Richard Cohen of the Washington Post wrote:

The problem, as Rosa described it in a meeting last week with the Anti-Defamation League, "is very insidious." He said it would take "probably six years" to solve if only because until relatively recently the academy itself did not realize that it had a problem. In other words, a culture of militant Christianity, intimidation and outright bigotry was so entrenched and so ordinary that no one, with the understandable exception of the occasional victim, noticed that anything was amiss.

What, exactly, are we talking about? We are talking about what a former chaplain at the academy called a "systematic and pervasive" effort at religious proselytizing in which both students and faculty participated. We are talking about semi-official efforts to promote Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ." We are talking about e-mails sent to the entire student body with religious messages and classes that opened with a prayer and the intimidation -- a form of hazing -- of secular or non-Christian students by others.

A "culture of militant Christianity". No wonder the USAF brass had to crack down on them. The activity there should be seen as a sneak preview- and a warning-  of what life would be like under a theocratic government.

The USAF was in a difficult spot, and had to act to reduce the religious bias in their ranks. Here are some excerpts from their directive:

E. SUPERVISORS, COMMANDERS, AND LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL, BEAR A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THEIR WORDS AND ACTIONS CANNOT REASONABLY BE CONSTRUED AS EITHER OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT OR DISAPPROVAL OF THE DECISIONS OF INDIVIDUALS TO HOLD PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR TO HOLD NO RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

F. ABUSE OR DISRESPECT OF OUR WINGMEN OUR FELLOW AIR FORCE PEOPLE INCLUDING DISRESPECT BASED ON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR THE ABSENCE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, IS UNACCEPTABLE.

G. WE WILL RECOGNIZE AND VALUE THE MANY HERITAGES, CULTURES, AND BELIEFS REPRESENTED AMONG US, AND BUILD A TEAM BY STRESSING OUR COMMON AIR FORCE HERITAGE: THE OATHS WE TOOK; THE CORE VALUES THAT WE EMBRACE; AND, THE MISSION THAT WE UNDERTAKE TO PROTECT OUR NATION.

H. AT A TIME WHEN MANY NATIONS ARE TORN APART BY RELIGIOUS STRIFE, WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT OUR ABILITY TO STAND TOGETHER AS AMERICANS AND AS AIRMEN THOSE WHO REPRESENT MANY RELIGIONS, SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH THOSE WHO CLAIM NO RELIGION IS PART OF OUR HERITAGE, AND OUR STRENGTH.

*

 B. PUBLIC PRAYER OUTSIDE OF VOLUNTARY WORSHIP SETTINGS.

(1) PUBLIC PRAYER SHOULD NOT USUALLY BE INCLUDED IN OFFICIAL SETTINGS SUCH AS STAFF MEETINGS, OFFICE MEETINGS, CLASSES, OR OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SPORTS EVENTS OR PRACTICE SESSIONS.

(2) COMMON SENSE--AND MUTUAL RESPECT--SHOULD ALWAYS BE APPLIED AND EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES MAY DRIVE EXCEPTIONS. (NOTE: For example, there may be extraordinary circumstances where the potential benefits for the welfare of the command outweigh the potential of causing discomfort. These circumstances might include mass casualties, preparation for imminent
combat, and natural disasters.)

(3) CONSISTENT WITH LONG-STANDING MILITARY TRADITION, A BRIEF NON-SECTARIAN PRAYER MAY BE INCLUDED IN NON-ROUTINE MILITARY CEREMONIES OR EVENTS OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE, SUCH AS A CHANGE-OF-COMMAND, PROMOTION CEREMONIES OR SIGNIFICANT CELEBRATIONS, WHERE THE PURPOSE OF THE PRAYER IS TO ADD A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF SERIOUSNESS OR SOLEMNITY, NOT TO ADVANCE SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. MILITARY CHAPLAINS ARE TRAINED TO DEAL WITH SUCH EVENTS.

(4) IN ADDITION, A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION DOES NOT REQUIRE THE SAME CONSIDERATIONS AS PUBLIC PRAYER AND MAY BE APPROPRIATE IN OFFICIAL SETTINGS.

So far, so good. Note that this applies to all faiths, not just Christians. But here's the section of the directive that has the more militant evangelical Christians up in arms:

C. INDIVIDUAL SHARING OF RELIGIOUS FAITH.

(1) IN OFFICIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, PARTICULARLY SITUATIONS WHERE SUPERIOR/SUBORDINATE RELATIONSHIPS ARE INVOLVED, INDIVIDUALS NEED TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE POTENTIAL THAT PERSONAL EXPRESSIONS MAY APPEAR TO BE OFFICIAL EXPRESSIONS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN SUBORDINATES ARE PRESENT AS PART OF THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS.

(2) THE MORE SENIOR THE INDIVIDUAL, THE MORE LIKELY THAT PERSONAL EXPRESSIONS MAY BE PERCEIVED TO BE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS. THE MORE SENIOR THE LEADER, THE MORE RESPONSIBILITY HE OR SHE HAS TO SEND THE MESSAGE THAT WE ARE A TEAM BASED ON TRUST, RESPECT, AND A COMMON MISSION TO DEFEND OUR NATION AND THAT WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ALL OUR PERSONNEL IS TO LIVE UP TO OUR OATHS, EMBRACE OUR SHARED AIR FORCE CORE VALUES, AND DO OUR DUTY.

(3) NOTHING IN THIS GUIDANCE SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD TO LIMIT VOLUNTARY, PEER TO PEER DISCUSSIONS.

For people who believe that this is a "Christian Nation" to not permit the 'official expression' of sectarian beliefs is a slap in the face to them. This is why they are attempting to get legislation to prohibit this perceived discrimination. It is only for Christian chaplains- other faiths would be excluded. Congress is now asking the President to protect prayer- Christian prayer only- in the military.

The militant activity in the USAF Academy should stand as an example and warning of what unfettered sectarian activity will do to an organization, and how non-believers will be treated.

Digg
del.icio.us
Newsvine
Reddit
stumbleupon
Facebook