Non-Christian Air Force Cadets Cite Harassment

Well as you know I'm in the Air Force right now over here in Qatar serving on my first deployment and I'll say that this doesn't suprise me, but this isn't just a military problem, as recent news has indicated this is now a SOCIETY wide problem as now not only are the hard-line Christians trying to encourage their views, they're trying to force them. In the couple of years spent on active duty for me I can say that I haven't seen this type of behaivior but I'm sure it exists. The problem is since the Academy is such an oppressive environment anyways the problem was probably magniefied, but usually the Air Force has a good history of dealing with problems in it's service, remember that any branch of the military doesn't want an issue to interfere with the mission.

 

I agree, the last part angers me too; if you make provisions for 90% of the cadets then the other 10% should be allowed the same freedoms. Freedom of religion is one the founding principles set forth in our constitution.

And the Air Force (like all the other military services) has problems like this come up all the time. In the 50s/60s it was racial discrimination, soon after it was sexual discrimination and now, this. Unfortunately the ONLY way these problems get fixed are from the outside, as was the case again this time. I don't have enough faith in the Air Force and any of the armed services to fix problems like this themselves, it's usually gets fixed when some General doesn't like the publicity, then the Air Force goes overboard to enforce the change. Since I joined (especially) around election time there was a lot of anti-democrat sentiment going around and of course that didn't make me feel very good but that's the environment; remember that radical change for the better only happens when the news breaks about what "really" happens in the military.

 

Its been hapenning all the time.In my country Muslim & Christian soldiers are harassed because they are the minority.

 

That's a ridiculous comment.

I'm annoyed by this, but i make it a point not to stereotype because it causes more prejudice and bigotry.

 

This doesn't particularly surprise me. I go to one of the few colleges in the states that has both military and civilian students on campus. According to students in the Corp of Cadets, you are given a choice to either go to church every sunday or do manual labor on those days.

A load of crap in my opinion. One guy I was talking to said when he was given that choice, his response was "Guess who found God!", and while it was funny, it is also sad that the military finds the need to threaten people into following religion.

 

Yeah that was the choice in basic training too, hard work or church, so we all "found God" for 6 weeks.

I think the military tends to force religion sometimes because it's another form of mind control in some degree, but also they figure you'll be able to balance things better if you have deep beliefs, either way as I said earlier this is a society wide problem now as well. We need to address religous tolerance and the idea that people shouldn't be subjected to beliefs that aren't their own, even if they are the majoritie's beliefs; I believe that is what seperation of church and state is all about.

 

http://www.religioustolerance.com
Great site, tons of essays.

As much as I agree with you, try not to jump to conclusions