A career civil servant described tension between their commitment to challenging rights abuses and their job.

“I’m trying to educate people about Palestine through social media, but I’m worried I’ll lose my security clearance for criticizing the president or blaming the U.S. for civilian massacre,” they told HuffPost. “I feel like there’s no place for me in America anymore, and I’m on thin ice with my clearance because of my heritage and because I care about my people dying.”

The seemingly stifled internal debate undercuts Biden’s narrative that his administration is historically diverse and open to perspectives from traditionally marginalized groups, including on questions of global affairs.

  • VikingHippie@lemmy.wtf
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    1 year ago

    More like one of those "we're gonna pretend to listen and then we're gonna keep providing financing and political cover for the atrocities no matter what they say" things.

    • Rapidcreek@reddthat.com
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      1 year ago

      If you as an employee feel thus abused, then the door is right over there. You are not employed to set policy.

      • VikingHippie@lemmy.wtf
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        1 year ago

        Not everyone can afford to just change jobs because their current employer is committing and/or supporting human rights abuses. You're sounding very "free" market libertarian right now.

        • Rapidcreek@reddthat.com
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          1 year ago

          You are an employee of the government. If you don't like the rules you work under or those policies you object to then quit. You're not an indentured servant.

          • VikingHippie@lemmy.wtf
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            1 year ago

            Stop moving the goalposts and stop using pro-corporate talking points to defend abusers against the abused having a voice.

              • VikingHippie@lemmy.wtf
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                1 year ago

                Well you're sure as shit not conceding that it's a bad thing to support genocide and then freeze out anyone who disagrees and you ARE deflecting blame onto the abused government employees so yeah, I'd say that amounts to a defence.

                • Rapidcreek@reddthat.com
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                  1 year ago

                  Nothing of the sort. They can disagree as much as they want, but they are not paid to do so. If they are dissatisfied with what is going on in their job they should resign.

                  • VikingHippie@lemmy.wtf
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                    1 year ago

                    Try to put yourself in their shoes for a moment:

                    Imagine it was YOUR people, even FAMILY members of yours being systematically slaughtered and displaced in what amounts to ethnic cleansing. Imagine that your employer is actively siding with the government trying to eradicate your people and you're not even allowed to criticise that stance.

                    Would YOU be fine with just meekly resigning from what might otherwise be your dream job, not certain where your next rent check would come from? Or would you speak up and, failing that, want others to speak up for you?

      • wildginger@lemmy.myserv.one
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        1 year ago

        Children are being slaughtered. Is that a situation you happily shrug and find a new job over?

        Do you have a police file filled with reports of torturing animals, by chance?