Within a day of the religious intolerance lawsuit filed by Air Force Academy graduate Mikey Weinstein (DR, 10/07/05), Colorado Rep. Joel Hefley (R) asserted that the religious guidelines developed by the Air Force—and ridiculed by Weinstein as too little—go too far in restricting religion in the service. “We don’t want to do something that keeps someone from living their faith,” Hefley said at a meeting in Washington, D.C., of the academy’s oversight group. Hefley continued: “We see this in schools across the country. They’re so afraid of anything religious.”
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.