The title West Point Graduate carries a great deal of weight in this world. Those who earn it are given a "golden ticket" and wear a "ring of power" which will certainly carry them to successful careers with doors flung open in the military, in business, even in personal relationships; as so many are seduced by the historic prestige of the United States Military Academy. All of these things seem enticing, but for me personally they are not worth it. As I write this, I am five months from graduation. After nearly three and a half years here, there is no reason to suspect that I would be in any way incapable of completing the final requirements and walking across the stage in Michie Stadium with diploma in hand in another 174 days. Choosing to resign at this point also carries significant risk. The Army may seek recoupment in the form of about $200-300k which I will personally owe, or an additional term of up to 5 years of enlisted service. What could possibly compel me to pass over this incredible opportunity in exchange for such harsh penalties?
WATCH: BLAKE PAGE ON HUFFPOST LIVE
While there are certainly numerous problems with the developmental program at West Point and all service academies, the tipping point of my decision to resign was the realization that countless officers here and throughout the military are guilty of blatantly violating the oaths they swore to defend the Constitution. 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. These transgressions are nearly always committed in the name of fundamentalist evangelical Christianity. The sparse leaders who object to these egregious violations are relegated to the position of silent bystanders, because they understand all too well the potential ramifications of publically expressing their loyalty to the laws of our country. These are strong words that I do not use lightly, but after years of clear personal observation I am certain that they are true. The following excerpt is from my official letter of resignation from West Point:
I do not wish to be in any way associated with an institution which willfully disregards the Constitution of the United States of America by enforcing policies which run counter to the same. Examples of these policies include mandatory prayer, the maintenance of the 3rd Regiment Shield, awarding extra passes to Plebes who take part in religious retreats and chapel choirs, as well as informal policies such as the open disrespect of non-religious new cadets and incentivizing participation in religious activities through the chain of command.
As the President of the West Point Secular Student Alliance (SSA), a Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) affiliate, and first Director of Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) Affairs at West Point, I have been in a position to hear countless cadets recount their personal stories of frustration in dealing with the ongoing oppressive and unconstitutional bigotry they face for being non-religious. Cadets often come to me to seek assistance, guidance and reassurance in response to instances of debasing harassment. Many here are regularly told they do not deserve a place in the military. They are shown through policy that the Constitution guarantees their freedom of, but not from religion. Many are publically chastised for seeking out a community of likeminded people because it is such a common belief that Humanism and other non-religious philosophies are inherently immoral and worse.
While dealing with the bureaucracy of the academy I have had my complaints ignored by several members of my direct military chain of command. The ranking chaplain here responded to some of these instances of clear prejudice with the useless statement that he will "do what [he] can in good conscience" (which was nothing) instead of fulfilling his legal obligations. In dealing with the Directorate of Cadet Activities I have seen the Secular Student Alliance denied recognition for two years because the former director of the organization did not see a reason to recognize an organization for support of nonreligious West Point cadets. Even after finally receiving hard-fought recognition this year, that same organization continues to work with us only half-heartedly. They have only begrudgingly given us a pitifully inadequate budget, continue to refuse to list us on their website, and one of their staff has openly laughed at the idea that we could organize a conference or even produce club t-shirts for our members.
In response to this utter nonsense, and much more, I initiated an Equal Opportunity investigation earlier this semester. I have received nothing but positive responses from the chain of command since then. The Commandant of Cadets himself, Brigadier General Theodore Martin, expressed what I perceived to be a sincere desire to see to it that these issues are dealt with quickly and severely. As happy as I was to hear his words and see his genuine concern expressed, his influence alone will not be enough to change the confidently bigoted culture of this sad place. The gulf between the intent of a General Officer and the execution of that intent by those in positions of immediate authority is massive in a complex bureaucracy entrenched in over 200 years of tradition. This chasm is widened by the rarity of people like General Martin who are willing to take on a proactive role in attempting to ensure that equality is established. The existence of decades of legal precedent and policies prohibiting this pervasive religious bigotry has not stopped it from happening in the past, and will most certainly not stop it from happening in the future so long as the many who oppose it remain too timid to stand up and be counted. I am making this stand in the hope that others will follow by whatever means they must. Perhaps now some of the 136 cadets, faculty and staff at West Point that are represented by the MRFF may find the courage to make themselves heard.
