Since the military successfully rid itself of open homosexuals, where do the righteous direct their indignant bigotry? Thankfully, the Air Force Academy has a small number of non-Christians just asking for it:
The Air Force Academy, still recovering from rape and sexual harassment scandals, is facing charges that some Christian cadets have bullied and berated Jews and students of other religious backgrounds. School officials said Tuesday they had received 55 complaints over the last few months and were requiring students — and eventually all employees — to attend a course on religious tolerance…The academy is about 60% Protestant and 30% Catholic. Included in the number of Christian cadets are 120 Mormons. There are 44 Jews and a handful of Hindus and Buddhists at the academy, officials said. [Los Angeles Times]
As soon as they rid themselves of the pagans and other undesirables, we can finally have ourselves a good-old-fashioned crusade. That’s what I’m talkin’ about, says Tom Minnery, vice president of public policy at Focus on the Family. He says the bullies are the true victims:
“If 90% of cadets identify themselves as Christian, it is common sense that Christianity will be in evidence on the campus,” he said. “Christianity is deeply felt and very important to people … and to suggest that it should be bottled up is nonsense. I think a witch hunt is underway to root out Christian beliefs. To root out what is pervasive in 90% of the group is ridiculous.” [Los Angeles Times]
Los Angeles Times: Non-Christian Air Force cadets cite harassment (free registration required)
And men just have libidos? Why supress that? Oh yes, because “unbottling” might comprimise the safety of another, lesser, human being.
Ok, Tom Minnery never did call for a “crusade”. Nor did he call for Hindu students to be banished. Nobody did, and it would be a mischaracterization of the article to suggest that.
Tom Minnery’s quote at the end of the article sounds (IMHO) as if he were reacting to a situation where a student at the Academy would not have the opportunity to personally practice his religion. I do think his fears are way overblown, but I sincerely wonder how the author of the story characterized the situation when he retrieved the quote from Minnery. Lastly, in the context of the article, I do think his quote is a bit ridiculous.
In high school, a few acquaintances of mine were set on joining the military. Although I was a Christian, I was still initially subjected to Hindu-related taunts. When they found out I was a Christian, the Hindu related taunts changed to “sand nigger” and “camel jockey”. This story reminds me of those people.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I think these religous taunts are just a facade for racial and class based differences.
Off topic, “Anonymous Cow” isn’t an original nickname? What gives SM, I can’t post with it anymore 🙁