Indiana representative Jm Banks absolutely torched Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael M. Gilday for including Ibram X. Kendi's famous social justice work, "How To Be An Anti-Racist" in the Navy's recommended reading list.
Banks highlights some of the most insane and objectionable contentions made by Kendi and asks that the Admiral defend his choice.
Brought face-to-face with the facts about Kendi's extreme views, the Admiral cannot respond in any substantive way at all. He balks at the questions and defies the premise, but he has no answer to any of Banks's questions.
Kendi's book states that capitalism is essentially racist and Kendi is clear that racism must be eliminated. So, yes or no, do you personally consider the advocation for the destruction of American capitalism to be extremist?
Banks makes it 100% clear that Kendi is a radical Marxist, anti-capitalist. He asks Admiral Gilday if he considers such anti-American advocacy extremist, and how does the Admiral answer?
He doesn't.
Gilday hems and haws, avoiding a real answer. He doesn't say whether or not he agrees with Kendi. He doesn't say whether or not Kendi is a radical. His only defense, the Admiral didn't force anyone to read the book, it's only recommended. Gilday also claims that he has himself read Kendi's book, and apparently thinks it's beneficial to his soldiers.
Banks continues to press the Admiral, who has so far not been able to explain why he supports the work of an anti-American radical like Kendi. The representative brings out more of Kendi's ghoulish beliefs and asks if the Admiral has any response to them.
Kendi stated that white people are a different breed of humans and are responsible for the AIDS virus. Yes or no, do you personally consider the conspiracy that white people started AIDS to be an extremist belief?
Once again, the Admiral cannot respond to the question. Apparently, it isn't obvious to the leader of the US Navy that believing the conspiracy that white people created AIDS to harm black people is an extremist belief. He can't say whether or not it's crazy to believe that white people invented AIDS. He needs more context.
The Admiral then goes to his preferred talking points. Pointing out the strength of the Navy, how militarily prepared we are, claiming that the Navy is neither weak nor woke.
While it may be true that your average sailor isn't woke or weak, the point Banks is making, rather effectively, is that the leadership is. The Chief of Naval Operations cannot publicly denounce anti-capitalist rhetoric for fear of being "unwoke." He can't denounce insane conspiracy theories espoused by Kendi, simply because he's afraid of the consequences.
Gilday can defend Kendi, but can't defend capitalism. That about sums it up.
