The Media (Who Only Talked About the Navajo Because Of Trump) Accuse Trump Of Using Racial Slur To Navajo
Yesterday, while having an event celebrating the Navajo Code Talkers, Trump made a quip about Elizabeth Warren:
"I just want to thank you because you are very, very special people. You were here long before any of us were here. Although, we have a representative in Congress who has been here a long time ... longer than you -- they call her Pocahontas! But you know what, I like you. You are special people."
The media went ballistic and are still going bonkers this morning. I watched the event, though, and I find it disheartening that the media didn't cover the full event. They only isolated one sentence from it. A check of timelines from reporters present quickly shows that reporters covered only the line about Elizabeth Warren (for example CNN's Zeleny and Acosta) - nothing else.
The CNN article - just Pocahontas:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/27/politics/trump-pocahontas-navajo-code-talkers/index.html
CNN actually had another article of "analysis" from Democr...Oops! "Totally objective analyst" Chris Cilizza. It was as objective as one can imagine.
The NBC article: - just Pocahontas:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-calls-warren-pocahontas-event-honoring-native-americans-n824266
The ABC article: - just Pocahontas:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-makes-pocahontas-quip-navajo-code-talker-event/story?id=51414604
The CBS article: - MOSTLY Pocahontas (To the credit of CBS, they did throw a few paragraphs in at the very end of the article):
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pocahontas-elizabeth-warren-navajo-code-talkers-white-house/
The Washington Post: - just Pocahontas:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/while-honoring-native-american-veterans-trump-lobs-his-favorite-native-american-insult/ar-BBFPJB0?li=AA5a8k&ocid=spartanntp
A Google search will show a litany of media outlets all with the same talking points. Their articles are arranged almost the same - just written slightly differently of course but with the same meaning and style.
The media, in their outrage, sought out statements from Native Americans and got a couple (from the CBS article):
"We regret that the President's use of the name Pocahontas as a slur to insult a political adversary is overshadowing the true purpose of today's White House ceremony," stated NCAI President Jefferson Keel, a decorated U.S. Army officer and Vietnam War combat veteran. "Today was about recognizing the remarkable courage and invaluable contributions of our Native code talkers. That's who we honor today and everyday -- the three code talkers present at the White House representing the 10 other elderly living code talkers who were unable to join them, and the hundreds of other code talkers from the Cherokee, Choctaw, Comanche, Lakota, Meskwaki, Mohawk, Navajo, Tlingit, and other tribes who served during World Wars I and II."
First of all, it was not a slur. He was knocking Elizabeth Warren for pretending to be a Native American in order to advance her career. Second of all, why doesn't the media obtain a statement from the NCAI about their thoughts on Elizabeth Warren pretending to be Native American to advance her career? Third of all, it didn't have to overshadow the event. The media CHOSE for it to overshadow the event by only reporting on it.
The Navajos, for their part, were somewhat more diplomatic (from the CNN article):
My name is Peter MacDonald. I'm the president of the 13 surviving Navajo Code Talkers. I went in -- I'm 90 years old -- I went in when I was 15 years old in 1944. I was with the 1st Marine Brigade on Guam, and then went on to North China with 6th Marine Division to get those Japanese in Northern China to surrender. They didn’t want to surrender, but it took 1st Marine Division, 6th Marine Division to get them to surrender eventually. We had a separate treaty ceremony in Tsingtao, China, October 25th, 1945.
Navajo Code Talkers, in the early part of World War II, the enemy was breaking every military code that was being used in the Pacific. This created a huge problem for strategizing against the enemy. Eventually, a suggestion was made in early 1942 -- February '42, essentially -- to use Navajo language as a code.
The Marine Corps recruited 29 young Navajos, not telling them what they are being recruited for, because this was a top-secret operation. They were just asked, "Do you want to join the Marines? You want to fight the enemy? Come join the Marines." So they volunteered.
Twenty-nine young Navajos joined the Marines in 1942, after going through boot camp, passed boot camp with flying colors; combat training -- the same thing. Then entered the Marine Corps Communication School -- passed that. Then they were separated from all the rest of the Marines, took them to a top-secret location just east of San Diego -- Camp Elliott. That's where they created a military code to be used in the Pacific.
After creating 260 code words, the 29 young Marines -- half of them were sent overseas to join the 1st Marine Division. The 1st Marine Division was getting ready to go on to the first offensive movement in the Pacific, Guadalcanal.
