Pete Hegseth's Crusade Against Diversity: A Renaming Saga for Navy Ships
Removed Navy Leader's Name of a Politician with a Gay Identity from Naval Discussion
Step into the vibrant, chaotic world of America's political landscape, where decisions are made in the heat of controversy and tradition clashes with progress.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host, is spearheading a shake-up of the U.S. military, turning back the clock in a series of unexpected moves. This time, he's targeting the names of U.S. Navy ships, aiming to strip them of their existing identities.
The USNS Harvey Milk, a logistics support ship, is the first casualty of this campaign. The ship, launched in 2021, was named after the pioneering gay rights activist and Marine veteran. Harvey Milk, a symbol of courage and determination, was forced to leave the military due to his sexual orientation. But Hegseth decided to wipe his name off the ship's hull, citing a need for "alignment with president and SECDEF objectives and SECNAV priorities of reestablishing the warrior culture."
The renaming, set for June, coincides with Pride Month, a celebration of LGBTQI+ rights. This timing has sparked widespread outrage, with critics viewing it as a deliberate snub against the LGBTQI+ community. While the new name for the ship remains a mystery, the move is seen as a clear act of hostility towards diversity and inclusion.
This isn't a solitary event, though. Reports suggest that Hegseth has his sights on other ships too. The Navy is rumored to be considering renaming vessels like the "Thurgood Marshall," "Ruth Bader Ginsburg," and "Harriet Tubman." These ships belong to the John Lewis class, named after prominent civil rights activists. "Lucy Stone," a suffragist, is also reportedly on the list for renaming.
Ship renamings are rare, but they happen, albeit infrequently. In 2023, a ship last received a new title due to connections between the namesake and the Confederate States' side in the Civil War.
Since taking office, Hegseth has been reshaping the Pentagon and the military. His crusade for a "warrior culture" has led to the removal of certain books from service academies and the scrubbing of references to women and people of color from DOD websites. Military bases are also set to regain their old, controversial names that honor Confederate generals.
Critics argue that this move is a politically motivated attempt to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the Pentagon. But Hegseth's office insists that the renaming is intended to ensure that all DOD installations and assets reflect the nation’s history and the priorities of the Commander-in-Chief.
Welcome to the era of unapologetic convention, where traditional values are cemented, and diversity takes a backseat.
In the intricate mosaic of American politics, the U.S. Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on policy-and-legislation, aiming to protect workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, as the aggressive renaming of Navy ships, spearheaded by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, underpins a wider contention over diversity and inclusion in the general news landscape.
