BE CONCERNED: Religious intolerance, evangelism pervades Air Force Academy

[Nothing Without Hope]

Remember that the Hitler Youth was revved up with religion and nationalism. The young are especially vulnerable to propaganda, and the neocons and their RW fundie cronies appear to be looking to the long term control of power as Hitler did. The long history of military coups proves that whoever controls the military, controls the country. And remember, if 9/11 was indeed LIHOP or MIHOP,high-ranking officers of the military must have been complicit.

Please post in this thread ADDITIONAL evidence of the fundies intruding into our military schools and elsewhere in the military. Let's make a COLLECTION. It's time we paid more attention to this - it's insidious and potentially very dangerous. Not only might they become officers with even LESS sensitivity to the beliefs and rights of other cultures, they might also become more likely pawns in future neocon/RW fundie schemes.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2002258355_academy30.html
Saturday, April 30, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 a.m.

Evangelical Christians dominate Air Force Academy, report says

By David Kelly
Los Angeles Times

DENVER — Religious intolerance is systemic and pervasive at the Air Force Academy and, if nothing changes, it could result in "prolonged and costly" litigation, according to a report issued by a group advocating strict separation of church and state.

The 14-page report, released Thursday, listed incidents of mandatory prayers, proselytizing by teachers, insensitivity to religious minorities and allegations that evangelical Christianity is the preferred faith at the institution.

"I think this is the most serious, military-related systemic problem I have ever seen in the decades I've been doing this work," said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "There is a clear preference for Christianity at the academy, so that everyone else feels like a second-class citizen."

Lynn sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld asking for a prompt investigation.

(snip)

[Nothing Without Hope]

1. Here is an earlier report on Air Force Academy religious intolerance

DU thread started April 19:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1406211
Thread title: "Air Force Cadets See Religious Harassment"

From the replies to this thread, it's clear that Colorado Springs is a hotbed of fundie activity - Focus on the Family is strong there, for example.

[BeHereNow]

2. Actually, I don't really have a problem with this-

As a matter of fact, I fully support all branches of
the military being FILLED with evangelical nut cases.
I think anyone who isn't an evangelical should be
brought home from Iraq, and any evangelical Bush voter who
is not currently serving should be sent in their place!
This is after all, THEIR crusade.
Why should young men and women who are not evangelical
x-tians fight the false x-tians "just war" anyway?
We may just have found an alternative to the draft people!
BHN

[TwentyFive]

3. I cringe at what the xtians are doing to US - but I get what you're saying

I would love to see every fundamentalist xtian bush supporter shipped off (on a one way ticket) to Iraq tomorrow. I'd support putting all the xtian and muslim religious fundamentalists on some kind of island, giving nothing more than knives, and then letting go to town on each other. They'd either kill each other off, or see the error of their ways.

BTW...I'd make sure manipulative demagogues like Rush Limbaugh would have easy access to the airwaves over there.

[BeHereNow]

7. Oh yes, ship Limbaugh, O'Rielly and all of those folks over too!

Let them broadcast on the X-tian funded radio
airwaves from town hall meeting studios with the Iraqi people
who support the war!
GREAT idea!
BHN

[fortyfeetunder]

5. Do these nut cases ever see the battle lines?

I don't mean desk jobs, I mean out there looking like targets...

[BeHereNow]

6. Well, that IS the point of my post on this topic

IF the hypocrites calling themselves "Christians" were to
fill all of the military service opportunities available
in the "just war," they would have the opportunity
to serve on the front lines, up close and personal.
I say we should let them walk their talk!
By ALL means!
BHN

[ElsewheresDaughter]

4. Harper's magazine has a GREAT article in May's issue on this topic......

" Soldiers of Christ: Inside America's Most Powerful Megachurch" by Jeff Sharlet about the megachurch in Colorado Springs and the man "Pastor Ted who talks to President * and his advisors EVERY Monday"!!!
:scared:

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. I went to the Harper's site and they only had the April issue up

If you have access to the May issue, could you give an excerpt? Sounds like an important article.

Talking about "sending all the fundies to Iraq and good riddance" is really wrong-headed. The fact is, sending biased, hate-filled people who think anyone over there is a spawn of Satan unless they can be converted, is a sure prologue to disaster. They'll believe every lie they're told by the Bush administration. They'll shoot anything that moves and think Jesus likes it.

[Nothing Without Hope]

9. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. Some of the people who read this don't seem to realize the significance

of an increasingly RW fundie presence in the national military. If the neocons want to move further toward a theocratic dictatorship, they have to have the military on their side, because it would be treason. Also, just imagine what these vicious little armed fundies are going to do when sent into a culture where their personal version of fundie religion isn't respected by the local people. Do you think they will care who they kill?

THINK, people!

[ebayfool]

12. I can also see where having fundie control of the military would aid in ..

any potential clashes in future w/demonstrators, pickets, marches, etc. A lot of people have tried to comfort themselves w/the idea that our 'own' wouldn't fire on U.S. citizens. If the military is headed & controlled by the fundies, I don't think they'll be as concerned @ firing on - cheney's new meme - the people of the OTHER faith!

Bad ... bad news, this!

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. Yes - a RW fundie-controlled military would be less hesitant to

follow Administration orders blindly after being assured it was god's will. If their own moral compass is suppressed and they are trained to never question the morality of their orders, then as you can see, the situation could become very, very scary. They have the weapons, after all.

[Nothing Without Hope]

11. UPDATE: the story has now reached the Washington Post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1762771#1763754
Thread title; WaPo: Air Force Academy religious bias probe – FUNDIE INFILTRATION?

Yet there is still little response from the DU community.