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Months before graduation, West Point cadet quits, citing culture of overt religion
FoxNews.com ^ | 12/6/2012

Posted on 12/06/2012 11:58:11 AM PST by RoosterRedux

A cadet quitting West Point less than six months before graduation says he could no longer be part of a culture that promotes prayers and religious activities and disrespects nonreligious cadets.

Blake Page announced his decision to quit the U.S. Military Academy this week, telling The Associated Press that he could not become an officer because of clinical depression played a role in his public protest against what he calls the unconstitutional prevalence of religion in the military.

"I've been trying since I found that out: What can I do? What can I possibly do to initiate the change that I want to see and so many other people want to see?" Page, 24, said. "I realized that this is one way I can make that change happen."

West Point officials on Wednesday disputed those assertions. Spokeswoman Theresa Brinkerhoff said prayer is voluntary at events where invocations and benedictions are conducted and noted the academy has a Secular Student Alliance club, where Page served as president.

Maj. Nicholas Utzig, the faculty adviser to the secular club, said he doesn't doubt some of the moments Pagedescribed, but he doesn't believe there is systematic discrimination against nonreligious cadets.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: army; atheismandstate; atheistsupremacist; crybaby; crymeariver; culturewar; libealintolerance; military; usma; westpoint
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To: RoosterRedux
“The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing (a Vice heretofore little known in an American Army) is growing into fashion; he hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence, endeavour to check it, and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we can have little hopes of the BLESSING OF HEAVEN ON OUR ARMS, if we insult it by our impiety, and folly; added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense, and character, detests and despises it. Head Quarters, New York, August 3rd 1776. Parole Uxbridge. Countersign Virginia” ― George Washington
41 posted on 12/06/2012 12:56:15 PM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar (The parasites now outnumber the producers.)
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To: RoosterRedux
"I've been trying since I found that out: What can I do? What can I possibly do to initiate the change that I want to see and so many other people want to see?" Page, 24, said."""""........

And the SOLE purpose for him joining up.

42 posted on 12/06/2012 12:59:24 PM PST by annieokie
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To: RoosterRedux

Burn in hell then quitter. Unless you repent and accept GOD... you are destined for the basement.

LLS


43 posted on 12/06/2012 1:21:41 PM PST by LibLieSlayer (WOLVERINES!)
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To: USNA74; Wyrd bið ful aræd

That’s how it was at Air Force also (’73). Once you started classes as a Junior you’re on the hook. Of course, he may qualify to evade it if there are special circumstances because of his “disability”.


44 posted on 12/06/2012 1:28:14 PM PST by ken in texas (I was taught to respect my elders but it keeps getting harder to find any.)
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To: LibLieSlayer
Unless you repent and accept GOD... you are destined for the basement.


45 posted on 12/06/2012 1:30:07 PM PST by RoosterRedux (He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats)
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To: 12Gauge687
I hope Uncle Sam sends him a bill for his education. I know plenty of qualified high school seniors who would love to attend the service academies.

Don't let that SOB get away with a free education. Enforce his contract and enlist him then make him do the hardest work found that gives him the least exposure to real troops.

46 posted on 12/06/2012 1:34:41 PM PST by OldMissileer
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To: RoosterRedux

coward...what he really doesn;t want to admit is now that WE have paid for his education he doesn;t really want to serve in the military.


47 posted on 12/06/2012 1:46:26 PM PST by Nifster
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To: RoosterRedux

If an occasional voluntary prayer is more than he can cope with, what’s he gonna do as a prisoner of war? I understand that environment is a littler harder to deal with.


48 posted on 12/06/2012 2:01:32 PM PST by PA BOOKENDS
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To: Da Coyote

I don’t think he gets off that easily. When I was at the AFA, if you dropped in your senior year you simply became an enlisted person for the next four years. I suspect it’s the same for the Army, so I’m not sure what he’s gained.


49 posted on 12/06/2012 2:08:11 PM PST by Hootowl
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To: RoosterRedux

Dunce. Freedom “OF” religion, not freedom “FROM” religion.


50 posted on 12/06/2012 2:09:15 PM PST by ataDude (Its like 1933, mixed with the Carter 70s, plus the books 1984 and Animal Farm, all at the same time.)
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To: RoosterRedux

I’m glad, now bill him for his education. This is a case of the young wasting their youth as he could have made more of a difference graduating from West Point then he ever can quitting 3 months from graduation.

Perhaps it was a preemptive move because he was going to get disciplined for something? Because it’s an incredibly stupid thing to do.


51 posted on 12/06/2012 2:09:18 PM PST by Usagi_yo
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To: RoosterRedux

Good riddance, but why does it take so long to “out” these nuts?


52 posted on 12/06/2012 2:09:41 PM PST by Gertie
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To: USNA74

Yes, that indeed was the way it was. May still be that way now, but there seems to be too much political correctness now to enforce any “rules.” Women can get out without serving or paying back because they are a special class, same goes for religion and mental problems. The only thing this guy didn’t use was being transgendered or female. Had he done this within a year or two of arriving, I would say fine, but he is playing the system and using the, now big, anti-religion card to get away with it and receive a free education.


53 posted on 12/06/2012 2:17:24 PM PST by falcon99
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To: RoosterRedux
And if I am not mistaken, he now has to pay for his otherwise free service academy education.

Standard procedure, at one time, if you dropped out or flunked out at any point after your second year your butt ended up in the enlisted ranks. Pay back time ...

54 posted on 12/06/2012 2:21:20 PM PST by BluH2o
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To: RoosterRedux

I’m smelling a lawsuite from disafected athiest boy.


55 posted on 12/06/2012 2:33:58 PM PST by AD from SpringBay (We deserve the government we allow.)
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To: USNA74

It was still that way when I graduated in ‘89.

But hey he’s a mule tamer whoop whatchya gonna do...

Go Navy Beat! Army!


56 posted on 12/06/2012 2:45:42 PM PST by reed13k (For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.)
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To: RoosterRedux

Scared of a little prayer. Awe poor baby, it must have been just terrible. Oh the humanity!!!

Good riddance. If he’s bummed out over some thing as trivial as this, he sure can’t handle combat.


57 posted on 12/06/2012 2:58:22 PM PST by Hound of the Baskervilles ("Nonsense in the intellect draws evil after it." C.S. Lewiscrate)
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To: RoosterRedux

Bye bye punk! Don’t let the door hit you in the “a” n the way out.


58 posted on 12/06/2012 3:03:15 PM PST by Patriot365
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To: RoosterRedux
When Obama declares that islam will be the religion emphasized at West Point, some opinions here will change, fast.
59 posted on 12/06/2012 3:19:09 PM PST by Mister Da (The mark of a wise man is not what he knows, but what he knows he doesn't know!)
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To: Hound of the Baskervilles

The army can not ban Christian expression from West Point to please this intolerant little man because cadets live there 24/7 and people who practice their religion are giong to gather together and worship in free time.

When people suffer mental illness, often they try to pin on external people and situations because they don’t understand it. They tell theselves, “I am always so sad and miserable that I want to die, so there must be a reason.”

This poor guy may have been encouraged to think this way by intolerant people influencing his life/counseling. Depression is not caused by “something” outside yourself. It’s a lot more than normal irritation or sadness.


60 posted on 12/06/2012 3:29:00 PM PST by SaraJohnson
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