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If you cleansed every conviction for petty possession that alone would solve the problem. But radical evangelicals hold senior positions in the services, and th

If you cleansed every conviction for petty possession that alone would solve the problem. But radical evangelicals hold senior positions in the services, and they don't like people unlike themselves. Then we have other crimes of poverty like not paying parking tickets (no money for the meter, aggressive local govt parking restrictions to exclude undesirable poor people), driving unregistered (because they're broke but you're an unperson without a car) etc. And of course, driving while black.

Amezarak 4y ago
This is one of those comments I have difficulty reconciling with my experience. Ex-cons and former addicts seem to be a substantial part of the evangelical churches I've been familiar with. Of course I do not know any highly-placed military officers, but the officers I have known do not seem to be and would not describe themselves as religious. They all have sort of a mentality I am not really prepared to put my finger on. Generally, their whole world and interpretive lens centers around the USM.
- angry_octet 4y ago
  The presence of 'saved' individuals sadly does not seem to alter their views of the damned. The USAF and USMC are notoriously problematic with both evangelical/baptist and Mormon cliques. In the USAF this is on top of an already toxic culture -- as evidenced by the ongoing hemorrhaging of pilots. (I could reference many reports but e.g. [1] will do.) The steady push towards religious prominence in military affairs is hard to miss [2][3]. Now your CO can invite you to his Church and his prayer service, and you'd best understand that your performance appraisal is the stakes. Probably not a good idea to mention your support of trans soldiers. It's all part of the broader culture war of course. Many good officers hold the line against sectarian creep, including (or even especially) devoutly religious members, but the pressure to be Christian is growing. [1] https://jqpublicblog.com/air-force-put-stop-loss-back-away/ https://jqpublicblog.com/air-force-put-stop-loss-back-away/ [2] https://www.thechurchnews.com/2016/6/2/23214292/elder-bednar-addresses-lds-graduates-at-u-s-air-force-academy https://www.thechurchnews.com/2016/6/2/23214292/elder-bednar... [3] https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/09/18/pentagon-unveils-new-religious-liberty-policies-after-pressure-from-conservative-lawmakers/ https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/09/18/...
  - QuarterReptile 4y ago
    >Many good officers hold the line against sectarian creep, including (or even especially) devoutly religious members, but the pressure to be Christian is growing. Maybe I'm in the wrong community, but I don't see this at all. My experience for the last several years is that a preponderance of the guys I work with is lapsed Catholics. I have heard, however, that the Navy, and particularly officers (increasing at higher ranks) is comparatively left-leaning and secularist.
    - angry_octet 4y ago
      There are many communities in a huge military force, and obviously there are many Catholics too, both devout and lapsed. I don't think I could characterise any of the USN leadership (O5 and up) as at all left leaning, though they have obviously travelled widely and generally worked with people in far flung places, unlike other branches.

Amezarak 4y ago

This is one of those comments I have difficulty reconciling with my experience. Ex-cons and former addicts seem to be a substantial part of the evangelical churches I've been familiar with. Of course I do not know any highly-placed military officers, but the officers I have known do not seem to be and would not describe themselves as religious. They all have sort of a mentality I am not really prepared to put my finger on. Generally, their whole world and interpretive lens centers around the USM.

angry_octet 4y ago
The presence of 'saved' individuals sadly does not seem to alter their views of the damned. The USAF and USMC are notoriously problematic with both evangelical/baptist and Mormon cliques. In the USAF this is on top of an already toxic culture -- as evidenced by the ongoing hemorrhaging of pilots. (I could reference many reports but e.g. [1] will do.) The steady push towards religious prominence in military affairs is hard to miss [2][3]. Now your CO can invite you to his Church and his prayer service, and you'd best understand that your performance appraisal is the stakes. Probably not a good idea to mention your support of trans soldiers. It's all part of the broader culture war of course. Many good officers hold the line against sectarian creep, including (or even especially) devoutly religious members, but the pressure to be Christian is growing. [1] https://jqpublicblog.com/air-force-put-stop-loss-back-away/ https://jqpublicblog.com/air-force-put-stop-loss-back-away/ [2] https://www.thechurchnews.com/2016/6/2/23214292/elder-bednar-addresses-lds-graduates-at-u-s-air-force-academy https://www.thechurchnews.com/2016/6/2/23214292/elder-bednar... [3] https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/09/18/pentagon-unveils-new-religious-liberty-policies-after-pressure-from-conservative-lawmakers/ https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/09/18/...
- QuarterReptile 4y ago
  >Many good officers hold the line against sectarian creep, including (or even especially) devoutly religious members, but the pressure to be Christian is growing. Maybe I'm in the wrong community, but I don't see this at all. My experience for the last several years is that a preponderance of the guys I work with is lapsed Catholics. I have heard, however, that the Navy, and particularly officers (increasing at higher ranks) is comparatively left-leaning and secularist.
  - angry_octet 4y ago
    There are many communities in a huge military force, and obviously there are many Catholics too, both devout and lapsed. I don't think I could characterise any of the USN leadership (O5 and up) as at all left leaning, though they have obviously travelled widely and generally worked with people in far flung places, unlike other branches.