Although I have decided that I do not wish to be a part of the Long Gray Line, there are many other bright young men and women who will remain here and continue the work I started. Their efforts, combined with support from Jason Torpy and MAAF, Mikey Weinstein and the MRFF, Lyz Liddell and the rest of the wonderful staff of SSA national, and many other organizations will ultimately lead to the development of a flourishing community of support for non-religious cadets at West Point. It is pathetic that so many leaders in the military are comfortable with both subtly and brutally discriminating against non-religious members. Perhaps with enough external pressure brought to bear by continued civil rights activism, America's military leadership will one day soon be forced to realize that non-religious soldiers are not enemies of the state to be shunned, ridiculed and marginalized, but rather patriotic, honorable Americans to be respected as equals.
Update: I am proud to affirm that I am continuing in my public position as the Director of West Point Affairs for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which currently has 165 cadets, faculty and staff clients; a 21 percent increase in client load since I went public. Further, I have confirmed that officers at West Point have been given a gag order by senior leadership to specifically not talk to the media about any aspect of my departure. Both the spike in MRFF clients at West Point and the silencing of its officers speak volumes about the very matters of disgrace that I have expressed herein.
This appears in our weekly iPad magazine, Huffington, in the iTunes App store. This story appears in Issue 27, available Friday, Dec. 14.
B.J. Garrison: Religion Among the Ranks of the Long Gray Line
My thoughts are the President should make the changes to correct the current situation and allow Blake Page to be reinstated when the corrections are in place.
Thank you dearly
That said, niether I not my father a Captain in the U.S. Navy would ever support any religious subjection in the military. I never met an officer or NCO who persuaded me in any way towards religiosity. My dog tags said "no religious preference." I whole heartedly support your decision to stand by your values. I support your assertion that it is unconstitutional to assert any preference or punishment of any kind to any member of the military for participation or lack of in any religious exercise.
I realize the temendous sacrifice you are making for your values.
May God bless you in your endeavors.
-Lara Stuart-Mueller
I end with a quote from a founding father:
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."
[Thomas Jefferson]
Having been a serving officer in two Navies and worked extensively with the US Navy I believe that you should leave as if this is how you react to a issue about people and their beliefs then you would not cope with how people work in the military and they act in the service of their country.
The military officer deals with some of the most complex situations posed to humans and in in combat makes life and death judgements on a daily basis and I believe that you would not be an officer to whom I would entrust the lives of service personnel.
Your sanctimonious comments would not serve well in the field as you need to understand the grey of military service and not blindly stick to the black or white of military rules.
I find offensive, your characterisation of fellow service personnel as criminals, the men and women of the US Army in my experience have conducted themselves with honour and represent the best the US has to offer.
You can change nothing from the outside. Inside, you can change everything.
Protests by people who quit are fall on deaf ears. Protests by people who struggle through, are heeded.
You are still too inexperienced to understand the repercussions of your choice. To quit will disempower your potential, graduating will empower your options. Always choose the path which provides more options.
When you uncover bad, do not quit in protest. Stay, fight to make it good. Protest is an article, fighting is a career.
Stay, graduate...then do this world that good you can do.
The cadets are forced to go to sectarian events such as what? In Jesus mighty name? (that's proselytizing?) so what!. Page can proselytize back.
If I as gay male can engage in give and take in so called Baptist Dallas why isn't he man enough to argue and dispute?
In Page's view would we need to take down all the crosses and stars of david at Normandy, Arlington national cemetery and catholic cematarie (as the cross could be seen from the street!!!!
