Religious indoctrination at the Naval Academy too

Ugh.  Why do our public institutions have to crap on the Bill of Rights by establishing a state religion?  First it was the Air Force Academy.  Now we have to read that the Naval Academy is literally making our middies pray to Jesus for their lunch.

A spokesperson for the Naval Academy would say only that the academy "does not require midshipmen to recite a prayer during their noon meal." But others there say all 4,000 midshipmen are required to attend lunch. They must also remain standing in formation while announcements are made and while the chaplain recites a prayer before they are permitted to sit.

Asked the difference between President Bush's annual prayer breakfast and the Naval Academy's prayer before lunch, [Anti-Defamation League's Abraham] Foxman said: "Nobody is mandated to go to the president's prayer breakfast, but you must go for lunch where you have a prayer imposed on you."

Well, I have a solution.  How about after every meal at the Naval Academy we ask the middies to remain in place for the singing of the Birkat HaMazon (Jewish Grace after Meals).  Believe me, I went to Jewish summer camp where that's exactly what we did, and the birkat goes on FOREVER.  An interminable dose of Hebrew that makes you want to skip meals altogether.

Do that and then we can talk about Christians being victimized by political correctness.

•  Me too.

  I also went to a Jewish summer camp where we had to recite the Birkat after every meal.

  by modthinglet on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 02:19:17 PM PDT

  •  yep

    me too!

    by dstein on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 02:22:44 PM PDT

•  Rotating prayers

  If Christians normally do prayers, then different religions should be able to recite prayers before lunch as well (or after, as the case may be).  I am sure the Wiccan event would be quite fun.  Quite a number of celebrities are Scientologists, so it would be interesting to see who they have represent them (maybe they could get Katie Holmes to show up with Tom Cruise for another whacky public appearance).

  by Mote Dai on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 02:50:54 PM PDT

•  Maybe

  I bet the problems of declining applications at the military academies have more to do with the discriminatory atmosphere and less with Iraq.

  by ortcutt on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 02:58:15 PM PDT

•  Thanks for posting this n/t

  by RumsfeldResign on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 03:18:08 PM PDT

•  Multiple faiths

  Prayers are rotated amongst denominations and faiths. It could be catholic, protestant, jewish. We never knew, as the prayers were always non-denominational.  While a midshipman may not necessarily agree with religion, they remain standing to respect those that do. I look at it as practicing diplomacy, such as standing while the national anthem of Britain, France, or (then) the former soviet union.

  On board ship, there is the evening prayer five minutes before taps (lights out). All work is supposed to stop during the evening prayer. We thought nothing of it, nor did we feel we had to participate.

  by B Rubble on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 03:30:49 PM PDT

  •  Agree

    This was my experience in the Navy as well.  While no one is compelled to participate, everyone is requested to respect those who feel a little prayer before lights out is important.  A bit of home is very helpful in stressful times.  This is not shoving religion down anyone's throat, and the prayer is truly non-denominational.

    I did see some of these evening prayer moments exploited, but I always got the impression the prayer leader was talked to afterward.  No one wants to get people pissed-off because of being religiously offended.

    by FLDemJax on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 04:27:30 PM PDT

    •  By The Way

      The submarine service does not do this.  There is no such thing as "Taps" or lights out on a boat.

      by FLDemJax on Tue Jun 14, 2005 at 04:29:54 PM PDT