{"id":26665,"date":"2013-11-07T01:50:36","date_gmt":"2013-11-07T04:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/?p=26665"},"modified":"2016-11-26T00:27:19","modified_gmt":"2016-11-26T03:27:19","slug":"congressmen-introduce-military-oath-bill-chide-weinstein","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/2013\/11\/07\/congressmen-introduce-military-oath-bill-chide-weinstein\/","title":{"rendered":"Congressmen Introduce Military Oath Bill, Chide Weinstein"},"content":{"rendered":"

After USAFA appeared to capitulate<\/a> to Michael “Mikey” Weinstein’s complaints that “so help me God” violated the US Constitution<\/a>, two Congressmen have proposed legislation that would require “Congressional approval” before changes can be made to military oaths.\u00a0 The bill was proposed by Reps Sam Johnson and Pete Olson<\/a> (R-Tx).\u00a0 Though the text<\/a> is not available, the current lengthy title says the purpose of HR 3416 is<\/p>\n

to require congressional approval before any change may be made to the oaths required for enlistment in the Armed Forces, appointment to an office in the civil service or uniformed services, or appointment as a cadet or midshipman at a military service academy…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Astute observers will note that has nothing to do with USAFA’s Cadet Honor Oath.\u00a0 Similarly, the oaths to which that legislation does<\/em> apply are already<\/em> enshrined in Federal law (which is written by Congress), which means the military technically already lacks the authority to unilaterally change them.<\/p>\n

The legislation could actually make the situation more complicated, as the military might have to backtrack on its policies for the enlistment<\/em> oaths and once again tell candidates that they are required to say “so help me God” because the law, as written, does not allow them to ‘opt out’ (though, as noted here, an Air Force regulation does<\/a>, as does Army guidance).\u00a0 The Air Force is currently generating a “legal opinion”<\/a> on this subject, an opinion which could be overcome by events should the bill eventually become law.<\/p>\n

Rep Johnson<\/a>, who was a 7-year POW in Vietnam with Robbie Risner,<\/a> Bud Day<\/a>,\u00a0and John McCain, said<\/p>\n

\u201cI can tell you from experience, there are no atheists in foxholes,\u201d Johnson said in a statement. \u201cMany people don\u2019t know this but when you survive a near-death experience you realize that the only thing you had to hold on to was your faith in God…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not only my experience, but that of my fellow POWs, veterans, and those currently in harm\u2019s way that make \u2018so help me God\u2019 vital to the oath,\u201d Johnson said.\u00a0 \u201cI urge my colleagues to join this effort to protect the legacy of freedom of religion.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Johnson referred to the Hanoi Hilton “church riot<\/a>” in his statement, and Olson chided the Air Force<\/a> for granting credence to critic Michael Weinstein [emphasis added]:<\/p>\n

It was disheartening to see the Air Force Academy succumb to anti-religious zealotry from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF)…<\/p>\n

What troubles me even more is that the original complaint was not made by a cadet<\/strong>, but a local newspaper that brought the oath to the attention of an organization hostile to freedom of faith<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These points were made in the original discussion<\/a>\u00a0on this site.<\/p>\n

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