DECEMBER 28, 2022 – The release of Stanford University’s list of “harmful” words and terms has stirred rancor in many quarters, particularly among military personnel and veterans, whose rank structure is among the offensive terms.
The Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative (EHLI) at the private California school includes a variety of common terms, including “American,” “abort” and “immigrant,” among many others.
Included on the list are “chief” and “master,” which apparently ruffle feathers among the most sensitive listeners.
“I am absolutely appalled at this ‘intellectual’ university’s utter nonsense,” said Chief Legalman Joanna Patterson (USN, Ret.), who works with Military Veterans Advocacy (MVA), a Louisiana-based organization that supports military personnel and veterans. “This cancel culture has to stop. I am a Navy Chief. I worked very hard to achieve such a title and I wear my Anchors with pride.”
In a letter to Stanford’s administration, MVA co-founder Commander John B. Wells (USN, Ret.) listed some of the military ranks that include the terms “chief” and “master” – ending with the President himself.
“You might understand this if you had the decency to include an ROTC unit from any branch of service on your campus,” Wells wrote. “For example, we have Chief Warrant Officers, Chief Petty Officers, Master Chief Petty Officers, Chief of Naval Operations, Master Sergeant, Chief Master Sergeant, and even the Constitutionally mandated Commander-in-Chief.”
“I have been stationed all over the world, serving our country for over 22 years,” Patterson said. “Is Stanford really that ignorant as to not qualify these terms within differing contextual circumstances?”
Wells encouraged folks to contact Stanford’s EHLI directly with input via ehli-suggestions@stanford.edu.
For more information about MVA, visit www.militaryveteransadvocacy.org.
Commander J. B. Wells U. S. Navy (Retired)