<p>And the General who commissioned the study agreed it was a problem…and the bullying is also from teachers, army personal and staff…nice for a bunch of religious peop;e</p>
<p>A team from Yale Divinity School said in April it found evangelical Christian proselytizing commonplace at the academy, which has about 4,400 students, and cited “stridently evangelical themes” by staff. The team described a campus chaplain telling cadets they would “burn in the fires of hell” if they were not born-again Christians</p>
<p>With all due respect, if we need to listen to Yale Divinity school tell us how to run military academies, we are in deep trouble. Some of this becomes absurd.</p>
<p>“D’Aquino said this year’s drop left West Point at about the level of applications it was receiving before the 2001 attacks, adding that there has been no decline in the quality of the incoming class compared to previous classes.” Biggest drop was at the Naval Academy - the service least likely (except for those who opt for the Marine Corps) to be in harm’s way. Also, with the leveling off back to pre-9/11 levels, the Academies are still some of the most difficult schools to get into - admission rate of about 15 percent. Also one of the highest yield rates - over 85 percent.</p>
<p>Also, it was just announced that the Superintendent of the Air Force Academy is leaving to run The Citadel (his alma mater). I assume that the Air Force will put in a strong officer who will deal with the coercion and proselytizing in a firm, unequivocal way. </p>
<p>Here’s an interesting interview with David Lipsky (writer for Rolling Stone) about his experience writing “Absolutely American” - a chronicle of four years at West Point. Might give some of you a different perspective on at least one of our Service Academies.</p>
<p>My son is attending the AF Academy this year, (he leaves in 6 days for basic training). From what I have heard from being out there, it appears that the academy is dealing with the issue head on. The media has really put the school in the spot light. They have implemented training programs and guidelines for staff and cadets on what is acceptable behavior and I’m confident they will succeed. The academy is an incredible school with a proud history. I hope they will put these issues behind them and start to get some positive press soon.</p>
<p>Didn’t they just clean house at the top of the AF Academy a year or two ago to deal with the scandal over rape and sexual abuse of female cadets?</p>
<p>Yes, the present Superintendent came in 2003 and had one year left in his position. I have to say that I was impressed with Rosa when I met him out at the academy. He was very upfront and sincere in his wanting to fix the problems. I also think a new leadership team is a good thing for the Academy now, especially if they replace the number 2 officer who has caused some of these present problems.</p>
<p>I’d like to know where the first amendment lawyers or the ACLU are to protect the “rights” of the evangelical cadets. Right. Funny how those things work.</p>
<p>No one said the evangelical cadets rights were threatened. Those God fearing Christians are harrassing others, making others threatened, Just Like Jesus would have wanted, I am sure.</p>
<p>Its interesting how certain people call themselves Christians, but feel free to not do as Jesus would have done. Just calling yourself someting is meaningless. Its all in the actions. </p>
<p>And, if indeed the time comes for judgement as the evangelicals believe, God will know the difference of those that lived a good life and those that just used words. Words are just words…l</p>
<p>It’s funny how much time and energy people put into all of this religious nonsense. And the military of all people. I used to be an Air Force ROTC cadet and many of the cadets would workout together and do other training activities on Sunday mornings. The religious cadets would go do their thing at church or whatever, but there was never any talk about God, the bible, etc…not even from one of the officers who was an Air Force chaplain. We simply had better things to do with our time than to worry about who prayed to who and how they prayed. Our captain said the purpose of the Air Force is “to kill people and blow things up.” Killing people, while sometimes necessary, is not sanctioned by Christianity in all cases. After all, the Air Force and the rest of the military is in the business of carrying out the orders of politicians, and these orders lead to just and unjust acts of violence against guilty and innocent parties. Whether you are a cook or a fighter pilot, you are part of the effort to carry out those orders.</p>
<p>I may be getting off the topic but I just think people should leave religion in the church and at home. I know that will never happen but I just think it is absolutely ridiculous that people spent so much time arguing about religion. Humans may have a higher degree of intelligence than birds and fish, but we are also the most illogical and inefficient species in the world.</p>
<p>Okay, but there WAS at the Air Force Academy. They have admitted it. It has been found. But when people BRING religion into the government, well, they open the door. If people left it in the church and home, well, who would care?</p>
<p>But once people go and try to convert others, harrass others, tell people they are going to *^#, what do you expect></p>
<p>Regrettably, missionization and “spreading the word of God” is - and has been for centuries - a cornerstone of the Christian religion - where billions have been spent “converting natives” from their own (inferior) religions to the “one” and only true religion.</p>
<p>It is a shame. I don’t really think God cares what path you take to feel close to him/her. Us humans just always have to muddy the waters…</p>