View Full Version : Racism/bigotry in the Marines?
Obelisk
11-23-06, 04:33 AM
I was on another forum that I frequent, and we were discussing an issue related to the military activities of another country. One of the posters seems to have a very anti-military bias, and at one point made the following statement:
"My next-door neighbor in my apartment complex is signing up for the [M]arines and wants to go to Iraq, he is one of the most outspoken racists I have ever met."
The implication of course is that being a racist in the Marines is allowed, or even encouraged. I of course immediately jumped on him for saying that, telling him that being a Marine is being part of a brotherhood, irregardless of race or religion, and that his neighbor wont make it if he thinks otherwise. And of course I also told him that signing up is only one of the first steps, signing up does not make him a Marine.
But I'm not foolish enough to think that racism doesn't happen in the Marine Corps, so I figured I would bring it up here. I've heard lots of reports of racism, particularly towards Arabs, and I was wondering what people here thought about that. I know part of that demonization is so combat-effectiveness doesn't get reduced by poor morale, but at the same time it is still racism. How do you feel about racism in the Marine Corps, and what, if anything, should be done about it? This isn't about being PC, this is about real hatred towards people of another race or religion.
JoeSzynal
11-23-06, 11:14 AM
Racism, in any form, is not tolerated in the Marine Corps.
Your lead-in to your question is a little suspect and the tone is a bit 'investigative reporter' but whatever.
Why would you ask this in the poolee hall? The next forum down is titled "Ask a Marine".
Obelisk
11-23-06, 11:25 AM
Maybe I should have brought this up in the general discussion area, but I brought it up in the Poolee area because it is a Poolee question: I haven't been in the Marine Corps yet so I don't know how a Marine would answer. If it was a general topic upon which anyone could answer with equal authority I would have brought it up there, but I brought it up here because the only meaningful authority on this issue would be Marines. There is nothing "investigative" about this besides trying to answer a question, possibly it should be brought up in the "Ask a Marine Forum", if you are certain that I should move it then I will, I am not so certain that it does not belong here. The issue really did come up in a forum that I visit, and I don't want to approach an issue without knowing all of the information involved. Maybe I seem more like an "investigative reporter" because unlike most Poolees I've been to college already and I have a strong background in research, so I know how to frame a debate without leaning towards one side or another. I'm still interested in how much racism there is in the Corps, it wont affect my decision to try to become a Marine, but it will improve my ability to stick up for the Marines in anti-military arguments on the Net.
Echo_Four_Bravo
11-23-06, 11:27 AM
Is there racism in the Corps? Yes, it is there in every aspect of our society. But, I would venture that there are fewer incidents in the Marine Corps than in the general populace. There is a bond that tends to transcend all of the petty things you hold in civilian life.
ggyoung
11-23-06, 12:07 PM
You are so right. I bet there is less racism now than there was in the 50-60-50s.
FISTFU68
11-23-06, 12:27 PM
:usmc: LET ME, THROW A FRAG!IN A ROOM FULL, OF PEOPLE ;(OF ALL RACE'S)EVERYONE'S~AZZ WILL DUCK!!!!:usmc:
Obelisk
11-23-06, 01:18 PM
Lol this was exactly what I expected to hear. I just didn't want to talk on another forum about Marines until I heard the opinion of Marines. This guy already posted again some BS about knowing military people who are racists blah-blah-blah and I responded telling him that I can't speak about people who aren't in the military right now but that racism isn't tolerated anymore.
Dave Coup
11-23-06, 02:00 PM
Racism has never been tolerated in the Marine Corp. Back in the late 60's and early 70's there was a lot of racial tension but guys generally got along. Believe me there is no racism in the bush at least not in my experience. How about you other Nam Vets?
Semper Fidelis
Dave
Echo_Four_Bravo
11-23-06, 02:04 PM
There are things that outsiders may view as racist, but they simply aren't capable of knowing what is really going on. Tell them that unless they've worn the uniform, they don't know squat and need to remember that.
ggyoung
11-23-06, 02:09 PM
DC+++++++++You are right. Also the Marines did not have much of a problum of drugs in the bush. Drugs and sleeping on post was a very fast way to get your head kicked in. Now the army------------
Sgt Leprechaun
11-23-06, 03:39 PM
As someone who served from 82-89, and again from 97-01, I can tell you that for the most part, racism wasn't tolerated then, nor now. Some of my best pards were those of different races....and I married someone (another Marine) of a different race. Are there no *hit racists serving? Not that I saw. A racist is someone who lets their personal beliefs influence their actions day to day.
Now, I've known plenty of prejudiced Marines...Marines who hate the army, navy, civilians, democrats, field day, shipboard duty, DI duty, REMFS, boots......
Being prejudiced isn't a crime, nor is it illegal..it's only a crime and illegal when you put it into practice; become a racist.
That's the difference. My last FMF platoon had a gangbanger (Hispanic) from the Latin Kings in Chicago, a coonass from Lake Charles La, a couple of black kids from North Carolina, an Arkansas good ole boy, a cheesehead from WI, and a Grateful Deadhead from god knows where.
