Thursday, December 15, 2005
Intimidation Is Not a Civil Right
Apparently, some House Republicans are responding to allegations of violation of church and state at the USAF Academy by introducing a bill that would guarantee the chaplains' right to mention Jesus Christ. Choice quote:
Conservative lawmakers and others said they fear the guidelines, which urge sensitivity to religious diversity, go too far.
They said some Christian chaplains throughout the military have complained their right to pray by specifically mentioning Jesus Christ is at risk.
And, to compare, here's what others have said is going on at the USAF Academy:
There have been 55 complaints of religious discrimination at the academy in the past four years, including cases in which a Jewish cadet was told the Holocaust was revenge for the death of Jesus and another was called a Christ killer by a fellow cadet.
-snip-
"There were people walking up to someone and basically they would get in a conversation and it would end with, `If you don't believe what I believe you are going to hell,'" Vice Commandant Col. Debra Gray said.
-snip-
"They are deliberately trivializing the problem so that we don't have another situation the magnitude of the sex assault scandal. It is inextricably intertwined in every aspect of the academy," said Mikey Weinstein of Albuquerque, N.M., a 1977 graduate who has sent two sons to the school. He said the younger, Curtis, has been called a "filthy Jew" many times.
Yes, I can certainly see why we need to protect students and chaplains who wish to express religious intimidation and outright bigotry. It's the American way.
Conservative lawmakers and others said they fear the guidelines, which urge sensitivity to religious diversity, go too far.
They said some Christian chaplains throughout the military have complained their right to pray by specifically mentioning Jesus Christ is at risk.
And, to compare, here's what others have said is going on at the USAF Academy:
There have been 55 complaints of religious discrimination at the academy in the past four years, including cases in which a Jewish cadet was told the Holocaust was revenge for the death of Jesus and another was called a Christ killer by a fellow cadet.
-snip-
"There were people walking up to someone and basically they would get in a conversation and it would end with, `If you don't believe what I believe you are going to hell,'" Vice Commandant Col. Debra Gray said.
-snip-
"They are deliberately trivializing the problem so that we don't have another situation the magnitude of the sex assault scandal. It is inextricably intertwined in every aspect of the academy," said Mikey Weinstein of Albuquerque, N.M., a 1977 graduate who has sent two sons to the school. He said the younger, Curtis, has been called a "filthy Jew" many times.
Yes, I can certainly see why we need to protect students and chaplains who wish to express religious intimidation and outright bigotry. It's the American way.
