West Point cadet quits, cites 'criminal' behavior of officers

[No Elephants]

West Point cadet quits, cites 'criminal' behavior of officers
By Kari Huus, NBC News

A West Point cadet publicly announced his decision to quit the prestigious military academy just months before graduating to protest what he sees as the illegal infusion of military procedures and events with fundamentalist Christian proselytizing.

<snip>

"Countless officers here and throughout the military are guilty of blatantly violating the oaths they swore to defend the Constitution," wrote Page, who was slated to graduate in May. "These men and women are criminals, complicit in light of day defiance of the Uniform Code of Military Justice through unconstitutional proselytism, discrimination against the non-religious and establishing formal policies to reward, encourage and even at times require sectarian religious participation."

A public affairs officer at West Point told NBC News he was seeking a response to the Page's commentary and his resignation, but had not arranged an interview or responded to the cadet's assertions by the time of publication.

<snip>

"This kid just torched his career in the Army, and his degree at West Point," said Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which advocates for total separation of church and state. He likens Page’s move to those of Rosa Parks in the civil rights movement and monks who light themselves on fire to protest Chinese policies in Tibet. "People should recognize courage when they see it."

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/04/15676692-west-point-cadet-quits-cites-criminal-behavior-of-officers?lite



Awww, that's cute. He still thinks the U.S. Constitution is the law of the land.


A lot of seats at West Point go to people from other countries--training the Egyptian military, for example. So, getting accepted to West Point is quite an achievement these days. Giving that up for a principle is impressive, especially giving it up in senior year.

Kudos, former cadet Blake Page.


His full essay appeared in Huffpo. http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/04/15676692-west-point-cadet-quits-cites-criminal-behavior-of-officers?lite

[formercia]

1. American Taliban taking over the Military

There must be a reason for this and the choices are not very pleasant.

[Enthusiast]

2. This should be alarming to any American with even half a brain.

Unfortunately studies show that most Americans are operating with less than half a brain.