Replies

Hildy, I've always found it best to answer these with something that communicates the truth, but allows the reader to read into it whatever they wish. Let them bring their own biases, it's human nature to believe what you want to believe.

So, for the first question, I'd answer something like "When I joined an organization full of people that shared my own values, ambitions and worldview, I felt a strong sense of community. This organization had a diversity of membership undreamed of in most places, and was full of men and women that were committed to our common cause." He doesn't have to mention that it was the US Navy.

For the second, I'd answer something like "We can better develop a sense of community by rededicating ourselves to our beliefs, joining with others, and taking an activist stance to remove evil from our minds and our lives." He doesn't have to explain that he does that by going to (gasp!) church...

This way, your son doesn't risk running afoul of a liberal that can exercise the only real power it has by giving him a poor grade, and his faith in truth molts no feather.