Don't Like it. Don't Open it.

The New York Times published an article in regards to the military and a breach of their policy of religious neutrality. The Air Force is investigating Col. Kimberly Toney for sending out an email that contained an “inspirational” story located on a Catholic Web site. The religious nature of the story, about a disabled man’s faith in God, is under scrutiny due to the military’s pledge of religious neutrality. Many recipients of the email felt the email and the website were in violation of military policy. They were even more disturbed to find a satire of President of Obama dressed in Nazi uniform and labeled “a veritable forerunner of the Antichrist” on the website. Col. Toney has since apologized for the email but is still being investigated and no action has yet been taken.

Currently the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is suing the Defense Department over the issue of religious bias in the military. The head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation has said the issue is a “textbook case” of improper religious influence. I am aware there is an issue of slippery slope when speaking of the strictness of separation of government and religion, but at times it garners more attention than it deserves.

This controversy seems a bit blown out of proportion. I find the major issue is the portrayal of the military’s Commander and Chief and not the issue of religion in the “inspirational story.” The military has chaplains, though unaffiliated with any denomination, I am sure would be found to be predominately Christian. This does not seem an issue, so why is an email? With the military’s rampant discrimination based on gender and sexuality, it seems that there are bigger issues for the military to be concerned about. An emailed link is fairly harmless. Don’t like it, don’t open it. There was no coercion to view the site and no repercussions if you didn’t.