Air Force Cadet E-Mails Religious Quotes

The Washington Post ^ | 1 June 2005 | Robert Weller

[pickemuphere]

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.

[expatguy]

Im not sure I understand what you are getting at?

You think he was wrong somehow?

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[Mach9]

Must have missed it--but I don't recall any member of the wing staff ever having been involved in more than failing grades.

"They all revolved around the upperclassmen having damn-near-Godlike authority over juniors, and not being adequately supervised." Not even close. The 60s football/eee scandal came out because of an inflexible honor code and cadets who honored it. No upperclass pressure caused it or solved it. The sex-scandals didn't hit until after females entered the academy (and the honor code was watered down). The MURDER scandal likewise involved a female cadet. The worst scandals had nothing to do whatsoever with the authority of upper classmen or wing staff members.

"The Air Force Academy has a particularly bad corporate culture in this regard." I couldn't agree more--but not for the reasons you espouse. The administration has jumped LEFT to every idiot accusation thrown at them, firing some of their best, keeping some of their worst in the process.

[Sam's Army]

At this point in time, I'd be little worried about a Muslim extremist being my superior if I were in the AFA.

If however one were a Muslim extremist and an officer at the AFA, I'm sure the media would think whatever pronouncements made would be just ducky; what with diversity and all that.

Since when was religious pronouncments in a (supposed) Judeo-Christian country a problem?

Never mind...I think I know the answer.

[beezdotcom]

I quoted the article as it was--

Actually, no. You created a quote that implied the managers said to their employees "Even though you're not Christians...", which seems at odds with the focus of the article. Rather, they were simply enumerating the "normal" ways of motivating employees. There are EXTRA ways of motivating Christian employees.

I cannot believe they are separating employees into 'camps'

Actually, the employees usually pretty much do this for you.

I think you are already in a world of hurt in a company if you even see employees as 'Christian' or 'Non-Christian'.

Well, more accurately, the camps are usually "professing Christian" and "Not Really Sure". Sometimes you get a third camp which is "Say Jesus and I'll Hit You", but you usually just put them with the second camp.

[stuartcr]

The article didn't state how many were offended, so who knows?

[stuartcr]

???

[gogogodzilla]

Got that right.

I've had a number of supervisors that flat-out refused to authorize me to go to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. And when questioned about whether or not they'd allow an airman off for Easter services, they'd always say that Easter services wouldn't be a problem.

It's gotten so bad that the even the Christian chaplains have had to issue orders stating that Jewish services are authorized and that, barring mission, Jewish personnel cannot be refused should they wish to attend.

[stuartcr]

As I stated in #20.

[Sam's Army]

Well, probably very little then. But, I'm sure if the "event" gets bigger they can manufacture some numbers like they do in regards to how many folks are homeless or have no health insurance.

Some Doth Protest Too Much.

[DocRock]

"Do you understand the difference between preaching to your congregation to fight and preaching to your fighters to convert?"

Sure, but I don't have a copy of the email and all the article said is, "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."

That doesn't sound like "preaching to your fighters to convert". It sounds more like one expressing his views, which happen to be protected by the first amendment. But to be fair, this can be taken out of context and as I said, I don't have the email he sent.

FRegards,
DocRock

[Cogadh na Sith]

Yeah.... It's pretty bad.

[Cogadh na Sith]

It sounds more like one expressing his views, which happen to be protected by the first amendment.

Not on the official e-mail network it ain't....

[Cogadh na Sith]

So you do lead Christian employees differently.

That's not a recipe for success in an organization. I was in a unit that had a Mormon clique.

It tore the unit apart....

[stuartcr]

Do you honestly think that?

[stuartcr]

No, just obvious.

[StonyBurk]

ave read and reread my posted reply and nowhere did I claim your reply had squat to do with religion.don't get your panties in a bunch crunch.

[beezdotcom]

As a supervisor, would you treat your 'Christian' employees differently than your 'Non-Christian' employees?

Sometimes - but not in the way that you think. I expect them both to perform to a high standard. In matters of integrity or accountability, however, I'm not unwilling to appeal to Biblical principles when dealing with the overtly Christian employee. Does this mean I have trouble dealing with non-(overt)Christian employees? Of course not. It just means that appealing to Biblical principles isn't one of my options for them. Truth be told, it's not my FIRST option when dealing with Christian employees, either, but it's certainly an option.

[usslsm51]

"The General most earnestly requires and expects a due observance of those articles of war established for the government of the army, which forbid profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness. And in like manner, he requires and expects of all offers and soldiers not engaged in actual duty, a punctual attendance of Divine services, to implore the blessing of Heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense." General Order issued by George Washington the day after he took command of the Continental Army.

[Cogadh na Sith]

It just means that appealing to Biblical principles isn't one of my options for them. Truth be told, it's not my FIRST option when dealing with Christian employees, either, but it's certainly an option.

OK. I agree with that.... But as soon as there forms a perception that the professing Christians are being rewarded, it's all over....