Religious bias at the Air Force Academy: the press weighs in.Americans United's report detailing instances of religious bias at the Air Force Academy garnered an enormous amount of national media attention. Several newspapers also editorialized about the matter. Here are some excerpts. End Unconstitutional Proselytizing Whatever is ailing the Air Force Academy, and the academy has had its share of ailments over the years, campus pressure on cadets to adopt a particular set of religious beliefs will not cure it. Last year, academy officials promised to do something about widespread complaints of unconstitutional proselytizing of academy students by evangelists whose efforts were blessed by authority figures in the chain of command. An authorized investigation by the Yale Divinity School The main mission of Yale College at its founding in 1701 was religious training. In its charter, it was designed as a school "wherein Youth may be instructed in the Arts & Sciences who through the blessing of Almighty God may be fitted for Publick employment both in Church & Civil State. and local news reports documented numerous instances of pressure on cadets to adopt Christian beliefs and practices. Such pressure came from dozens of faculty members and chaplains, and even the football coach, with his "Team Jesus Christ Jesus Christ: see Jesus. Jesus Christ 40 days after Resurrection, ascended into heaven. [N.T.: Acts 1:1–11] See : Ascension Jesus Christ kind to the poor, forgiving to the sinful. [N.T. " banner.... Right now, it is hard to believe that there can be true reform from within. It is time for the higher chain of command to deproselytize this institution of national defense. --The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times Strength Through Diversity The Air Force Academy needs to straighten up Verb 1. straighten up - straighten oneself; "He drew himself up when he talked to his superior" draw up, pull up straighten - get up from a sitting or slouching position; "The students straightened when the teacher entered" and fly right. Favoritism and discrimination based on religious belief cannot be tolerated in a U.S. military institution. Just two years after a scandal over sexual assaults of female cadets, the Academy again must show that it can educate Americans of all backgrounds. The country and the military gain both efficiency and world respect when they use the strengths of this country's diversity. --Seattle Post-Intelligencer 'Official' Religion Not Needed While no one is trying to take religion out of the military, there is a clear need to set firm boundaries of what is and what is not permissible in a setting that involves the country's future military leadership. Whatever the outcome of the task force, the academy is on notice to foster a climate of religious tolerance.... To respect the religious practices of all its cadets, the academy leaders will have to demonstrate they understand that there is no "official" religion of the U.S. military. Religion, after all, is not an order. It's a personal choice of faith.--Chicago Tribune No Tyranny At The Academy The accusations of religious intolerance Religious intolerance is either intolerance motivated by one's own religious beliefs or intolerance against another's religious beliefs or practices. It manifests both at a cultural level, but may also be a formal part of the dogma of particular religious groups. reflect several complex trends that could infect the entire military. First, academy culture seems to permit targeting, even assault, of whole subgroups in its community, whether women or those who are not evangelical Christians This is a list of people who are notable due to their influence on the popularity or development of evangelical Christianity or for their professed Evangelicalism. Historical
In a school designed to prepare Air Force leaders, such failures of discipline eventually may weaken the Air Force itself. Just as dangerous, when military leaders adopt deformed de·formed adj. Distorted in form. values--sexual predation predation Form of food getting in which one animal, the predator, eats an animal of another species, the prey, immediately after killing it or, in some cases, while it is still alive. Most predators are generalists; they eat a variety of prey species. or its acceptance, contempt for women and aggression toward minorities-they discredit TO DISCREDIT, practice, evidence. To deprive one of credit or confidence. 2. In general, a party may discredit a witness called by the opposite party, who testifies against him, by proving that his character is such as not to entitle him to credit or the very society we ask our soldiers to defend. --Houston Chronicle |
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