Previously I told you about videos we obtained that show a “Cultural Sensitivity Program” sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its employees. In these videos, diversity awareness trainer and self-described “citizen of the world” Samuel Betances instructs USDA employees to chant in unison “The pilgrims were illegal aliens” while being instructed to no longer use the word “minorities,” but to replace it with “emerging majorities.”
Last week we released additional excerpts from these videos, obtained via a May 18, 2012, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, and believe it or not, it gets worse.
During the training, Betances (pictured) urges federal employees to chant, “If we work for a federal agency, we’ve discriminated in the past.” He also suggested that the United States “took over what used to be Mexico” and stated that schools are only interested in educating middle class children.
And get this: the seminar was given to USDA employees at least 16 times last year. Its stated purpose? To raise the “emotional intelligence” of the government attendees. Take a look at some of these highlights and you tell me if you think Betances accomplished this mission.
- “Every federal agency… I want you to say: ‘If we work for a federal agency.’ Say that. [Audience repeats] ‘We have discriminated in the past.’ [Audience repeats] Say: ‘Every federal agency,’ [Audience repeats] ‘has discriminated against African Americans,’ [Audience repeats] ‘Hispanics,’ [Audience repeats] ‘Native American Indians,’ [Audience repeats] ‘and other groups.’ [Audience repeats]. See, if you work for a federal agency, it doesn’t matter if it’s DOD, Commerce, Labor, Education, Housing, every agency has discriminated, because every agency reflects the values of the generation in charge.”
- “Mexicans came to this country last night illegally; never mind that the United States expanded and took over what used to be Mexico. If the truth be known, in a lot of these circumstances, if you tell some of these Mexicans ‘Go back where you came from,’ they go to Texas, California, Arizona.”
- “This is extremely important. I want all of you to say: ‘Schools are middle class places of learning,’ say that. [Audience repeats] ‘But not all students are middle class.’ [Audience repeats]”
- “And so when our founding elders and our Founding Fathers said ‘We don’t want King George. We want our George Washington to create a republic with tools of democracy.’ Our founding elders went to the Iroquois, native indigenous Americans in upstate New York, to borrow their system of governance. In fact, when I met with some of the Iroquois leadership some years ago, they say ‘Dr. Betances, not only did the Founding Fathers take our way of governing, they also took our symbol of nationhood, the eagle, as their symbol of nation-state.'”
Feel enlightened?
The sensitivity training sessions, described as “a huge expense” by Betances during the presentation, were held on USDA premises. As I mentioned last week, this diversity event is apparently part of what USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack described in a memo sent to all agency employees as “new era of Civil Rights” and “a broader effort towards cultural transformation at USDA.” In 2011 and 2012, the USDA paid Betances and his firm nearly $200,000 for their part in the “cultural transformation” program.
By continuing to follow the money trail our investigators reviewed federal contracts for Mr. Betances’s firm–Souder, Betances and Associates at www.USASpending.gov–and they learned that the federal government gave the firm $3,313,244 in contracts over the last five years, $2.8 million of which was through the Department of Defense.
These videos were a well-kept secret until Judicial Watch got hold of them. And that was by design. USDA Training Administrator, Vincent Loran, in an October 10, 2011, email previously revealed by Judicial Watch, asked Betances for a copy of a training video, promising to keep it secret. “It will not be used for or show [sic] in any way shape or form,” Loran promised.
It is impossible to watch these videos and not be outraged by them. What a disgrace that American taxpayers are forced to pay for this ridiculous indoctrination program. This “cultural transformation” program has nothing to do with improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the USDA workforce and everything to do with brainwashing federal employees. Federal agencies are wasting money and abusing employees through these left-wing and racially inflammatory indoctrination programs.
Since these videos have aired on national TV, we have received many communications from former and current government employees who recount similar experiences with Betances or other “diversity” indoctrination programs.
As reported by Fox News in October 2012, Judicial Watch first broke the news of the USDA compulsory sensitivity training program based upon information it obtained in response to a FOIA request. That request was prompted by a tip from a USDA whistleblower.
Judicial Watch also previously uncovered information revealing that in April 2011 the USDA had treated 300 of its employees to a taxpayer-funded “tasty celebration” of dishes from around the world, salsa dancing lessons from Vincent Loran, and a rap performance by a USDA employee who shared his feelings on human differences.
Here we are about to watch the Defense budget sliced down to dangerous levels due to sequestration and the USDA is sponsoring leftist, race-baiting indoctrination programs, rap performances, and salsa dancing lessons. Clearly, the priorities in Washington are completely out of whack.
Thankfully, the media is taking notice. Just last week, we were again featured on Bill O’Reilly’s program on Fox News, and I flew to Dallas on Tuesday to appear on Glenn Beck’s television program. Even George Will referenced the videos on ABC’s This Week program. Here is what he said:
Let me give you two examples this week, the Navy citing the sequester, delayed the deployment of the aircraft carrier Truman undermining our pledge to have two carrier groups in the Persian Gulf to keep pressure on Iran, citing the sequester.
You’re telling me the Navy can’t find other ways to economize without this flamboyant and provocative way of trying to pressure Congress?
Second, this week we learned the Agriculture Department has a diversity awareness program, doesn’t cost much money, in which they teach the bureaucrats in the agriculture department to refer to the pilgrims as illegal aliens and minorities as emerging majorities. It’s a small amount of money but a huge symptom of the utter contempt with which Washington treats taxpayers’ money.
Two good reasons right there to go ahead with the sequester.
One wonders if Congress will get on the ball. It might be helpful for you to call and ask. To reach your congressional representatives, call 202-225-3121 and ask for them.
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