Posted on 09/17/2014 10:41:07 PM PDT by right-wing agnostic
After an airman was unable to complete his reenlistment because he omitted the part of a required oath that states “so help me God,” the Air Force changed its instructions for the oath.
Following a review of the policy by the Department of Defense General Counsel, the Air Force will now permit airmen to omit the phrase, should they so choose. That change is effective immediately, according to an Air Force statement.
“We take any instance in which Airmen report concerns regarding religious freedom seriously,” Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said in the statement. “We are making the appropriate adjustments to ensure our Airmen’s rights are protected.
“The Air Force will be updating the instructions for both enlisted and commissioned Airmen to reflect these changes in the coming weeks, but the policy change is effective now. Airmen who choose to omit the words ‘So help me God’ from enlistment and officer appointment oaths may do so.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
It ought to be noted that up until 2013...they had the two options and someone (unknown and not brought into the controversy) made the decision that the God-phrase was the only option. The Marines, Army and Navy? That’s the odd thing...they continued on with the two options, as has been the case for decades.
The Pentagon legal staff really didn’t do anything except ask what Air Force idiot made the change, and how they’d come to that rational decision, while the other services maintained the decades-old standard of two options.
I think the Air Force was a bit embarrassed by the whole thing and looking around at what other little rule changes have been tossed into the works that suggest some type of agenda at work.
How about “so help me Hanna”?
and soon enough, they will ban that from the oath
just like gay sex in the barracks is okay, but not Bibles and prayers
this is a constitutionally sound decision
*****
I’m sure that explanation will work well with God when these Godless officers are praying to Him in combat.
Forgive them Lord for they know not what they do....
I still think it's sad that such a day has come to pass though.
Not surprising.
America has strayed from the Shepherd, and I don’t think she will find her way back.
People that don’t believe in God don’t think He exists because they cannot find Him anywhere. They can see no evidence of Him.
But all the while they looked around, they never looked in the place that He is.
Inside of us.
But it is quite clear that many people in this country and elsewhere are very much empty in that regard.
Sound?
Disheartening.
No man should be forced to acknowledge God or a religion in service of their country, under a government job.
If he wants to believe in nothing, then let him be a Buddhist, so be it.
If he chooses no god, then his conscience should be his guide.
If he wants to be a Hindu, then let Vishnu guide him.
if a man wants to swear an oath to God, then he should be allowed to acknowledge his presence in his life.
“I realize that this decision is not popular around Free Republic, but I think this is a constitutionally sound decision by the U.S. Air Force./rwa”
Bad move, because guess who their ‘Co-Pilot” is NOW.
God help em.
So how is that Godless Hopey Changie thing doing for us?
Not surprised. Their calendar for 2014 doesn’t even mention Easter. Disgusting.
Is “so help me Obama” acceptable?
The rules used to allow the omission of the words “so help me God” if desired for personal reasons until recently. I don’t know how long the prior rule was in place, but they are just reverting back to what had been in place before and what other service branches allow. No biggie. Those who wish to not omit it, can still say it and those who wish not to say it (including, if I am not mistaken, some Christian sects who do not believe in evoking the “name of God or G-D if you will, in an “oath”).
Might as well, God won’t help this country anymore anyway, without an enormous spiritual renewal.
Turn your back on God and he will turn his back on you. This country is completely LOST. Get ready to start reading the Koran. Me, I will die first.
I agree. I'm actually surprised it's gone unchallenged this long.
So help me Rhonda.
Is this not a litmus test now? Will people opt-out of saying it for fear of those that would discriminate against the religious?
And I disagree on constitutionality, hasn’t it been this way since...forever? How is this, only now, unconstitutional? So, the same for swearing in a president? ...all of the other instances in our system? It’s just another attack on the judeo-christian ethics that has woven the fabric of our society and driven our system of government and law.
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