Topic
for
5/23/97:		 Given the much publicized recent litigation against African American members in the army, how do you view the recent action against the first Air force female B-52 pilot Lt. Kelly Flinn? Is she an example of our armed forces' unwillingness to treat minorities and women on an equitable basis with that of white males?



Name: K. Leonard
Email: k8wra1@juno.com
Response: An awful lot of my tax-paid money went into training and promoting and making a lot of hullaballoo about Lt. Flinn as the first female B-52 pilot. It seems to me that is a great waste of taxpayer money. There are rules and there are rules, but there are exceptions to every one of them. It seems like 6 months or a year in the brig would have been punishment enough for Kelly for her "unbecoming behavior" and "ungentlemanly indescretions" which the Army is so upset about, but rules have always been bent of overlooked both in and out of the military. This MAY NOT not have been a case of discrimination against women and minorities, just another wrong-headed decision by some of those smug, overpaid generals at the Pentegon who frequently make costly wrong decisions. But it sure did cost US!


Name: B O P
Email: supa_ronn@hotmail.com
Response: If Blacks are willing to fight for Uncle Sam, they should expect unfair treatment. That does not mean that it is fair, however, what the hell do they expect! The military is targeting Blacks (and women) because many white servicemen have sex with underage girls -- and sometimes boys -- all over the world. Yet we will never see a large number of them persecuted by military courts. The only solution for Blacks (and women and gays) is to stay out of the military. We're not welcomed there and can only expect discrimination!!!


Name: Tyree Amala
Email: TyreeA@Hotmail.com
Response: As soneone who spent 4 years in the Air Force, this madness with this white female officer was a ploy by her attorney to gather sympathy for her so-called plight. If it was me, a Black Woman, I would have been court-marshalled and put out with a dishonorable discharge. One again the system turned it's head for a white woman, and to hell with the rest of us. It was a travesty of justice, and if you don't believe me, look at the next Black liar/adulterer/dis-obeyer and see what happens to him or her.


Name: Ryan Calloway
Email: CALLOWR@GPB.ORG
Response: There is a bias when it comes to punishment in the military, as well as the civilian community. What one must remember is that she did something that is wrong. She got busted. Lied that she would stop and got busted again. True she is fortunate that she is white and was a ground breaker in the Air Force. I look at the whole situation like speeding. We all know what the speed limit is but quite frankly some of us continue to speed. We also know that when we get caught, we meaning black, we face a stiffer penatly if not getting roughed up. I truly believe that the Air Force and Flynn came out even in this exchange. If they court martialed her she would have had grounds to sue them for the countless times white males have done no less and lesser penalty. The Air Force is not giving her an honorable discharge. She should have receive and article 15 which more than likely would have ended her career when it came time for her to make captain. Of course this would have taken at least two years but they would have gotten rid of her and they wouldn't have gone through this embarrassment. As far as what happens to blacks in the military, we need to always be careful as to what we say and do. Trust me, it is hard enough to make a career anywhere and suceed without drawing any negative attention to yourself. I'm not saying that one should be a butt kisser or sell out, but you better know what is legal and what is not. Because we do know that the cards are not stacked in our favor.


Name: yella
Email: yel_la@hotmail.com
Response: This question makes no sense! The issue is being confused. Black/white or male/female, or Army/Air Force. That being the case, let me add a few more points to consider. Fraternization, ie. segregation (based on pay or class.) The military has and always will promote the -isms found the the real world. I know, I have been in 8 years. I don't agree with her breaking rules that she knew existed, nor her marriage vows, but the point we as black people should focus on is did she get what was coming to her (as did SSGT Simpson)? I think not. First of all if she was enlisted, she would have gotten slammed, example sentence for an E-5 convicted of this crime: reduction in grade to E-1 and forfeiture of $300 a month for 1 year, extra duty or 3 months incarceration, or possible a bad conduct discharge. So, they were extremely easy on her. When high ranking male officers get "caught with the pants down" or with hands where they shouldn't be they are shielded, or allowed to resign quietly for the really bad cases. Then everyonne is convinced to shut up or develop memory loss. I think she have been disciplined with the highest penalty because as an officer, she should have remained above reproach. What would she have done to one of her enlisted troops if one had decided to confront her? Probably threaten that person's career, lied and done anything else to keep her secret. how can enlisted memebers trust, obey people without morals and who misuse the position of authority to their advantage?


Name: DON'T CARE
Email: S015LAB@DESIRE.WRIGHT.EDU
Response: The air force was lenient with Lt. Flinn because she is white, and because she was a female pioneer in aviation for that division of the armed forces. If the rules are no fraternizing with fellow servicemen, and one breaks that rule, one should be punished. A courtmarshall would have been appropriate, but since she is white, she gets off with a mere general discharge. And the media has the audacity to try to make us believe that the punishment was severe. Ha! What about Delmar Simpson? He was guilty, although of a more grievous version of the same crime, and he will spend the latter part of his life in prison. Well, maybe Lt. Flinn should receive a similar punishment, just not as long in duration. As I said before though, she is white, so just punishment in her case, according to the unspoken laws of white supremacy in the United States, do not apply here. Her whiteness alone has risen her above the law. If she was Black though, what do you think the outcome would have been then? Would she even be as celebrated and sought after in the private sector like this woman now is? she has become a celebrity for breaking the law. If she was a Black woman, she would have been court-marshalled, and her name no doubt would have been dragged through the mud by the media, and she would have been labelled a slut. In my eyes, Lt. Flinn is just a person who failed to obey the laws of her own profession, and someone with that kind of disregard for the laws of the air force should not be entrusted to fly their planes.


Name: Serious in Chicago
Email:
Response: Speaking from experience (a vet who processed dishonorable discharges for 1.5yrs), I do not think the armed forces are out to get anyone. Yes, some people like Lt. Flinn will run into inequities, discriminatory practices and biases along the way, but why was she doing what she is accused of? She hasn't denied it. True, her punishment may be a little harsh. True, it may be biased, but how can one seriously yell/claim discrimination when you know you were doing wrong before you did it? Also, I do not want to put LT. Flinn on the same level as black sailors/soldiers who have been mistreated. She has the media on her side. Who is on ours? We've been wronged for years. She will still get out (less than honorable discharge and all) and live a relatively comfortable life. In conclusion, blacks in the military should do everything in their power to stay clean and clear of trouble. Just because you are black does not make you immune to punishment, and it does not give you a license to do whatever you please. The mere fact that the scales are unbalanced should steer us in the right direction (civilians and military), thus not forcing us to have discussions such as this one.


Name: Solomon Landers
Email: Numberup@worldnet.att.net
Response: This is a difficult question to answer because two different issues are involved: (1) Racism in the armed services, and (2) the need to punish misconduct. The attitude of the military today -- and it has affected white males as well as blacks and women-- was expressed in a recent cartoon where Uncle Sam, reminiscent of the old recruiting posters, sternly says: "I Want YOU -- to keep your pants up!" And I agree with Ms. Frances Murphy's column in today's (5/24) AFRO that society and the military cannot just wink at this rampant immorality that damages families and children. If it can be determined that punishments, or more severe punishments fall disproportionately upon black and female soldiers, then our civil rights organizations and the Congressional Black Caucus need to get/stay involved until redress is made. But no soldier who violates military oath and procedure should be allowed to seek shelter from just punishment on the basis of race or sex.