Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced a bill on Thursday seeking to ban critical race theory from being taught in the United States military, referring to such a practice as “anti-American,” as reported by the Washington Free Beacon.
Senator Cotton said that such teachings, which essentially claim that America is an “inherently racist” country and that White people are automatically racist and “privileged,” would only “demoralize and divide” members of the armed forces. In his statement announcing the bill, Cotton declared that “our military’s strength depends on the unity of our troops and the knowledge that America is a noble nation worth fighting for.”
“Critical race theory teaches that race is a person’s most important characteristic and that America is an evil, oppressive place,” Cotton continued. “That idea may be fashionable in left-wing circles and college classrooms, but it has no place in our military.”
Cotton’s bill is an attempt to combat the rise of far-left ideas in the Department of Defense since Joe Biden seized power last year. Biden’s Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered a 60-day stand-down for the entirety of the United States armed forces in order to address alleged “extremism” within the ranks, without citing any evidence, and implying that “extremism” was simply referring to White men and supporters of President Donald Trump.
As previously reported, the U.S. Navy in particular has already begun implementing books about “anti-racism” and “gender politics” in its official reading list, with such titles as How to be an Anti-Racist, The New Jim Crow, and Sexual Minorities and Politics. Although President Trump had banned critical race theory at all levels of the federal government, Joe Biden rescinded that order upon taking office.