On August 7, 1942 -- 75 years ago -- 1st Marine Division hit the beaches of Guadalcanal with 15 Navajo Code Talkers. This was the first battle where the Navajo code was to be tested in actual battle to test to see how our memory would be under heavy enemy fire. Well, three weeks after the landing, General Van De Griff, Commander of the 1st Marine Division, sent word back to United States saying, this Navajo code is terrific. The enemy never understood it; he said, we don't understand it either, but it works. Send us some more Navajos.
So that opened up the gate for United States Marine Corps, San Diego to start recruiting more and more Navajos, using the same tactics: "You want to fight? You want to join the Marines? You want to wear this beautiful blue uniform? Come join the Marines." So we all volunteered. That's how he went in, that's how he went in, that's how I went in.
Boot camp, combat training, communication schools. Then we all get separated, go to that special top-secret Navajo code school to learn to code. Initially, 260 code words, all subject to memory only. Eventually, by the time the war ended, 1945, there were 400 of us that went to war. And also, our code words grew to 600 code words, subject to memory only. In every battle two communication networks were established: Navajo communication network for all top-secret, confidential messages; the second network, English network, for all other messages.
In every battle -- from the frontline, beach command post, command ship, all other ships -- Code Talkers were used. On the island of Iwo, Major Connor said, the first 48 hours of battle, over 800 messages were sent by the 5th Marine Division, only. The first 48 hours, over 800 messages. Major Connor also said: Without Navajo, Marines would never have taken the island of Iwo Jima.
(Applause.)
So thank you very much. The 13 of us, we still have one mission -- that mission is to build national Navajo Code Talker Museum. We want to preserve this unique World War II history for our children, grandchildren, your children, your grandchildren to go through that museum.
Why? Because what we did truly represents who we are as Americans. America, we know, is composed of diverse community. We have different languages, different skills, different talents, and different religion. But when our way of life is threatened, like the freedom and liberty that we all cherish, we come together as one. And when we come together as one, we are invincible. We cannot be defeated. That's why we need this national Navajo Code Talker Museum so that our children, the future generation, can go through that museum and learn why America is so strong.
Thank you very much for listening.
(Applause.)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/11/27/remarks-president-trump-event-honoring-native-american-code-talkers
The news media didn't report in full about Trump's speech to the Navajo Code Talkers.
They didn't report that Trump invited them to the White House because he respected them and wanted them to tell their story.
They didn't report the beautiful story that the Navajo Code Talker told detailing their history and bravery. Nor did they report that Trump said the Code Talker told the story so beautifully that he didn't need to even give his speech and gave his speech to the Code Talker to keep.
They didn't talk about how General Kelly had talked with Trump about Code Talkers & Trump invited the General to speak to their importance at the podium.
They didn't talk about how the Code Talkers said they wanted a museum and how Trump said they deserve it and pledged to help them.
No, all they talked about was Trump's 1 second joke about Pocahontas which was about Warren pretending to be Native American to further her career.
They didn't speak about how he praised them in the same sentence & how the Navajo Code Talker praised Trump after his speech and said the country is in great hands.
No, they spoke of none of it.
Ask yourself why? Why wouldn't the press share these things if it's their duty to report on the totality of an event?
They would if they didn't have an agenda. Face it, the press used this event with the Navajo Code Talkers to throw Trump under the bus and try to score political points because many are trying to advance an anti-Trump narrative. If they cared about the Navajo Code Talkers at all, they would have shared that man's beautiful story he shared or of Trump helping them with their desire to build a museum. They didn't, and that speaks volumes. Begaye, on CNN admitting Trump was the first to ever even invite them to the White House but then essentially calling Trump racist, wouldn't have been on CNN otherwise. They wouldn't have invited him to talk about the Navajo Code Talkers & an otherwise wonderful ceremony, so how much did they care? No clicks, likes, and Retweets for a positive story. Full video of the speech here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahra9ZwkKiI
"I just want to thank you because you are very, very special people. You were here long before any of us were here. Although, we have a representative in Congress who has been here a long time ... longer than you -- they call her Pocahontas! But you know what, I like you. You are special people."
The media went ballistic and are still going bonkers this morning. I watched the event, though, and I find it disheartening that the media didn't cover the full event. They only isolated one sentence from it. A check of timelines from reporters present quickly shows that reporters covered only the line about Elizabeth Warren (for example CNN's Zeleny and Acosta) - nothing else.
The CNN article - just Pocahontas:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/27/politics/trump-pocahontas-navajo-code-talkers/index.html
CNN actually had another article of "analysis" from Democr...Oops! "Totally objective analyst" Chris Cilizza. It was as objective as one can imagine.
