'So help me God' optional in AFA honor oath

Colorado Springs Gazette ^ | Updated: October 25, 2013 at 11:49 pm | By Erin Prater

[usafa92]

The Air Force Academy will make the "so help me God" clause of the cadet honor oath optional, academy officials announced Friday.

"Here at the academy, we work to build a culture of dignity and respect, and that respect includes the ability of our cadets, airmen and civilian airmen to freely practice and exercise their religious preference - or not," said Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, academy superintendent, in a statement. "So, in the spirit of respect, cadets may or may not choose to finish the honor oath with 'so help me God.'"

[usafa92]

I didn't see this posted yet......This was predictable and saw it coming from a mile away. Rather amazing that this great institution caved in a matter of days to a disgruntled former grad and a left wing reporter. Not even a fight or a whimper...Most Air Force officers were always Republicans...and I still see that they are because the only people that fold faster are Congressional Republicans...

[MeshugeMikey]

” a culture of dignity and respect,”

WE ALREADY HAD such a Culture ONCE not too long ago!!

didnt these people NOTICE?

[MeshugeMikey]

when will SO HELP ME GOD be struck form COURT PROCEEDINGS??

[doc1019]

Deeper down the rabbit hole we go.

[Paulie]

Total disgrace how freedom of religion - or no religion - is just fine with the higher ups when the liberal agenda is advanced.

Anything traditional American is met with scorn, liberal whining, lawsuits, and endless media harassment.

[lightman]

when will SO HELP ME GOD be struck form COURT PROCEEDINGS??

Phrase in some Pennsylvania courts has been "as you will answer before God on the Last Great Day" for well over two decades.

[MeshugeMikey]

“as you will answer before God on the Last Great Day” for well over two decades.

did you by chance mean over twi centuries?

[GregoTX]

How about "So help me all mighty and powerful Nationalist Socialist Government"

Im sure that would be politically correct and accepted these days.

[Hardraade]

Instead, there’ll be allahu akbar.

[doc1019]

So help me G_d has been dropped from most court oaths in many states.

[MeshugeMikey]

Have any replacement oaths taken the place of this particular phrase??

so help me GAIA?

[Rodamala]

USAF Colonel Lindsey Olin Graham

[QBFimi]

Never thought much of the USAF “ring tappers”. Now, even less...

(USAF KC-135 pilot 1968-1973)

[doc1019]

Not yet.

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." seems to be the current oath in most courts ...

[MeshugeMikey]

Thanks.

hmmm Swear...to WHO one wonders?....

[doc1019]

The only thing I can think of is they are promising the Judge that they will tell the truth. The only reason the oath is still invoked? If they lie they are in contempt of court and/or perjury.

[rockrr]

"Here at the academy, we work to build a culture of dignity and respect, and that respect includes the ability of our cadets, airmen and civilian airmen to freely practice and exercise their religious preference - or not," said Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson...

Doesn't she mean "airpersons" or "airbeings"? LOL

[Captain Jack Aubrey]

This is a weird story. “So help me God” has ALWAYS been optional in this country in an oath. The only oath set forth in the constitution is the oath of the president and it does NOT say so help me God. George Washington added that phrase to his oath on his own and it has been customary ever since. Check the constitution and you will see.

In Virginia state law on oaths of office have always put so help me God in parentheses to indicate that it is optional. And in a land of the free it must be optional.

[Lurking Libertarian]

It’s never been required in court proceedings. The Constitution doesn’t include it in the oath of office, and in fact says “oath or affirmation.” It’s a tradition in oaths (both in court and oaths of office), but has never been a requirement.

[Secret Agent Man]

cadets will be able to substitute “satan”, “gaia”, “obama”, or “me” for “God”.