Posted on 11/21/2004 6:55:24 AM PST by truthandlife
In a period of one week, the Department of Defense has decided to divest itself of its long-standing support for the Boy Scouts, and now the Superintendent of the Air Force Academy has drawn a line-in-the-sand for Christian cadets.
The AF Academy has been under intense scrutiny in the past year for failing to deal appropriately with incidents of rape and allegations of sexual harassment over a period of two decades. Congress has been involved, the Air Force is under the microscope and the new commander has been under the gun to correct this gross failure of character, respect and moral values. Yet, instead of finishing the job in correcting these shocking lapses, the Academy has turned its sights on Christian cadets
This week, in an interview with the Denver Post, the Superintendent of the Air Force Academy, Lt General Rosa, expressed he "is troubled by cadets who are overzealous about religion." He quoted an internal survey he said showed non-Christian cadets believed Christians were being given preferential treatment.
"Non-Christian cadets ... have reported feeling pressured by their Christian peers ... Some students had a feeling that 'If I'm not a Christian, I feel like I'm having Christianity crammed down my throat.'"
His proof? Christian cadets had done the unthinkable -- they invited their peers to go out to the movie The Passion of the Christ. His conclusion? "People felt they were being coerced."
The article concluded the issue by the Superintendent's warning, "Many cadets bring their family's religious values to the academy with them ... and don't realize they might be crossing a line when they talk about religion with others. He said the academy intends to address the problem by educating cadets about tolerance."
Well, let's begin by putting to rest the idea that the Academy is a tolerant place. Its own honor code, which each cadet must abide by begins, "We will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do." It ends with "So help me God."
The ironic aspect of this worthy ideal is that it is entirely based upon the Judeo-Christian codes of behavior found in both the New and Old Testament - a fact that seems to escape the leadership. The Academy is not willing to tolerate liars, cheats and thieves, yet it has now decided that Christians cannot be tolerated if they can't keep their "religion" to themselves, or inside the pristine walls of the chapel.
For those that read our founder's documents carefully, they crafted language protecting the free expression "of" religion not a society free "from" religion. Frankly, while I was in college, no one was threatened when I invited someone to a movie. No one ran around conducting surveys either to see if I offended anyone. If I offended anyone they told me to "buzz off." I got the message. I have a sneaking suspicion that today's cadets are no less bright. The Christian cadets probably can take "no" for an answer. It is the cadets who can't; those that sexually harass and rape other cadets that this institution should focus its precious resources upon.
Leadership in this country has been sadly lacking, as evidenced by the numerous and highly educated CEO's being brought before the bar of justice across the country for illegal and unethical behavior. The very foundations of this nation are rooted in the Judeo-Christian faith and the integrity that accompanies it. It brought persecuted believers to a nation where they could practice that faith without fear of the government telling them how or when or - where. How very surprised they would be to see those aspirations turned on their head by an institution that should foster them.
While I served as a Peacekeeper in Israel during the first Gulf War, I spent my nights dodging Iraqi missiles while serving as the evacuation officer for Northern Israel. I thought I was carrying the torch of freedom for one more generation. Today many of our young men and women are fighting and dying in Iraq to defend the freedoms we take for granted - the right of free speech, free press, and yes, even freedom of religion.
Being in the military, the cadets cannot speak freely for themselves, though they will one day defend our right to free speech. According to their boss, they will soon be taught a political correct means of "not" expressing their faith, while they go to war to defend our right to express ours. They cannot write such an article as this, though they will stand and be proud to defend my right to pen this one.
These cadets deserve so much better. They aren't required to check their Christianity at the door when they enter the Air Force or leave the chapel. Another, even more esteemed General who commanded all American forces, once faced a looming battle against an overwhelming and superior enemy force. Not content to keep his faith to himself he issued the order, "All will abstain from profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness.
In like manner, all Officers and Soldiers, not engaged in actual duty will punctually attend Divine Services to implore the blessings of Heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense." The very means that saved George Washington's Continental Army is now considered by the Air Force Academy as intolerant.
The recent election says that people with strong values and strong faith will not go quietly into the night - even if those values are rooted and grounded in the Judeo-Christian faith. We have only those freedoms we are willing to defend. Think about it.
OK folks this is typical Air Force. That service has NO tradition and feels copelled to trample and denegrate anyone else's(tradition).
Meanwhile, in other news, the Air Force Academy has established a prayer room in the administration building for Muslim cadets, and has also announced plans to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer five times per day over loudspeakers situated around the Academy campus.
It was not typical on on my watch. The problem is more likely a Clinton legacy. The CIA is not the only organization that needs to be purged.
"typical Air Force"
This super needs to be replaced. HE is the one with an agenda, clearly -- saying asking to take someone to the Passion is coersion.
The cadets LIVE there. If they can't be Christians at the Academy, their rights to free exercise are gone.
It is not the super's job to make them into secular humanists. He is overstepping.
How about HE take the tolerance course to know how to avoid offending Christians? Sheesh . . .
This kind of BS has gone far enough and needs to be brought to a stop. But, how will we do it?
I don't believe it.
Ummm, just a thought (rhetorical) here...
If all of the principles by which this country rests are based on Judeo-Christian beliefs, and we continue to see efforts by an increasing number of the country's institutions to rid themselves of those "intolerent Christian" types and their underlying beliefs...
Isn't there a point in time in the not-too-distant future, when we these folks begin to question why they're fighting?
This has Clintons "Don't ask Don't tell" PC crap all over it.
The ACLU has got to be loving this.
Following the disturbing trend in the entire US government school system, ALL the military academies have for decades been moving to expunge traditional, faith based (mainly CHRISTIAN) values. (Many government school systems will NOT allow their musical groups to perform the old carols or even any MELODY which has traditionally been associated with Jesus or God.)
The academies have been pushing the idiotic, politically correct NEW AGE, VALUES-FREE diversity based garbage which says that, when it comes to faith systems, "it's all good." And, of course, the flip side of THAT is to outlaw the overt manifestation or practice of ANY faith by students because of the potential that doing so might OFFEND.
While cheating and other sorts of aberrant behavior have certainly gone on at these places, they certainly seem to have become more severe and frequent than in previous times. One has to wonder if it isn't due to the systematic destruction of the value system on which this nation was established, albeit not perfectly.
And now former students who hit the system just as this madness was being put in place are assuming the leadership of those institutions.
Here endeth the sermon.
Bachert will now busy himself donning his non-OSHA approved asbestos BVD's in preparation for the multiple flames certain to come his way for daring to comment in this manner.
"Whom God would destroy, He first makes mad."
"This kind of BS has gone far enough and needs to be brought to a stop. But, how will we do it?"
Ask, in writing, for an explanation from your Congressman or Senator. You might ask for assurances that Christian cadets from your state are being accorded proper freedom and religious expression.
The superintendent's office must answer each Congressional inquiry through channels within a few days. How many Senators? How many Representatives? How many letters to be answered? He'll get the point.
Good idea! I have never gotten much of a satisfactory response from reps. but the method you suggested might do it.
This has got to be a joke. Tolerance for - who, what? What about tolerance for family values, moral values? What about tolerance for those who "talk about religion with others"?
This has got to be a joke!
Gang, time to fire off those epistles to our Congresscritters! We ought to get LtG Rosa to back down...
My experience with the Air Force, which surprised me, was that they were fairly conservative. It was the Navy that was purging the James Webb types and promoting the Paula Coughlin types. Remember Mikey Boorda?
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