The NBC article: - just Pocahontas:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-calls-warren-pocahontas-event-honoring-native-americans-n824266
The ABC article: - just Pocahontas:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-makes-pocahontas-quip-navajo-code-talker-event/story?id=51414604
The CBS article: - MOSTLY Pocahontas (To the credit of CBS, they did throw a few paragraphs in at the very end of the article):
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pocahontas-elizabeth-warren-navajo-code-talkers-white-house/
The Washington Post: - just Pocahontas:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/while-honoring-native-american-veterans-trump-lobs-his-favorite-native-american-insult/ar-BBFPJB0?li=AA5a8k&ocid=spartanntp
A Google search will show a litany of media outlets all with the same talking points. Their articles are arranged almost the same - just written slightly differently of course but with the same meaning and style.
The media, in their outrage, sought out statements from Native Americans and got a couple (from the CBS article):
"We regret that the President's use of the name Pocahontas as a slur to insult a political adversary is overshadowing the true purpose of today's White House ceremony," stated NCAI President Jefferson Keel, a decorated U.S. Army officer and Vietnam War combat veteran. "Today was about recognizing the remarkable courage and invaluable contributions of our Native code talkers. That's who we honor today and everyday -- the three code talkers present at the White House representing the 10 other elderly living code talkers who were unable to join them, and the hundreds of other code talkers from the Cherokee, Choctaw, Comanche, Lakota, Meskwaki, Mohawk, Navajo, Tlingit, and other tribes who served during World Wars I and II."
First of all, it was not a slur. He was knocking Elizabeth Warren for pretending to be a Native American in order to advance her career. Second of all, why doesn't the media obtain a statement from the NCAI about their thoughts on Elizabeth Warren pretending to be Native American to advance her career? Third of all, it didn't have to overshadow the event. The media CHOSE for it to overshadow the event by only reporting on it.
The Navajos, for their part, were somewhat more diplomatic (from the CNN article):
Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye said in a statement that he appreciated "the honor and recognition that has been bestowed upon the Navajo Code Talkers" but noted "all tribal nations still battle insensitive references to our people."
"The prejudice that Native American people face is an unfortunate historical legacy," Begaye said. "As Native Americans, we are proud people who have taken care of this land long before there was the United States of America and we will continue to fight for this Nation."
That said, Begaye was on CNN this morning proclaiming it to be a "racial slur."
That said, Begaye was on CNN this morning proclaiming it to be a "racial slur."
Now I anticipate the media, who is of course fair and objective because they tell me so, will also be posting the statements they have gotten from the Cherokee people and the above groups regarding Elizabeth Warren. The little reaction out there I have is from an RNC ad in 2012 wherein they talked to Cherokees, a Fox segment with Megyn Kelly, and a couple local news segments:
ELIZABETH WARREN, MEET THE PEOPLE OF CHEROKEE, NC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm3MYBDyNyQ
Cherokee Genealogist Slams Elizabeth Warren
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=15&v=TeyMbPAwgyg
Cherokee Activists Demand Meeting With Elizabeth Warren
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2sbLdZmK4w
Cherokees Demand Truth From Elizabeth Warren
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnV3WzM3phk
What's so sad in all of this is that the media, while pouncing on Trump, proclaiming that he used a "racial slur", saying he was disrespectful to Native Americans, and saying he ruined an event for the Navajo Code Talkers, themselves neglected to cover the true story in all of this - The Navajo Code Talkers. Since the media didn't care to cover it, I will post it here in italics. This is the fabulous speech given by a 90 year old Navajo code talker - one of only 13 remaining and one of only 3 there present at the White House today:
My name is Peter MacDonald. I'm the president of the 13 surviving Navajo Code Talkers. I went in -- I'm 90 years old -- I went in when I was 15 years old in 1944. I was with the 1st Marine Brigade on Guam, and then went on to North China with 6th Marine Division to get those Japanese in Northern China to surrender. They didn’t want to surrender, but it took 1st Marine Division, 6th Marine Division to get them to surrender eventually. We had a separate treaty ceremony in Tsingtao, China, October 25th, 1945.
Navajo Code Talkers, in the early part of World War II, the enemy was breaking every military code that was being used in the Pacific. This created a huge problem for strategizing against the enemy. Eventually, a suggestion was made in early 1942 -- February '42, essentially -- to use Navajo language as a code.
The Marine Corps recruited 29 young Navajos, not telling them what they are being recruited for, because this was a top-secret operation. They were just asked, "Do you want to join the Marines? You want to fight the enemy? Come join the Marines." So they volunteered.
