Cadet quits, cites overt religion at West Point

[rug]

Published: 04:42 PM, Wed Dec 05, 2012
By Michael Hill
The Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A cadet quitting West Point less than six months before graduation says he could no longer be part of a culture that promotes prayers and religious activities and disrespects nonreligious cadets.

Blake Page announced his decision to quit the U.S. Military Academy this week in a much-discussed online post that echoed the sentiments of soldiers and airmen at other military installations. The 24-year-old told The Associated Press that a determination earlier this semester that he could not become an officer due to clinical depression played a role in his public protest against what he calls the unconstitutional prevalence of religion in the military.

"I've been trying since I found that out: What can I do? What can I possibly do to initiate the change that I want to see and so many other people want to see?" Page said. "I realized that this is one way I can make that change happen."

Page criticized a culture where cadets stand silently for prayers, where nonreligious cadets were jokingly called "heathens" by instructors at basic training and where one officer told him he'd never be a leader until he fills the hole in his heart. In announcing his resignation this week on The Huffington Post, he denounced "criminals" in the military who violate the oaths they swore to defend the Constitution.

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2012/12/05/1222268?sac=fo.military

[cbayer]

1. While his complaints probably have merit, I am not convinced this was his

primary motivation.

I suspect it had more to do with his not getting the officer commission and his depression/anxiety disorder.

He has been president of the secular student alliance club and must have been very aware of the issues and challenges for a long time.

At any rate, there are clearly issues within the academies and the military as a whole and I hope he remains an activist, as he states he will.