On Gays, Sikhs and a Fundamentalist Christian U.S. Military

Two Items crossed my screen today. The first was a post through a friend, urging support for Lt. Colonel Victor Hehrenbach, a decorated Air Force officer drummed out of service, because an acquaintance outed him as being homosexual. No one asked, and he certainly didn't tell. But out he goes, much to the detriment of his unit, and at extreme cost to the military's readiness and capabilities.

The second involved a ban on Sikh beards and turbans. A ban ostensibly put in place during the 1980s but not enforced until last year. This ban damages the American notion of diversity in our nation, and violates the rights of citizens, and soldiers, to practice their faith. The absurdity of this is borne out by Army Colonel Gopal Khalsa, who is retiring later this year after serving 29 years as a practicing, turbaned, and bearded officer.

According to the United States military, there are shortages in Jewish chaplains specifically because Orthodox Jewish requires men to wear beards as part of their prohibition against certain forms of barbering.

The fact that there is a grandfather clause to this requirement (men in service before January 1, 1986 are exempt from beard, turban and other religious requirements), it's clear this is an administrative, and not rational, ruling. (Colonel Khalsa and one Jewish rabbi are the exceptions.)

The explosion in Evangelical Christian activities in the U.S. military, including proselytizing activities by active duty, uniformed superior officers before those under their command, prayer is in direct contravention of the separation of Church and State. There are documented cases (check out Harpers Magazine, May issue) of Christian zealots in the military violating and number of regulations, not to mention inhuman, inhumane behavior usually attributed to the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Before the military gets involved in the bedrooms and innocent rituals of patriotic, dedicated and humble servants, it must first cull from its midst the religious zealots proselytizing in its midst. A closeted gay combat pilot is not a problem, and beards and turbans draw attention but do not change the work of an officer. But Crusade-style practices carried out by the military, and the bug-eyed, hysterical Bible-thumpers who egg them on and add to their numbers must be banished before the military can call its justice evenhanded.