Religious Bigotry at West Point (?)

"Huffington Post" "Paper of Record?" Need I say more? Uncertified Idiot. Love that! "Great sucess" nice LITS. The Huffington Post is the last one I read for a great joke of the day. He is going to write a book? Hope it makes the money he owes the Academy and they file for every nickle.

Let's just ban it at every service:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzaNWO6gufA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UI3InDJz4c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYhICdAZpN0

http://www.hymns.me.uk/us-air-force-hymn.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTpCrGm5lFA

Couldn't find a Hymn but this looked good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bOVwAWpj7U
They did mention God however.
 
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MemberLG said:
Any thoughts how how he got two 1SG positions if the facebook posting is true? I can see getting selected for Beast 1SG, but in the Old Corps :shake: academic year 1SGs were usually high speed low drag cadets. I would think his performance during Beast would prevented him from holding any significant leadership position during academic year. Can I say the Corps has :shake:
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The current trend, depending on company, is to make the 1SG either one of the top cadets or someone who the tacs beleive needs the most work. I'm guessing that after his beast performance, he was one of the latter.
 
More details from Yahoo News - http://news.yahoo.com/cadet-quits-cites-overt-religion-west-point-211844765.html

BLUF
-wasn't going to be able to commission anyway (clinical depression)
-will be Honorably Discharged (was prior enlisted), DOES NOT owe reimbursement/service

IMO, letting him go without reimbursement is a mistake. It's becoming a pattern that dissatisfied cadets with an axe to grind turn to the media to get them a golden ticket out of the Academy
 
I have no problem with the government not requiring compensation from cadets that are unable to serve for medical reasons. That is largely out of the cadet's control.

I do have a problem with this guy using his situation to make absurd accusations against the officer corps, while proclaiming to the world that he is quitting on principle. Those actions appear derogatory and misleading...things I wouldn't want in a leader anyway.
 
The unfortunate thing is West Point is pretty restricted in what it can say....
 
IMO, letting him go without reimbursement is a mistake. It's becoming a pattern that dissatisfied cadets with an axe to grind turn to the media to get them a golden ticket out of the Academy
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Unless there are more facts not being reported in the article, the order of events was: (1) the Army determined he was medically unfit (disqualified) for a commission and then (2) he spoke out/protested.
At the point they DQ'd him, the only recourse for him was to finish the next few months and continue in the civilian world. I fail to see how he was seeking a "golden ticket" out, given that USMA, essentially just did that to him and the protest came after. It was USMA who voided the contract and not the other way around.

I concur with raimius. Obviously, the news of his DQ irritated him enough to express his opinion freely, for which most probably disagree with.
 
As an atheist, I sympathized for Cadet Page at first, but QUITTING while on the home stretch is absolutely unacceptable. Even if what he said is true and he was picked on for being an atheist, then he should have sucked it up. How do you think the first black cadets or the first women cadets made it though when the ENTIRE student body silenced them? And this cadet quits because he got teased a few times? This is absolutely ridiculous.

Besides, West Point is a predominately Christian school, so he should have expected to be the minority. He knew what he was getting into (which really isn't that bad) and he should have finished it.
 
You generally don't want to fight the guy who has God on his side.... just saying.
 
Show of Support

LetFreedomRing said:
As an atheist, I sympathized for Cadet Page at first, but QUITTING while on the home stretch is absolutely unacceptable. Even if what he said is true and he was picked on for being an atheist, then he should have sucked it up. How do you think the first black cadets or the first women cadets made it though when the ENTIRE student body silenced them? And this cadet quits because he got teased a few times? This is absolutely ridiculous...
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Agreed. What he is facing likely does not even begin to compare what the first black or female Cadets faced. Of course one should speak up if mistreated. But they also have to stand strong and in place while fighting if things are going to change. In addition, I remember reading an article talking of the first black Cadets and how they found a quiet show of support from a few brave white cadets who would sit with or or *gasp* stand up for them. I find it difficult to believe that the young man complaining was totally isolated in his journey. If back then there were Cadets strong enough to endure racial hatred and white cadets strong enough to suppor the black cadets, I am sure there are currently cadets who would do the same in this situation.

S
 
stella said:
Agreed. What he is facing likely does not even begin to compare what the first black or female Cadets faced. Of course one should speak up if mistreated. But they also have to stand strong and in place while fighting if things are going to change. In addition, I remember reading an article talking of the first black Cadets and how they found a quiet show of support from a few brave white cadets who would sit with or or *gasp* stand up for them. I find it difficult to believe that the young man complaining was totally isolated in his journey. If back then there were Cadets strong enough to endure racial hatred and white cadets strong enough to suppor the black cadets, I am sure there are currently cadets who would do the same in this situation.

S
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"I find it difficult to believe that the young man complaining was totally isolated in his journey."

I don't. The first blacks and woman were the first. This clown wasn't the first with his faith. Also, the first blacks and woman I assume were outstanding candidate because the administration knew there would be trouble with some accepting them at WP. Some other brave cadets "stood up" for these pioneers since they were "stand out & outstanding" new cadets.
From all I have heard from current cadets this guy was not one to stand up for others therefore few or no cadets are standing up for him. Teamwork is critical - and a two way street.
The only mistake on his departure was it did not happen sooner.
 
