Academy May Drop Religious Reference From Oath

[rug]

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. October 24, 2013 (AP)The U.S. Air Force Academy may drop a religious reference from an oath cadets take to swear allegiance to the school's honor code after a religious freedom group said it's a litmus test for honesty.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation protested the "so help me God" phrase that was added to the end of an oath that has cadets swearing they won't lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do.

The religious freedom foundation says tying the honor code to a religious test violates the U.S. Constitution.

"To tie the honor code to a religious test violates the no-establishment clause of the Constitution," said Mikey Weinstein, founder of the foundation and a frequent academy critic.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/academy-drop-religious-reference-oath-20672807

Kudos to Mikey Weinstein.

[enlightenment]

1. Good.

"I so swear" is a more appropriate promise for oath taking, anyway. It puts the onus on the individual, rather than an exhortation to a deity for assistance in keeping the promise.

[longship]

2. Damn! I saw Air Force Academy and immediately thought Mikey Weinstein!

Then, I read your post and got to your tagline.

R&

For those who do not know:
Michael L. Weinstein

Military Religious Freedom (Weinstein started this non-profit org).

A 2007 interview with Dan Barker and Annie-Laurie Gaylor of FFRF on Freethought Radio

I am a huge fan of Mikey's. More than happy to support this thread. Plus, an R&

[hrmjustin]

3. Good,

[MineralMan]

4. It should have been dropped years ago.

Better late than never, but late, nevertheless.

[rug]

5. It should never have been added.

[MineralMan]

6. Yes, of course.

Even in 1965, when I enlisted in the USAF, the oath administered to new enlistees came with a verbal recognition that nobody had to add "so help me God" to the oath, and the option to affirm was stated by the person administering it. At the AF Academy, the fundamentalists gained so much control over operations there that they thought they could shove this down cadets' throats.

They were right for many years. I'm hopeful that this ends now.