To the Editor:

Having read the article concerning the Reverend Chuck Booker-Hirsch and the Reverend Erik Johnson being arrested at Ft. Benning, I continue to be confounded in my attempts to understand what it is about the military which causes such deep hatred in people for the military establishment . The anger and hatred is so deep that their understanding of those who serve their country does not even qualify them for concern as the "naked and hungry" of the earth. The anger or hatred is so deep that they are unwilling to listen to colleagues with experience or listen to reason. They seem willing to defy Civil Law in order to make a "statement" when they could, at the very least, involve themselves in an education process. They trespass when they would be welcome to arrange a legal visit and better understand the nature of the institution. I guess that anger "trumps" reason.

Linked to the article was the paper provided by the Reverend Jim DeCamp. Jim is both a pastor and U. S. Army Reserve Chaplain in the rank of lieutenant colonel. His article clearly indicates that he took time to visit WHINSEC (then SOA) and to discuss the curriculum with the chaplain who was there. My experience confirms that Army institutions (read: schools) have Public Affairs personnel who are always willing to answer questions. Visits to such places as WHINSEC, even by those not wearing the uniform, are not uncommon. (By the way, such visits often include visits with the senior officers in charge of the institution.) I guess that anger "trumps" experience.

Additionally, the continuous condemnation of such a school is a condemnation of those clergy who serve the institution as ethicists and instructors. At a time when we seem so focused on understanding and honoring those from different faiths, it seems odd to me that we give so little credit to the capable Chaplains (ordained clergy) who are assigned to the school! Part of their job is to be the ethical eyes and ears of the institution. I wonder if those so focused on protesting the school's existence understand that their protest is a criticism of their clergy brothers' and sisters' ability to do the task? At least one of those chaplains who provided clergy support to the school some years ago was a Presbyterian, Chaplain (Colonel) Donna Weddle. Donna is known by many and is highly regarded in the Army and the church. One of the former Commanders was a "card carrying" Presbyterian. It seems that anger "trumps" collegiality.

Those people who continue to defy the law seem to be motivated by simple anger and /or hate for the military institution itself. Having devoted a large amount of time to ministry in the military, I'm even more confounded that some of my fellow Presbyterian brothers and sisters have so little regard for those of us who are called to such vocation, whether lay or clergy. It appears that anger "trumps" ministry when that ministry is to people whose call/vocation is not acceptable to us. Maybe if "we" were hungry or naked we'd be more acceptable.

Richard A. Cooper
Executive Presbyter
Presbytery of Western Kentucky
and
Chaplain (Colonel), US Army (retired)