Today’s New York Times carries an unsigned editorial calling on the Air Force Academy to stop Christian proselytizing that appears to be sanctioned by high Academy officials. Supposedly efforts to stop the proselytizing have been going on for more than a year, but with little success. The editorial states:
But it turns out that the academy’s remedial program of religious toleration is running into resistance. The Air Force’s chief chaplain expressed displeasure at the object lessons dramatized in a multidenominational educational videotape. ‘Why is it that the Christians never win?’ the chief, Maj. General Charles Baldwin, demanded to know after watching the give-and-take of instructional encounters. General Baldwin had segments cut out on such non-Christian religions as Buddhism, Judaism, and Native American spirituality.
Hmm… I wonder what General Baldwin thinks about Unitarian Universalism? Maybe we should all think about writing to our congressperson or senator to complain about religious intolerance at the Air Force Academy.
(…and you have to love that quote, “Why is it that the Christians never win?”…)
Comment transferred from old blog
Air Force Academy seems prone to problems for reasons I can’t figure out. Somehow cadets complaining about proselytizing just doesn’t ring true with me.*
I did sit next to the Chief Chaplain of the Army once on a flight to New York. He was on his way to deal with a situation at West Point involving a convert to the Jehovah’s Witnessess. Every year the Army would have a dozen or so folks convert and refuse to salute the flag. National of Islam converts where a close second for this… The troops would convert than refuse to salute the flag and land in the stockade. Chaplain agreed it was a lot easier to just discharge these people.
I have tremdous respect for the Witnesses after Reading Robert Gellately’s “Backing Hitler” http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0192802917/qid=1116897786/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-0686958-2232958
The Witnesses were the only religious group to organize a systematic resistance when they organized a one day protest through Germany. I have “Liberal” friends who poke fun at them but I always treat them with utmost respect should they come knock on my door.
*…complaints about proselytizing don’t ring true because cadets more inclined to “tailhook” type activities I mean. I spent five years working for the Military in the US and overseas and piety was never a problem.
Comment from bill67998 – 5/23/05 9:29 PM