We've got autocrats, technocrats, and, now, Demandocrats.
Bunch of a$$hats...all of them!!
Actually, official piety is a pretty good innoculator; I never knew a Zoomie (AF Academy grad) who was impressed with religion. Come to think of it, I never knew one who was impressed with the Air Force, either.
What is it with the left. First of all, I really haven't followed the career of Abe Foxman...but he seems like a bit of a screaming meemee. As with Guantanamo, they want to throw the baby out with the bath water. What use will closing a whole base or a whole school do to cure alleged abused I just don't understand Really I do, and it sickens me.
Vice Admiral Rodney P. Rempt
Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy
U.S. Naval Academy
121 Blake Road
Annapolis, MD 21402-5000
Dear Vice Admiral Rempt:
We write to express our concern about the Naval Academy's formal practice of requiring midshipmen to stand for an organized prayer before they may eat lunch. This requirement is deeply troubling, as it conflicts with a controlling federal court decision and basic tenets of religious freedom.
In Mellen v. Bunting, 327 F.3d 355 (4th Cir. 2003), the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that organized mealtime prayer at the Virginia Military Institute violated the Constitution. In reaching that decision, the Fourth Circuit quoted the Supreme Court's observation that "one of the greatest dangers to the freedom of the individual to worship in his own way [lies] in the Government's placing its official stamp of approval upon one particular kind of prayer." VMI's regular mealtime prayer put a forbidden "stamp of approval" on religious observance. So does the Naval Academy's traditional ritual, and it should stop now.
Governmental institutions, like the Naval Academy, bear a special responsibility to respect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. In keeping with the First Amendment, they must respect the rights of religious minorities and of those who are not religious at all. Consequently, such institutions may not permit any form of religious coercion among their faculty and student body, including compulsory prayer services.
We have the utmost respect for religion and for the enormous strength that our nation has derived from the diversity of faiths practiced by our people. Religion occupies a uniquely important place in our society - a protected place. But the sanctity of that place is jeopardized when 4,000 midshipmen of many different faiths are brought together for compulsory prayer - whether in a chapel or in a mess hall.
We therefore respectfully request that you discontinue the Naval Academy's practice of requiring midshipmen to stand in formation, before lunch, while the chaplain recites a prayer. We would also welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue and our concerns with you at greater length.
Sincerely,
Abraham H. Foxman
National Director
Dear Mr. Foxman,
I have read the letter that you have addressed to the Superintendent of the Naval Academy about the Noon Time prayer at King Hall. While I appreciate your concern about this tradition, however I find that your concerns are unwarranted. Since you have probably never been to one of these meals I would find your premese that this is a "formation" prepostrous. As an Alumnius of the Naval Academy I am well aware of the situation as it exists.
I believe that the founders intent in the First Amendment was to provide a nation where there was not a State Sponsored and suppored religion, unlike is visible in some muslium countries today (Saudi Arabia recognizes no religion but Islam). I noticed that you cited Mellon v. Blunting where a "supper prayer" at VMI was struck down. However you did not adequately research the whole opinion since,
"We also note that we[the court] are not called upon to address whether, or to what extent, the military may incorporate religious practices into its ceremonies. The Virginia General Assembly, not the Department of Defense, controls VMI."
The military does have a history of incorprating religious practices into its units and ceremonies as does Congress itself!!! There is a Corps of Chaplains designed to provide spiritual growth to military members. There is a Navy Chapel, Navy Prayers, and Navy Hymns.
You set forth the that the Naval Academy must,
"... respect the rights of religious minorities and of those who are not religious at all. Consequently, such institutions may not permit any form of religious coercion among their faculty and student body, including compulsory prayer services."
I would set forth that those rights are being respected since there is opportunties for midshipmen of many faiths to worship in their own way. This prayer at the Naval Academy is by no mean "compulsory." If a midshipman dosent want to hear the Noon Meal Prayer it would be easy for them to enter King Hall afterwards.
In addition Chaudhuri v. Tennessee the court set forth that "it does not seem to us[the court] that the practice of including nonsectarian prayers or moments of silence at [school] events creates any church-state entanglement at all." 130 F. 3d 232
While I agree with you that Religion should be a personal choice, it offends me that your organization would waste time on this issue. What you seek to do is build a wall between Church and State, something with according to the court,"...it has never been thought either possible or desirable to enforce a regime of total separation...," 258 F.3d 274.
Daniel Schumacher
USNA 2004