No military commander should ever even ask anyone under their command about their religion; it is absolutely none of their business, nor is it relevant to their job or their competence in performing it. The only thing that can result from such intrusions is to damage relationships and cohesion and bring pressure to bear on a young recruit over an issue that the government should take no cognizance of at all.The only thing that can result? He's forgetting about the fact this prepares them to be used to stamp out religious dissent at home.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Training a theocratic military
Ed Brayton has more horifying bits from inside the Air Force. If this is totally new to you, you really need to read the book With God on Their Side, which tells the story of Michael L. Weinstein's fight against this stuff. If you aren't new to this, there still stuff that will catch you off guard, so read it. I do have a nit to pick with Ed's wrap-up, though:
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2 comments:
Back in my military days and days as a 'dependant' if a single guy in the barracks displayed signs of religious excitation the higher-ups kept a close and suspicious eye on him. Married elnlisted and officers were generally chapel people (christmas and easter excepted, also the catholic guys tended toward mass and confession) but most enkisted guys just wanted to be left alone for the day, if it was possible.
It seems that they have rediscovered a tool that's been laying around for a while, something that makes people identify with a group a bit more and supports a heirachy and arbitrary authority. The 'christian warrior' thing is really attractive to some, takes away guilt.
I wonder how they feel about "Fiddler's Green"?
According to diana (an atheist officer at the Air Force Academy, I think) the good news is that it has been cleaned up now.
http://rantsnraves.org/showpost.php?p=103240&postcount=5
The good news is traveling slower than the awful news.
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