Allow me to suggest that you take a moment to stop admiring your soul in the mirror of your mind and READ what was written.
Mr. Page has spent near-four years doing exactly that - to the point where the chain of command has retreated, by order, to a sullen public silence.
He's been active in (and apparently remains active in, in a leadership position) an organization he helped found and has spent years fighting for it's recognition and legitimization - against what could be called in formidable understatement, formidable odds.
In an environment that goes well beyond making conformity a fetish - an environment where conformity is enforced by tradition, rule, regulation, an environment where every moment of every day and night, every day of the year is regulated by said traditions, rules, regulations (and law) Mr. Page has faced and faced down an institutionalized religious bigotry overwhelmingly backed by the vast majority of his fellow cadets and, on by almost the entire officer corps of the USMA.
Against this you offer up your smarmy little brag of snarking out those sad, weak, desperate seekers of fantasy martyrdom who thrust themselves into your selected safe-haven mini-bubble environment.
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Against this you offer up your smarmy little brag of snarking out those sad, weak, desperate seekers of fantasy martyrdom who thrust themselves into your selected safe-haven mini-bubble environment.
I know your silly, self-aggrandizing comment is hardly worth, in respect of itself and respect of you, the time and words I'm putting into this response. But Mr. Page has earned my respect for is courage and determination - and deserves my at least making this little effort to put it forward.
The meaningless, rigorously imposed religion-by-rote practices of the Academy back in 1967 - when chapel was mandatory by regulation, and religious contributions from our meager cadet stipend was mandatory by practice (and strict enforcement by upperclassmen) - had much to do with my reigning my appointment in 1967 and returning to the enlisted ranks from which I had come (after laboring and competing for years to get into USMA).
I just wish I had had back then some portion of the character (that core sibboleth of The Academy's self-view) that Mr. page has shown and had forthrightly stood for what I believed (and didn't believe) in - even if only to have stated it openly as one of my reasons for resigning.
As to you? Go have another beer. Go snark another evangelist and congratulate yourself for it. Call it courage if you will. Anyone who grasps what Mr. Page has faced knows better.
JTG, USMA Class of 1970 (incomplete)
By contrast evangelicals make up 14% of the general US population.
Not only atheists and humanists are targeted. Members of other minority religions, such as jews, also get harassed, in at least some cases to the point of attempting suicide. I also know of one "friendly fire" incident when there were suspicion the person who fired did so not of mistake, but because he hated atheists.
So yeah, it's a problem.
Now, I suppose many here might think "if they want to die in war instead of atheists, humanists and jews, let them", but even ignoring the harassment of non-evangelicals, that's missing the point. Dominating the US army is a position of tremendous power, and it should not rest with a single denomination - especially not a minority denomination with obviously questionable ethics.
With all that said, I feel it necessary to footnote that I grew up in a household that practiced Christianity, went to church of my own accord, and attended a nondenominational Christian grade school. However, I also must say, that I do not actively practice Christianity- I am more inclined to believe in evolutionism and agnosticism for reasons and reasoning too lengthy of this post. I say these things as someone who has lived on both sides of the spectrum, and I believe that the phrase "live and let live" is more useful in life than trying to appease all people of all faiths (which of course is impossible). Let's build a compromise.
This is NOT an attack on the Christian faith, but a call for the Humanist "faith" to be recognized by West Point. Mr Page is stating that being a Humanist, a person that wants to do good, and believes in the goodness of humanity, should be recognized at West Point just as much as a Christian, a Buddhist, or a Muslim. But, because so many people (as apparent here) have absolutely NO IDEA what Humanism is, and indeed call it Atheism (it's not), they see Mr Page as being some sort of Anti-Christ wannabe who should be punished for daring to ask the leaders of one of our most esteemed military colleges to follow the Constitution that so many of it's graduates have died for, in our wars of "fighting for freedom" (just not Mr Page's freedoms, apparently).