Twenty-nine young Navajos joined the Marines in 1942, after going through boot camp, passed boot camp with flying colors; combat training -- the same thing. Then entered the Marine Corps Communication School -- passed that. Then they were separated from all the rest of the Marines, took them to a top-secret location just east of San Diego -- Camp Elliott. That's where they created a military code to be used in the Pacific.
After creating 260 code words, the 29 young Marines -- half of them were sent overseas to join the 1st Marine Division. The 1st Marine Division was getting ready to go on to the first offensive movement in the Pacific, Guadalcanal.
On August 7, 1942 -- 75 years ago -- 1st Marine Division hit the beaches of Guadalcanal with 15 Navajo Code Talkers. This was the first battle where the Navajo code was to be tested in actual battle to test to see how our memory would be under heavy enemy fire. Well, three weeks after the landing, General Van De Griff, Commander of the 1st Marine Division, sent word back to United States saying, this Navajo code is terrific. The enemy never understood it; he said, we don't understand it either, but it works. Send us some more Navajos.
So that opened up the gate for United States Marine Corps, San Diego to start recruiting more and more Navajos, using the same tactics: "You want to fight? You want to join the Marines? You want to wear this beautiful blue uniform? Come join the Marines." So we all volunteered. That's how he went in, that's how he went in, that's how I went in.
Boot camp, combat training, communication schools. Then we all get separated, go to that special top-secret Navajo code school to learn to code. Initially, 260 code words, all subject to memory only. Eventually, by the time the war ended, 1945, there were 400 of us that went to war. And also, our code words grew to 600 code words, subject to memory only. In every battle two communication networks were established: Navajo communication network for all top-secret, confidential messages; the second network, English network, for all other messages.
In every battle -- from the frontline, beach command post, command ship, all other ships -- Code Talkers were used. On the island of Iwo, Major Connor said, the first 48 hours of battle, over 800 messages were sent by the 5th Marine Division, only. The first 48 hours, over 800 messages. Major Connor also said: Without Navajo, Marines would never have taken the island of Iwo Jima.
(Applause.)
So thank you very much. The 13 of us, we still have one mission -- that mission is to build national Navajo Code Talker Museum. We want to preserve this unique World War II history for our children, grandchildren, your children, your grandchildren to go through that museum.
Why? Because what we did truly represents who we are as Americans. America, we know, is composed of diverse community. We have different languages, different skills, different talents, and different religion. But when our way of life is threatened, like the freedom and liberty that we all cherish, we come together as one. And when we come together as one, we are invincible. We cannot be defeated. That's why we need this national Navajo Code Talker Museum so that our children, the future generation, can go through that museum and learn why America is so strong.
Thank you very much for listening.
(Applause.)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/11/27/remarks-president-trump-event-honoring-native-american-code-talkers
The news media didn't report in full about Trump's speech to the Navajo Code Talkers.
They didn't report that Trump invited them to the White House because he respected them and wanted them to tell their story.
They didn't report the beautiful story that the Navajo Code Talker told detailing their history and bravery. Nor did they report that Trump said the Code Talker told the story so beautifully that he didn't need to even give his speech and gave his speech to the Code Talker to keep.
They didn't talk about how General Kelly had talked with Trump about Code Talkers & Trump invited the General to speak to their importance at the podium.
They didn't talk about how the Code Talkers said they wanted a museum and how Trump said they deserve it and pledged to help them.
No, all they talked about was Trump's 1 second joke about Pocahontas which was about Warren pretending to be Native American to further her career.
They didn't speak about how he praised them in the same sentence & how the Navajo Code Talker praised Trump after his speech and said the country is in great hands.
No, they spoke of none of it.
Ask yourself why? Why wouldn't the press share these things if it's their duty to report on the totality of an event?
They would if they didn't have an agenda. Face it, the press used this event with the Navajo Code Talkers to throw Trump under the bus and try to score political points because many are trying to advance an anti-Trump narrative. If they cared about the Navajo Code Talkers at all, they would have shared that man's beautiful story he shared or of Trump helping them with their desire to build a museum. They didn't, and that speaks volumes. Begaye, on CNN admitting Trump was the first to ever even invite them to the White House but then essentially calling Trump racist, wouldn't have been on CNN otherwise. They wouldn't have invited him to talk about the Navajo Code Talkers & an otherwise wonderful ceremony, so how much did they care? No clicks, likes, and Retweets for a positive story. Full video of the speech here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahra9ZwkKiI
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