The recent attacks on Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s military record are a distraction from the real issues, and, frankly, a disgrace. His service in the U.S. Army, his leadership, and his commitment to the people of Maryland are beyond question. Yet, these unfounded criticisms persist, feeding off a toxic political environment where integrity and facts are often discarded for partisan gain.
But while I stand by Moore and see this attack for the nonsense it is, I also believe that we—and others like use—carry some responsibility for this situation, not because of his military service or any mistakes in paperwork, but because forward-thinking leaders like Moore and us have allowed a culture of unchecked racism and sexism to flourish by failing to challenge it head-on. In an effort to take the high road, we often ignore the dirt that gets thrown our way, and that silence has consequences.
Here’s the deal: We live in a country where many are still not interested in true justice or equality. A significant part of our nation is less concerned about the concept of fairness and more invested in their own narrow interests—what I call the “just us” mentality. These are people who will always find ways to discredit and undermine progress, especially when that progress comes from individuals who threaten their vision of the status quo.
What is happening to Wes Moore is not new; it’s the latest chapter in a long history of attacking Black leaders and progressive figures. We’ve seen it time and time again. But while it’s easy to blame the opposition, we must also ask why we’ve allowed this to continue. Why do we stay silent in the face of such obvious injustice? Why do we treat everyone equally when a large part of our nation has no interest in equality?
The truth is, leaders like Moore have often gone out of their way to bridge the gap between themselves and those who will never be swayed. In doing so, they risk leaving behind the very people who support them, who count on them to fight for equitable distribution of policy and resources.
Take abortion, for example. Democrats had the chance to pass a national law protecting women’s rights when they controlled both chambers and the White House, yet they failed to act. Why? Because of the same desire to appease, to negotiate with people who have no interest in negotiation. We stretch ourselves thin trying to please everyone, and in the process, we lose sight of the battles that really matter.
Wes Moore, in his statement, exemplified the kind of leadership we need: humble, dedicated, and willing to own up to honest mistakes. But he also represents a generation of leaders who have underestimated the size of the gap between forward-thinking progressives and those stuck in the past. It’s a gap that can’t be closed with goodwill alone.
At the end of the day, the attacks on Wes Moore’s record won’t shake him, as he said. But the real question is, how long will we allow the real enemy—racism, sexism, and inequality—to go unchallenged in our efforts to appease? Leaders like Moore must realize that to truly move forward, we can’t keep pretending that everyone is playing by the same rules. Some aren’t interested in justice for all, just justice for themselves. It’s time to stop playing nice and start calling it what it is.