Posted on 06/04/2005 2:24:21 PM PDT by Valin
DENVER On the eve of his graduation, the top cadet at the Air Force Academy sent out a religious-themed e-mail to thousands of fellow cadets, even as the school is grappling with complaints that some evangelical Christians are harassing others at the school.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the e-mail sent Tuesday by Wing Commander Nicholas Jurewicz to the freshmen, sophomore and junior classes, which is about 3,000 cadets. "Wing commander" is the title held by the top senior at the school in military ranking.
Jurewicz lists his favorite quotations in the message, including several about Jesus. One quotation, "Bear one another's burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ," is a biblical verse.
The academy has been under investigation because of complaints that evangelical Christians have harassed cadets who do not share their faith, in violation of the constitutional separation of church and state.
Cadets have been required to attend religious tolerance seminars, during which they have been reminded that Air Force policy bans the use of official e-mails for personal messages.
"We will look into it and if he violated any Air Force or academy policy we will take appropriate action after we've reviewed it," academy spokesman Johnny Whitaker said.
Reached by telephone, Jurewicz declined to comment. He told The Gazette newspaper of Colorado Springs that he "didn't think" to delete any of the religious messages from the e-mail.
Asked for comment about the academy's religious sensitivity training and a prohibition against citing scripture in government e-mail, he told the paper: "I'll leave that to the senior leadership to explain."
The academy's graduation ceremony is set for Wednesday; Vice President Cheney was scheduled to speak.
Capt. Melinda Morton, a chaplain who claims to have been fired as executive officer of the chaplaincy corps because of her criticism of the power of evangelicals at the academy, said the e-mail was exactly what the religious tolerance classes were meant to stop.
"It doesn't matter if it is Amway or preaching Jesus," Morton said. "It should only be official material if it is for general distribution." She added that the message "would have been fine if he had just sent it to his five best friends."
Mikey Weinstein, a 1977 academy graduate who has sent two sons there, said he wanted Congress to step in and address the atmosphere at the school.
"There couldn't be a more wretchedly timed example of the total and dismal failure of the senior leaders of the academy than having the No. 1 cadet breach the most fundamental and elementary rules of the religious tolerance program," said Weinstein, who is Jewish.
The results of an investigation by an Air Force task force charged with looking into the allegations of religious intolerance will be released later this month. Meanwhile, the Defense Department's inspector general is investigating Morton's claim about losing her job because of her complaints.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
I really wonder how much longer this nation is going to continue.
The issue comes down to weather it was congratulatory, or prolestizing. Somewhat suspicious in light of the recent training they recieved.
Yep. One for the senior leadership to interpet (decide).
I'm ex-military,and firmly believe in the value of military regulations.
Imagine the reaction here on FR if it had been a witchcraft message sent academy wide.
Lynn likes to set himself up as an impartial arbiter on matters of Church and State. Unfortunately, he's opposed, at every turn, any role whatsoever for religion, outside the believer's closet.
He's making temporary common cause with Captain Melinda, though he's made no bones about his desire to immediately fire all chaplains in the military. Then again, with "christian" chaplains telling their tiny flocks that "being christian" means keeping your mouth shut and opting out, maybe it is a waste of taxpayer money.
"The general is sorry to be informed that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing — a vice little known heretofore in the American army — is growing into fashion. Let the men and officers reflect that we can not hope for the blessing of heaven on our army if we insult it by our impiety and folly."- General George Washington, General Order of July, 1776
This Cadet Wing Commander finds himself in good company.
(History Lesson Of The Day: this very quote was required for all cadets at the Air Force Academy to memorize in their Fourth Class Year)
religious tolerance = religious intolerance
So if the Commander-in-Chief goes to graduation and tells the Cadets "....and may God bless you all," is it a violation of Air Force Regs to repeat the address through email? Shouldn't the President warn the cadets about not repeating the graduation message lest they be guilty of gross religious intolerance?
Methinks somebody is not being straightforward, or not being honest, about what the email regs are.
OMG!! Quick call the ACLU, People for the American Way..
I'm sure most FReepers would find it very odd considering the fact that there are probably very few witches and warlocks attending the U.S. Air Force Academy.
When was that? (Which era - I know what a "Fourth Class Year" is)
I think that is exactly what is happening. They can't hang him on the message so they are trying to hang him on the regs.
At least through 1965. I can't speak to it's inclusion after that.
The military schools are reeling to comply with the PC and anti-Christian assualt of the left, forged mainly by the ACLU and the other anti-American organizations intent on destroying our military.
This is how the liberals work. They punish individuals who violate their rules in a conspicuous way. These people are marked for life and do not reach their full potential, even if they are not intimidated (which they probably are). That's exactly what is intended. The liberals also accomplish something else: They frighten and intimidate many people for every one person whom they actually punish.
Our country will begin to turn around the day an "Academy spokesman" says: "We will NOT be looking into this ..."
"reeling to comply with the PC and anti-Christian assault ..."
Yep, and where is our fearless President?
Amen
God-Please display your power to the heathen and make them bow.
Amen
"The discipline which makes the soldiers of a free country reliable in battle...", however, is another story.
Ditto and bump.
Whoa. He quoted Jesus several times. It's almost as if he believes Jesus was a real person who deserves to be quoted. Can't be having that can we?
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