Jesus' Co-Pilots

The descent of this country into Christo-Fascist madness is far, far worse than even the most jaded of us probably realize. Case in point, the editorial section of this week's THE NATION (June 6) rather casually informs us of "allegations that Air Force Academy cadets are being coerced into becoming evangelical Christians." But, that is just the mere tip of this truly chilling ice berg.

According to the World Socialist Web Site http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/apr2005/acad-a30.shtml , there have been 55 complaints of religious harassment filed at the academy over the past 4 years. One cadet told his father that he had been called "a filthy Jew" and held responsible for killing Christ. Mickey Weinstein, an attorney from Albuquerque New Mexico and himself a graduate of the academy, is now calling for a congressional investigation. If Congress refuses to take action Weinstein says he'll go to the federal courts which are also now brimming with Christian right-wingers.

On April 28, Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AUSCS) issued a report on the academy, including a long list of mandatory religious observances, proselytizing by teachers (many of them officers who are the military superiors of cadets) and allegations by minority students that Protestant fundamentalism is given preferential status at the school. Barry Lynn, the group’s executive director, said, “I think this is the most serious, military-related systemic problem I have ever seen in the decades I’ve been doing this work... There is a clear preference for Christianity at the academy, so that everyone else feels like a second-class citizen.”

The tone is set from the top: the academy commandant, Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida, is a professed “born-again” Christian who addresses the cadets in chapel service and urges them “to discuss their Christian faith” with other students. In an official “Commander’s Guidance,” he declared that cadets “are accountable first to your God.”

Thus, as Patrick Martin, the author of the WSWS article points out, those who will be placed in control of the vast destructive power of modern aerial weaponry, including “smart bombs” and nuclear missiles, are to constitute a sort of praetorian guard of Christian fundamentalists whose loyalty to their God is placed above subordination to civilian authority. Undoubtedly, many of these soldiers of Christ also fervently believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ and "end of days" are fast approaching.

Pinch yourself. You're not dreaming.