Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz exposed Monday a 27-page guidebook issued by the United States Air Force, which originated from the 552nd Air Control Wing in Oklahoma.
Gaetz described this as a “radical document” that warns airmen against using so-called “microaggressions.”
“Under Kamala Harris, the Air Force tells people ‘that’s savage’ is a microaggression. I’m sorry, but I want a savage military to protect us from China. I will be calling on the Air Force to make clear if they agree with this radical document,” said Gaetz in an email to the Tampa Free Press.
The congressman’s criticism comes at a time when the military’s approach to diversity, inclusion, and social issues has become a contentious topic, with some arguing that the pursuit of “wokeness” is undermining the armed forces’ core mission and readiness.
At the heart of the controversy is the Air Force’s definition and treatment of “microaggressions.” The guidebook instructs airmen to avoid using certain terms and phrases that could be perceived as offensive or insensitive, even if unintentionally.
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For example, the document states that using the phrase “that’s savage” is a microaggression, as it “erases the history of violence done to Indigenous peoples.”
Similarly, the guidebook warns against telling someone to “toughen up,” as it “contributes to potentially harmful standards of masculinity in individual mental and physical identities.”
The concept of microaggressions, which has gained traction in academic and social justice circles, has been met with skepticism and criticism from those who view it as an overly broad and subjective approach to addressing sensitive issues.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Gaetz described the document as a “radical” and expressed his desire for a “savage military to protect us from China.”
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The Department of the Air Force has sought to distance itself from the microaggressions guidebook. A spokesperson told Fox News that the document “is not an official Department of the Air Force policy document” and was instead “created by a group of individuals at the unit level in July 2021 as a submission for an innovation program and was not selected.”
The spokesperson further emphasized that the Air Force “remains laser-focused on warfighting readiness” and will “always advocate for respecting our fellow Airmen and Guardians, while never forgetting that we exist for one reason—to provide war-winning combat power for America.” Read: Russian President Putin Warns U.S. Over Long-Range Missile Deployment In Germany
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