Nov 11, 2022 | News
In the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in the year 1918, a temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect. This date, November 11, 1918, was at that time, regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
Originally proclaimed as Armistice Day, Americans commemorated with celebration and a brief suspension of business beginning in 1919. On October 8, 1954, President Eisenhower signed the first Veteran’s Day Proclamation, officially changing Armistice Day to “Veteran’s Day”
Regardless of the day of the week on which it falls, Veteran’s Day continues to be observed on November 11. In doing so, this preserves the historical significance of this date and the important purpose of Veterans Day—a celebration honoring America’s military veterans for their service, patriotism, duty to country, and self-sacrificing for the common good of the nation and mankind.
It is with this in mind that the National Naval Officers Association
salutes all who have served this great nation.
Happy Veteran’s Day 2022!
Nov 10, 2022 | News
Born in Tun Tavern, in Philadelphia, on 10 November 1775, two battalions of Marines were formed to be the soldiers of the sea, needed to protect what would become the United States of America.
For the next 247 years, the United States Marine Corps would distinguish itself as the foremost global fighting force, earning battle streamers from Montezuma to Tripoli to Belleau Wood and Iwo Jima, and from the Frozen Chosin to Hue City to Fallujah to Helmand Province and many other far off distant lands.
Whether Marines are striking fear in enemies worldwide or leading and aiding in humanitarian relief operations, Marines, with their warrior ethos, always stand ready to meet the nation’s security challenges head-on.
Marines— Leathernecks—Jarheads—Devil Dogs—Soldiers of the Sea, the National Naval Officers Association wishes our United States Marine Corps a Happy 247th Birthday.
Nov 7, 2022 | Chaplain
We are very quick to cancel people. Even celebrities that died long ago are not safe. Cancel culture is nothing new. There is a story about a man named Zacchaeus who lived in a Palestinian city called Jericho around 30 C.E. Zacchaeus was a wealthy tax collector; the chief tax collector to be exact. The citizens perceived tax collectors as greedy, collaborators with the Roman government. Therefore, by Zacchaeus being a tax collector, he was helping to oppress his own people. He was a traitor, a literal sell-out! Therefore, the community cancelled him. Ironically, in Greek, Zacchaeus means “pure.”
Even though Zacchaeus had become very wealthy and wielded much power, he was still unfulfilled. He needed his community. One day, an influential religious leader came to town and served as a mediator between Zacchaeus and the community. He reminded both parties that Zacchaeus is still part of the family, regardless of what he had done.[1] As a result, Zacchaeus repented of his ways and offered to repair the wrong he had done to his people. The process of reconciliation had begun.
Being human is complicated. We all have the potential for great good and evil. At some point, we will all be the villain in somebody’s story, especially if you are in leadership. If we keep cancelling people at this present rate, who can stand? Instead cancelling people, we should be working on reconciliation. We can lovingly hold our family members accountable for their errors in judgement without excommunicating them. Afterall, does cancellation really help or does it create deeper resentments?
We will all be villains in somebody’s story; deservingly and undeservingly. I suggest when it comes to cancel culture, we treat others the way we want to be treated rather than how we think they should be treated.[2] Afterall, you could be next on the chopping block.
[1] Luke 19:9
[2] Matthew 7:12
Oct 20, 2022 | Chaplain
1 Corinthians 12:25-26
(New King James Version)
25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
I am guilty of what I am about to discuss.
At this past symposium, every time we took pictures, we could not just take a single service picture. We continued to divide ourselves into groups to take more photos: Divine Nine, HBCU, Athletes, Senior Officers, Baptist, Buddhist, Nation of Islam, etc. As of the writing of this article, plastered across the top of my Facebook page is a picture of my Spelman sisters and me. In the midst of the multiple photo sessions, I suddenly realized we have multiple affinity groups within an affinity group.
Where does it stop?
I started to get convicted about this as the days went on and, to be honest, it got ridiculous to me after a while. I noticed how some people did not fit into any of the myriad of groups we continued to break ourselves into and we started excluding each other. It made me wonder in what ways do we practice marginalization even within an organization that makes us feel marginalized?
I understand the history of the various organizations we represent and why they were created. They are institutions of empowerment for marginalized people. I understand why we need to celebrate and be proud of the Afro-Asian-Latina/o-Indigenous diaspora and all its components.
I know we are not a monolithic group. We are as diverse as any other group of people, which is what makes the world so rich, but we must be careful not to perpetuate the same unconscious bias and cronyism that has been used to justify discrimination.
We are all members of the Sea Services regardless of race, gender, faith, sexual orientation, or whatever way one chooses to be defined.
NNOA’s stated mission is:
To enhance Sea Service operational readiness by supporting recruiting, professional development, and retention in an effort to achieve a diverse officer corps that reflects the demographics of our Nation
The first line under our Guiding Principles states:
We are:
- A professional organization comprised of active duty, reserve, retired officers, and civilians that seek diversity and inclusive membership
If we truly want to embody diversity and inclusion then I truly believe we must be a unified, equitable body.
I am not saying it is wrong to celebrate the things that make us who we are. We can celebrate the internal diversity that we have. It is needed. We can be proud of the many cultures and institutions that helped shape us into who we are today. But it cannot be to the exclusion of others. All must feel like valued members of the body. All parts of the body are necessary, and one is not greater than the other.
When we are together as NNOA, we need to focus on being one body.
Just something to think about.
