Brace yourself for a clash of history and modern values as the Pentagon's latest decision on the Wounded Knee Massacre medals has ignited a firestorm of debate.
Newsmax reported that the National Congress of American Indians has blasted the Pentagon for refusing to revoke military honors awarded to U.S. soldiers involved in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, a tragic event in South Dakota that left over 300 Lakota Sioux dead, finalized under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Trump administration.
Under the Biden administration, former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin initiated a review of these military honors. But before a decision was made, his tenure ended, leaving the matter unresolved until now. The delay itself speaks volumes about the sensitivity of confronting such a dark chapter.
Last year, a review panel recommended that the soldiers retain their medals, a stance that Hegseth, the current Defense Secretary under President Trump, has upheld with finality.
Hegseth announced this in a video on X, making it clear the decision isn’t up for further debate. For many, this feels like a refusal to reckon with the past.
"We're making it clear that they deserve those medals," Hegseth declared, doubling down on the panel’s findings. But let’s be honest—honoring actions tied to a massacre doesn’t sit right with those seeking accountability over applause. It’s a tough pill to swallow when reconciliation is the stated goal.
Hegseth didn’t stop there, taking a swipe at Austin for supposedly prioritizing political correctness over historical accuracy.
While there’s merit in questioning overzealous revisions of history, dismissing the pain of Native communities as mere woke posturing risks alienating those who live with this legacy. Balance, not bravado, should guide such weighty calls.
The National Congress of American Indians isn’t mincing words either, with Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. stating, "Celebrating war crimes is not patriotic." That’s a gut-punch of a critique, and while some might argue it oversteps, it’s hard to ignore the raw emotion behind the charge when history feels so personal.
Wright’s follow-up hits even harder: "This decision undermines truth-telling, reconciliation, and the healing that Indian Country and the United States still need." If the goal is unity, shutting the door on dialogue with a final ruling seems like a misstep. Healing isn’t a checkbox; it’s a process.
Adding fuel to the fire, the Pentagon under Hegseth has also scrapped identity month commemorations, including Native American History Month.
While critics of such programs argue they divide rather than unite, the timing of this cut alongside the Wounded Knee decision feels like a double blow to cultural recognition. It’s a pattern that’s hard to overlook.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon faced backlash for temporarily removing online mentions of the Navajo Code Talkers, whose unbreakable code was pivotal in World War II.
Though unrelated to Wounded Knee directly, it underscores a broader concern about erasing Native contributions and histories. One has to wonder if optics are even on the radar.
Hegseth’s broader critique of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the Pentagon since taking office adds another layer of tension.
While some see these efforts as distractions from military readiness, others argue they’re essential for acknowledging diverse histories—including Native American ones. Dismissing them outright risks painting every grievance as mere ideology.
At its core, the Wounded Knee medal controversy isn’t just about 1890; it’s about how we grapple with history in a polarized age.
The Congressional resolution of regret from decades ago was a start, but actions—or inaction—speak louder than words. Ignoring calls for reconsideration feels like a missed opportunity for a nation that prides itself on learning from the past.
So where do we go from here? The Pentagon’s stance may be final, but the conversation clearly isn’t. If history teaches us anything, it’s that unresolved pain doesn’t vanish—it festers, waiting for a wiser generation to address it with both courage and compassion.