The US Air Force Academy released a statement declaring that cadet football players would not be prohibited from taking a knee in the endzone prior to games. As reported at the Air Force Times, USAFA said [emphasis added]:

The United States Air Force Academy places a high value on the rights of its members to observe the tenets of their respective religion or to observe no religion at all.

Recently the United States Air Force Academy received a complaint about its football players kneeling in prayer. An inquiry was initiated, which found the football players’ actions to be consistent with Air Force Instruction 1-1 and its guidance on the free exercise of religion and religious accommodation…

The United States Air Force Academy will continue to reaffirm to cadets that all Airmen are free to practice the religion of their choice or subscribe to no religious belief at all. The players may confidently practice their own beliefs without pressure to participate in the practices of others.

Weinstein’s response was typical: 

This outrageous…decision to allow its football team to engage in massive orchestrated sectarian Christian prayers right before kickoff for the world to see on television is a monstrous travesty and brutal breach of federal constitutional law and Department of Defense/Air Force regulations.

Notice that when given the opportunity to respond, Weinstein’s only concern was the public display of religious expression. Of all the potential issues, he cares only that people may see cadet football players kneel quietly. Keep that in mind for future discussion.

USAFA has their final 2015 game next Tuesday, December 29th: The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, TX. Weinstein reportedly said he would consider asking for a court injunction to prevent cadets from praying prior to that game, though that statement was likely just for shock value. Even Weinstein, a “Jewish agnostic,” knows that would go over like a fart in church.

With that, Merry Christmas to the USAFA football team, and God bless us, everyone.

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