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Cadet quits, cites overt religion at West Point
Associated Press ^ | 12/5/12 | Michael Hill

Posted on 12/06/2012 8:21:03 AM PST by crosshairs

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- 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 in a much-discussed online post that echoed the sentiments of soldiers and airmen at other military installations.

The 24-year-old told The Associated Press that a determination this semester 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 said. "I realized that this is one way I can make that change happen." Page criticized a culture where cadets stand silently for prayers, where nonreligious cadets were jokingly called "heathens" by instructors at basic training and where one officer told him he'd never be a leader until he filled the hole in his heart. In announcing his resignation this week on The Huffington Post, he denounced "criminals" in the military who violate the oaths they swore to defend the Constitution.

"I don't want to be a part of West Point knowing that the leadership here is OK with just shrugging off and shirking off respect and good order and discipline and obeying the law and defending the Constitution and doing their job," he told the AP. West Point officials on Wednesday disputed those assertions.

(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: antitheist; atheist; christianstudents; nevermind; secular; usma; westpoint
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To: Lancey Howard

Ans, I’m pretty sure that he would win if he runs for national office. Heck, make him the DECSEC.


61 posted on 12/06/2012 9:25:34 AM PST by Coldwater Creek (He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadows of the Almighty Psalm 91:)
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To: crosshairs

Another example of a squeaking little mouse whose whining is amplified by purse-carrying commie cowards in the media.


62 posted on 12/06/2012 9:35:59 AM PST by sergeantdave (The FBI has declared war on the Marine Corps)
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To: MasterGunner01

Unless the rules have changed, he’ll be spending several years as an enlisted man in the Army.


63 posted on 12/06/2012 9:40:41 AM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: crosshairs

He needs to grow up ,there no atheists in the foxholes.


64 posted on 12/06/2012 9:47:58 AM PST by piroque ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act")
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To: crosshairs
Put him in a foxhole and let a few jihadists shoot at him for a while.

I'll bet he won't be praying for Barack Obama to save him!

65 posted on 12/06/2012 9:58:49 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment,a Matter of Fact,Not a Matter of Opinion)
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To: crosshairs

:)


66 posted on 12/06/2012 10:04:20 AM PST by Tennessee Nana
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To: crosshairs

Good one!


67 posted on 12/06/2012 10:20:06 AM PST by Bigg Red (Sorry, Mr. Franklin, I guess we couldn't keep it.)
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To: Lancey Howard

I’m pretty sure he’s a faggot, too.

&&&
I was thinking that, as well. Poor widdle thing.


68 posted on 12/06/2012 10:21:49 AM PST by Bigg Red (Sorry, Mr. Franklin, I guess we couldn't keep it.)
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To: crosshairs

Cadet Fluke.


69 posted on 12/06/2012 10:32:50 AM PST by exit82 ("The Taliban is on the inside of the building" E. Nordstrom 10-10-12)
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To: crosshairs

Six months to go means three and one-half semesters completed, with passing grades. “Clinical depression” means that he is unfit to fulfill a military service obligation incurred by resigning from the Academy.

So he has less than one year to go in any college, and can’t be forced to serve.

Sweet deal. But I’m sure that had nothing to do with his decision. Blaming Christians for his mendacity makes it all the sweeter.

Look for him to be serving with Sandra Fluke in congress one day.


70 posted on 12/06/2012 10:35:06 AM PST by DPMD
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To: crosshairs

Reading the articles, it becomes obvious that he’s just making excuses for flunking out.


71 posted on 12/06/2012 11:00:07 AM PST by ozzymandus
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To: crosshairs

I have an ancestor who was the first Archbishop of the Church of England and was subsequently burned at stake by a Catholic regime. His offspring migrated to Maine with others to establish a settlement where they could freely practice their religion.

I believe their experience and those of similar groups who migrated to America to escape religious intolerance where fundamental in securing our first amendment rights of conscience from government.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Government institutions must not establish a state religion. They must not force upon people a particular belief or practice that is contrary to their conscience. At the same time, government cannot prohibit religious expression.

It is my opinion that West Point should not institutionalize religion in a manner that forces or compels the individual to comply with particular religious practices/ceremonies against his conscience - religious or atheistic. Likewise, West Point should not prohibit the expression of particular religions by individuals and groups in their unofficial capacity.


72 posted on 12/06/2012 11:22:25 AM PST by marsh2
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To: DuncanWaring

According to the AP, he was prior service before he entered West Point. You may be correct about the continued service as enlisted though. I don’t know.


73 posted on 12/06/2012 11:29:05 AM PST by MasterGunner01
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To: crosshairs

“Page expects to leave for his grandparents’ home”

Probably will be another basement-living, non-working, 20-something leech. Anyone want to bet on how long it will be before he applies and gets disability due to his traumatic treatment at West Point??


74 posted on 12/06/2012 11:32:28 AM PST by Polyxene (Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.)
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To: crosshairs

Lawsuit to follow?


75 posted on 12/06/2012 11:34:46 AM PST by GSWarrior (Click HERE to read entire tagline.)
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To: struggle
Go to a state school then, boy. You’ll have plenty of atheists there!

West Point is a public school.

76 posted on 12/06/2012 11:37:13 AM PST by ksen
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To: longtermmemmory; All
he was found medically unfit.

Medical is how academy is dealing with issue. Cadet was evidently dealing with loss of father and probably mad at the world.

77 posted on 12/06/2012 11:40:56 AM PST by Amendment10
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To: mass55th
Makes you wonder why he waited almost four years to use this lame excuse for his departure.

For one his father hadn't killed himself until just recently.

I love the Christ-like compassion in this thread.

78 posted on 12/06/2012 11:41:48 AM PST by ksen
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To: crosshairs

Sounds like a slack-jawed faggot. That’s his personal problem.


79 posted on 12/06/2012 11:48:29 AM PST by AmericanSamurai
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To: IllumiNaughtyByNature

so where was he before WP?

Could have been at a variety of places, another college, a WP prep academy or actually doing active service. 24 isn’t that far off to be nearing graduation. It could be also that he took leave when his father committed suicide, the incident that seems to have led him to his own emotional issue that precluded his eligibility for a commission. He needs help. Big time, and fast.


80 posted on 12/06/2012 11:53:50 AM PST by EDINVA
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