the people around her somewhere would eventually use some colorful commentary. Do I think use of some phrases degrades women? Sure. Do I think women are victims when people use phrases like this? Only if they let themselves -- it simply goes back to the whole talk-to-the-person-you-have-an-issue-with. If you're going to be offended, at least have the mettle to stand up for yourself! Lieutenant or no, he would have to respond to that. If he didn't, then it's up to his DIVO.
This case is part and parcel of my overall misgivings about the esprit de corps I experienced while serving. Sailors at the training commands were encouraged to turn others in -- even if the comment was only slightly offensive. Our unit had a similar case about ten years ago. The dispute was between two enlisted personnel, one male, one female, and the resolution was slightly different: it went to captain's mast, rather than a full court-martial. The male petty officer was reprimanded and confined to base. While I don't doubt the captain's judgement, I really wonder if it should have been brought to his attention at all.
It's things like this that make me somewhat glad to be out of service...and makes me terribly sad about the direction of the services. I guess what it boils down to is that, in a world full of political correctness, people are getting too sensitive.
And I won't say what I think of most teenagers these days. That might make me sound old and dated before my time.
I was checking the columns today, like I do every day, clicking on the links that interest me. Today's perusal of Townhall.com came across this column by Kathleen Parker. It chronicles the background of the court-martial of Navy LT Brian Black, who teaches at the Academy in Annapolis. Apparently, he was speaking coarsely to some middies -- as sailors are wont to do -- about things, namely serving aboard a patrol craft and his ex-wife. Writes Parker: "Unfortunately for Black, among the midshipmen was at least one sensitive female. He also made some other equally spicy comments about his ex-wife, of whom he apparently is no longer fond, that were overheard by, but not spoken in front of, female midshipmen. Now he faces a special court-martial and three criminal charges."
There are a couple of things that I need to preface my comments with:
1) One of the first things you learn in any military service is the chain of command. When mitigating a dispute, the first person in that chain of command is the person you have issue with. If the problem remains unresolved, it is then taken to the division officer. Once more removed beyond that, and it goes to the commanding officer. Thus, there should be several routes to take a situation before it is referred to a court-martial. Unless, of course, you just want to be really nasty.
2) The term "cussing like a sailor" exists for a reason. Yes, Navy personnel are told they really shouldn't "talk like that," but it still happens. And not just in the Navy. I know some really foul-mouthed Army and Air Force folks, too. Thus, it should be standard knowledge when volunteering for service, that at some point in your career, you're going to encounter some very colorful metaphors. Then again, maybe I just assume too much in thinking people are aware of this before they go in. Or maybe I just didn't lead a sheltered life.
So, this female midshipman takes the comment to her commanding officer. Afterward, it seems that LT Black was probably counseled for his language, and offered an apology to the midshipman. This, as Parker writes, should have ended it, should have been a resolution -- even if the middie didn't exercise the chain of command by first taking her concerns to the LT herself. Instead, the middie's CO decided to drag things out and perform her own investigation. Three criminal charges resulted from it: "(1) failure to obey a lawful general order or regulation; (2) conduct unbecoming an officer; and (3) indecent language." These are charges that can end LT Black's career.
I will take a moment to say that there are some terms that even I -- as a former sailor -- find offensive. When I find myself around people using those terms, I usually find other folks to talk to, or I might say something directly to that person. Some words just should not be repeated.
That being said, there is a such thing as taking things too far, as I think the middie in this case has done. Again, maybe I'm not the norm, maybe I'm assuming too much, but she should have known going in that some of the people around her somewhere would eventually use some colorful commentary. Do I think use of some phrases degrades women? Sure. Do I think women are victims when people use phrases like this? Only if they let themselves -- it simply goes back to the whole talk-to-the-person-you-have-an-issue-with. If you're going to be offended, at least have the mettle to stand up for yourself! Lieutenant or no, he would have to respond to that. If he didn't, then it's up to his DIVO.
This case is part and parcel of my overall misgivings about the esprit de corps I experienced while serving. Sailors at the training commands were encouraged to turn others in -- even if the comment was only slightly offensive. Our unit had a similar case about ten years ago. The dispute was between two enlisted personnel, one male, one female, and the resolution was slightly different: it went to captain's mast, rather than a full court-martial. The male petty officer was reprimanded and confined to base. While I don't doubt the captain's judgement, I really wonder if it should have been brought to his attention at all.
It's things like this that make me somewhat glad to be out of service...and makes me terribly sad about the direction of the services. I guess what it boils down to is that, in a world full of political correctness, people are getting too sensitive.
And I won't say what I think of most teenagers these days. That might make me sound old and dated before my time.