What I think everyone is failing to see is that his claims are totally irrelevant. Although I am not a cadet, this is the United States government we are talking about. A big beauracracy with a bunch of politcally correct, please everybody (specfically the minorities) people at the top. The strong religous sentiment at West Point may be real, but there is no reason for such a stupid act as "protesting" by dropping out.

And comparing this ******* situation with either Blacks OR Women and the bias they endured is completely and utterly pointless. I am sure he sees himself in the same light, but some people were just born to be victims.
 
stlcards2012 said:
What I think everyone is failing to see is that his claims are totally irrelevant. Although I am not a cadet, this is the United States government we are talking about. A big beauracracy with a bunch of politcally correct, please everybody (specfically the minorities) people at the top. The strong religous sentiment at West Point may be real, but there is no reason for such a stupid act as "protesting" by dropping out.

And comparing this ******* situation with either Blacks OR Women and the bias they endured is completely and utterly pointless. I am sure he sees himself in the same light, but some people were just born to be victims.
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Your post has two things going for it: insight and speling. But there's no need to be coy. Tell us how you really feel.
 
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"Clinical Depression" and non commission might have some background on this story? ****** is a very stupid thing to say and shows your intelligence or lack of same.
 
AF6872 said:
"Clinical Depression" and non commission might have some background on this story? ****** is a very stupid thing to say and shows your intelligence or lack of same.
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Concur.

Seems like many here, as is typically the case, are quick to jump on a story with limited facts and assume the worst.

"West Point confirmed that it approved his resignation and that Page had been meeting the academic standards and was not undergoing any disciplinary actions. Page said he had been medically disqualified this semester from receiving a commission in the Army as a second lieutenant — like his classmates will receive in May — because of clinical depression and anxiety. He said his condition has gotten worse since his father killed himself last year."

I'd rather not assume the worst about this kid. Perhaps reporting to the HuffPost wasn't the best forum for his rant. Who knows, best not to assume he's a terrible person and might just be having a very rough time.
 
Sometimes we are too kind. The moral hazard here, he makes an incredibly dumb choice, and we say "hey, he's having a rough time, poor guy."

I'm not saying he's a horrible person. I don't know the kid. I don't care to know the kid.

"Let's understand the rough time he's having" has a place when the kid blows up and yells at a classmate in front of underclassmen. It has a place when he cries or is embarrassed.

This kid, however, called his peers criminals, accused them of violated the Constitution (that thing they took an oath to protect). He did this in a not so short article to the world, on a less than impressive, but still widely followed publication.

I'll give the kid a pass for saying "I hate the Army" in a fit of frustration, but this kid thought this out, wrote an article, included a photo and a bio, and had it published.

It's not about question IF he did the wrong thing, or what his character is... it's about admitted he DID do the wrong thing, and being comfortable questioning the true content of his character. I don't think either are inappropiate at this time.

I say "kid," but he's 24 years old.... hardly a child.... and certainly not eligible for a free pass.
 
AF6872 said:
"Clinical Depression" and non commission might have some background on this story? ****** is a very stupid thing to say and shows your intelligence or lack of same.
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Agree!
 
MemberLG said:
but in the Old Corps :shake: academic year 1SGs were usually high speed low drag cadets. I would think his performance during Beast would prevented him from holding any significant leadership position during academic year. Can I say the Corps has :shake:
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my understanding is that unlike previous years, 1SGs are now firsties rather than cows. So instead of being HSLD cadets, it's the opposite. Something to do with not enough officer slots.

That's the situation in DS's company this year, anyway. Maybe another cadet can comment if that is corps wide or not. His last year 1SG was very HSLD.
 
hawk said:
my understanding is that unlike previous years, 1SGs are now firsties rather than cows. So instead of being HSLD cadets, it's the opposite. Something to do with not enough officer slots.

That's the situation in DS's company this year, anyway. Maybe another cadet can comment if that is corps wide or not. His last year 1SG was very HSLD.
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That's been my experience so far
 
-- UPDATE --

Blake Page, Cadet Who Quit West Point Over Religious Objections, May Have To Pay Back Army

Graduates of West Point are not typically responsible for paying tuition while at the institution. Instead, students “pay off” their educational costs through military service. Students who resign or are dismissed from West Point may be subject to recoupment.

According to Page, shortly after his resignation, an Army captain told him that the U.S. Military Academy would not seek recoupment from him, either through enlisted service or financial reimbursement. In a letter provided to The Huffington Post dated Dec. 12, Superintendent Lt. Gen. David H. Huntoon did, in fact, recommend to the Army that Page be honorably discharged and that his educational expenses at West Point be waived.

Approximately one week after Page left West Point -- and after he went public with his story -- he said he received a call from an official telling him that a mistake had been made and the superintendent’s decision was not final. The official added that Blake should “keep his head down” until a final decision on recoupment had been made -- a process that could take up to six months.

On Feb. 12, Page returned to his home in Minnesota to find a letter from the assistant secretary of the Army. The letter informed Page that, while the superintendent's recommendation to honorably discharge Page was approved, an investigation was underway to determine if the former cadet was responsible for recoupment.
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