Is
Air Force Losing Its Religion?
By
Jordain Carney, National Journal, March 14, 2014
Members
question top officials about reports that a academy cadet had to
remove a Bible quote from a white board.
Despite
an ongoing fight about retiring the A-10 and investigations into
cheating scandals, perhaps the most contentious moment of a House
committee hearing on the Air Force budget on Friday focused on
religious freedom.
Republican
Rep. Randy Forbes of Virginia, who is in the running to be the next
Armed Services chairman, asked about reports from earlier this week
that a cadet at the Air Force Academy was forced to take a Bible
quote down from a whiteboard.
"Perhaps
the most offensive, the Air Force said this was a teaching moment,
that the cadet's action of putting the Bible verse on [the
whiteboard] was inappropriate based on leadership principles,"
Forbes said, adding that he was going off of information he received
from the Air Force.
Forbes
said he was told the cadet "had no intention to offend anyone or
any group" and that the boards had been used in the past to
display inspirational quotes. Forbes compared putting the Bible quote
up to lawmakers hanging an "In God We Trust" sign in their
offices.
Air
Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said she was told by Lt. Gen.
Michelle Johnson, the superintendent of the academy, that the cadet
was told by a classmate that the Bible quote made them uncomfortable,
and the cadet offered to take it down.
But
Forbes disputed that account.
"No,
madame secretary, that's not true, by your own facts. If you'll read
what your liaison officer has given to me, … the Air Force
commander … went to that cadet," Forbes said. "... Can
you imagine a young cadet when he's forced with the entire chain of
command coming in there and telling him basically this is
inappropriate?"
But
Gen. Mark Welsh, the Air Force's chief of staff, pushed back, saying,
"We remove hundreds of quotes from those boards, because they're
not in their room, they're in the hallway. They're used for both
personal and professional messaging, just to make sure we all
understand that context."
Welsh
stressed that the facts of what happened are still being established.
But
a handful of Republican committee members backed Forbes and voiced
their concerns over the reports.
GOP
Rep. Michael Conaway of Texas said he is worried that "we
have individuals who are so insecure and unsure of themselves that
they can't coexist with a free expression … of traditional
religious views.… I wonder if they are the right folks for that
business."
And
Republican Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana cited an article by
Fox News' Todd Starnes over allegations that Gideons International, a
Christian organization, was not allowed to hand out Bibles at an Air
Force base.
"You
have to get the facts right on every one of these cases. And try and
stay unemotional until you know what happened," Welsh said. "I
would not believe an article by Mr. Starnes, for starters.… I know
there are cases when he has not had his facts right in articles. I
would be happy to explain them to you, with him in the room."
Welsh
added that the "single biggest frustration" of his job is
"the perception that somehow there is religious persecution
inside the Air Force. It is not true."
Republican
Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah added a lighthearted moment to the
spirited back-and-forths, asking: "If I'm offended by your
budget, will you take it down?"
My
comments: The fact that this "white board posting" became an issue at the Air Force
Academy, and was brought to the attention of the Congress together
with the fact that similar instances have happened in other areas of
the Military, is a reflection on the anti-religion, anti-Christ
nature of the US Military. Obama's and the Democrat's anti-Christ,
Secular Humanist Religion has permeated the Military and will
continue to do so. This attitude renders the US Military defenseless,
as God Almighty is the only One Who can defend America.
No comments:
Post a Comment