FIRST ON FOX: GOP Representative Matt Gaetz is criticizing the United States Air Force over an internal memo his office has acquired, labeling it a “radical document” that cautions airmen against using “microaggressions.”
In a 27-page handbook originating from the 552nd Air Control Wing in Oklahoma, the Air Force advises airmen to refrain from using “microaggressions” that may offend others. This includes the phrase “spirit animal,” which the document describes as “a statement of cultural appropriation and erasure of Indigenous/Native culture.”
The memo further states that “telling someone to ‘toughen up'” is considered a microaggression as it reinforces “potentially harmful standards of masculinity in individual mental and physical identities.”
As per the document, airmen should steer clear of saying they “don’t see color” as that could be interpreted as offensive and contributes to the “erasure of black, Indigenous, and other people of color.”
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A recently released memo from within the Air Force highlights warnings about various “micro-aggressions.” (Fox News)
“Labeling someone as a member of ‘the opposite sex’ is also discouraged. While the Department of Defense may not legally recognize multiple genders, military personnel should acknowledge the broad spectrum of gender identity,” the memo asserts, claiming that the term “opposite sex” is “transphobic.”
“The expression ‘the opposite sex’ suggests that only a gender binary exists, and it also misrepresents the distinction between sex and gender identity.”
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A U.S. Air Force pilot stands before an Air Force A10 fighter aircraft during a media event for the International Air Force Maneuver Air Defender 2023. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/picture alliance via Getty Images)
The document also advises against using the phrase “that’s savage” because “employing this term in common conversation disregards the historical violence inflicted upon Indigenous peoples.”
Moreover, airmen are encouraged to reconsider promoting materials and displaying posters that advocate for standing for the flag, as these may also be classified as microaggressions.
“Numerous everyday microaggressions are often concealed under the pretext of personal belief systems, yet this does not diminish the potential harm they can cause to BIPOC,” the guidebook mentions. “These microaggressions may not even be verbal. For instance, certain squadron members might display ‘Stand for the flag, kneel for the cross’ posters in their workspaces. While this might appear to be a harmless expression of Christian and patriotic sentiments, the underlying context is a response to a specific form of anti-racist protest.”
“While it may be unethical to restrict someone’s religious or political beliefs, we must acknowledge that certain displays can be microaggressions and undermine the messages of social justice movements. This specific poster, for example, is a direct reaction to the act of kneeling during the national anthem. Although it may seem like a gray area, the oppositional undertones to a pro-Black movement classify it as a racial microaggression.”
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Rep. Matt Gaetz, adorned with a Laken Riley pin, is photographed in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 2024. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Under Kamala Harris, the Air Force states that ‘that’s savage’ is a microaggression,” Gaetz remarked to Fox News Digital concerning the memo, which also cites a book by former Black Panther Angela Davis.
“I am not in favor of this. I desire a military that exemplifies savagery to protect us from China. I will demand that the Air Force clarify its stance on this radical document.”
In a response to Fox News Digital, a Department of the Air Force spokesperson stated that the U.S. Air Force “remains focused on warfighting readiness.”
“The handbook you are inquiring about is not an official policy document of the Department of the Air Force,” the spokesperson specified.
“It was developed by a group at the unit level in July 2021 as part of an innovation program submission and was not selected. We consistently advocate for treating our fellow Airmen and Guardians with respect, while always keeping in mind that our primary purpose is to provide war-winning combat power for America.”
