I am an American Legion Auxiliary member and witnessed this
pin being distributed with sexist and racist jocular remarks being handed out
by the National Commander -elect Jimmie Foster at the 2010 National convention
and listened to his remarks the next day which were totally opposite in tone. I
was upset but waited until I returned home just to see if I felt I was
overreacting. I still strongly felt the issue should be addressed and so I
wrote the following letters (abridged for space purposes):
September
6, 2010
Dear National Commander Foster:
First I want to congratulate you on your hard-earned
election as National Commander. I am aware that it takes years of dedication to
the Legion to get to that position. However, I do have a personal bone to pick
with you over your conduct during the campaign and its direct conflict with the
principles you professed to hold as described in your speech to the Auxiliary
and later to the Legionnaires.
I was in the lobby of the Hilton when you were handing out
the Alaska pins a night or two before the election.
There were three pins you
were distributing:
the official one (very nice by the way),
one that you
jovially described as “politically incorrect” and
one, in an equally or more
humorous tone, was described as “really politically incorrect”.
As a person of the female gender, I found the
“politically incorrect” pins offensive and for you to differentiate between the
two of them as you did was to my mind racist. I have biracial granddaughters
and although racism has been a concern of mine for years it is far more
personal to me now.
You have a wife, seven (?) sisters and three granddaughters.
Do you not recognize how demeaning being willing to distribute such pins is to
those family members? I find it hard to believe that you needed to resort to
such low standards to garner votes in your campaign. In your speeches, you
praised the Auxiliary and said that President Navarrete′ was your friend and
had worked well with you. You mentioned the female veterans and how the Legion
should support them and give them the dignified treatment and respect they are
due, that diversity should be honored as well. Your closing to the Legionnaires
said that nothing should be done to demean another person.
I … worked my entire professional career with 90-95 percent
men and ended it as Director of a division of 52, mostly men. I believe that I
have the background to comment on this incident with some understanding. I hope
you will seriously consider this reflection on your attitude toward women and
persons of color… I firmly believe that such simple acts as distributing those
pins do pervade the public consciousness and contribute to the opinions young
men and women hold about themselves and others. As an important leader in the
national community, I expected more of you.
Sincerely,
Member Ladies Auxiliary
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