Hundreds of high ranking military leaders were summoned to a mandatory meeting this week called by Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth. He gave a speech focused on his version of the required training and character of the men and women in our nation’s military. He touted the traits of physical prowess and maximum lethality as the heart of the “warrior ethos.” At the same time, he decried other traits that he intends to identify and eliminate from the military. In his words, “We became the Woke Department, but not anymore…The administration has done a great deal from day one to remove the social justice, politically correct, and toxic ideological garbage that had infected our department. To rip out the politics – no more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship. No more divisions, distractions, or gender delusions. No more debris. As I’ve said before and will say again, we are done with that sh*t.” (The video posted below includes these quotes around 2:55)
His disparaging words were distorted characterizations of previous efforts to provide a just and equitable environment for those who choose to serve in the military. What he called “identity months and DEI offices” represent efforts to lift up the contributions of people of color and women in the history of our nation and military. His dismissive words about “gender delusions” negate the value and contributions of LGBTQ people in the military. His contemptuous words about “climate change worship” deny the need for the military to consider the impact of weapons on the health of our planet. All these efforts to develop well rounded and trained military members are summarized as “that sh*t.”
What would be the results of implementing the priorities outlined in the speech by Secretary Hegseth? Imagine physically fit young men and women trained to kill with maximum efficiency who know little or nothing about their nation’s history and have no concern for the challenges faced by their comrades of color or a different sexual orientation. This is not a vision of a citizen soldier whose humanity is honored by the nation. It is especially disturbing and ironic that the man who gave this speech regularly declares his Christian faith. While I should not and cannot judge his personal faith, I will say that forming lethal warriors in the way he describes is inconsistent with the Way of Jesus and does not “support the troops” as people made in the image of God.