Plus me, the Ex-Metro area DC cop.
Did we all get along, all the time? Hell no. But I never once, as platoon Sergeant, had to deal with racial issues; it just never came up in a serious way; even after being aboard ship for six months. We were Marines first, and all that other crap just didn't matter.
I was on another forum that I frequent, and we were discussing an issue related to the military activities of another country. One of the posters seems to have a very anti-military bias, and at one point made the following statement:
"My next-door neighbor in my apartment complex is signing up for the [M]arines and wants to go to Iraq, he is one of the most outspoken racists I have ever met."
The implication of course is that being a racist in the Marines is allowed, or even encouraged. I of course immediately jumped on him for saying that, telling him that being a Marine is being part of a brotherhood, irregardless of race or religion, and that his neighbor wont make it if he thinks otherwise. And of course I also told him that signing up is only one of the first steps, signing up does not make him a Marine.
But I'm not foolish enough to think that racism doesn't happen in the Marine Corps, so I figured I would bring it up here. I've heard lots of reports of racism, particularly towards Arabs, and I was wondering what people here thought about that. I know part of that demonization is so combat-effectiveness doesn't get reduced by poor morale, but at the same time it is still racism. How do you feel about racism in the Marine Corps, and what, if anything, should be done about it? This isn't about being PC, this is about real hatred towards people of another race or religion.
In every war in the history of this country, we have demonized the enemy. All the way from the redcoats in the revolutionary war to the ragheads and haji's of the GWOT.
"But at the same time it's still racism"
Well boo hoo, cry me a farking river. Real hatred towards the enemy is a necessity -- liberals, politicians, and the media need to stay the hell away and let our Marines and soldiers do their job.
Racism in the Marine Corps among fellow Marines is strictly prohibited and isn't tolerated, but racism towards the enemy... who gives a F*CK?
In every war in the history of this country, we have demonized the enemy. All the way from the redcoats in the revolutionary war to the ragheads and haji's of the GWOT.
"But at the same time it's still racism"
Well boo hoo, cry me a farking river. Real hatred towards the enemy is a necessity -- liberals, politicians, and the media need to stay the hell away and let our Marines and soldiers do their job.
Racism in the Marine Corps among fellow Marines is strictly prohibited and isn't tolerated, but racism towards the enemy... who gives a F*CK?
What if there is a Muslim Marine serving with you?
Echo_Four_Bravo
11-24-06, 05:52 PM
The Marine takes priority over muslim, just as the fact that there were people of German blood lines fighting in Europ during WWII. The US Flag on their uniform took priority over where the family had come from.
No, I meant, if it's okay to rant on with the whole "raghead" thing, what about if there is a Marine/Muslim serving with you...might create a problem being racist towards his race, even if they are fighting them.
Dave Coup
11-24-06, 08:49 PM
Muslim isn't a race it's a religion
Echo_Four_Bravo
11-24-06, 09:00 PM
Good point. There are white muslims, black muslims, and everything between.
Islam is a widespread religion that has followers just about everywhere.
What if there is a Muslim Marine serving with you?
They're Marines first. The single most decorated unit in WW2 was an all Japanese unit in the US army, they certainly didn't let being Japanese get in their way of fighting the axis.
LOL, you're misunderstanding me. You said it's okay to say "raghead" etc. as long as it's the enemy you're talking about. I was asking would you still think it would be okay if you were serving along side a "raghead". I think it would cause a conflict, which is probably why the Marine Corps has a zero tolerance policy on racism instead of a 50% tolerance policy.
ggyoung
11-25-06, 10:42 AM
BRO3++++++++I was in Whiskey 3/12 1964-66. We had two Japs in the battery. They called the VC and NVA gooks.slops.dinks and lots of other things. We.They are MARINES frist. Remember that. MARINES
LOL, you're misunderstanding me. You said it's okay to say "raghead" etc. as long as it's the enemy you're talking about. I was asking would you still think it would be okay if you were serving along side a "raghead". I think it would cause a conflict, which is probably why the Marine Corps has a zero tolerance policy on racism instead of a 50% tolerance policy.
I'm sure no Marine ever has used the term raghead or haji before so as not to offend anyone and violate the zero tolerance racism policy.
Get a clue man.
Get a clue man.
I had a clue, "man" (not much into the hippy stuff). It came from your post on 11-23-06 04:43 PM. Now it's your turn.
I had a clue, "man" (not much into the hippy stuff). It came from your post on 11-23-06 04:43 PM. Now it's your turn.
You're not making any sense.
jinelson
11-25-06, 05:20 PM
Warning - Lets not turn this thread into a pecker contest!
Jim
Marine84
11-26-06, 08:00 AM
A pecker contest? Oh, oh, oh...........you mean a pi$$ing contest?
You'll find that that's something else the Corps will do to you - doesn't matter how you were raised to believe things one way or another - the Corps makes you see that it's all small $h!t in the grand scheme of things. It doesn't matter what the person next to me believes in when they lay their head down at night, as long as we're on the same team fighting for a reason.
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