The LA Times Crosses Over

It's impossible to know if all the marines in the videos are Christians, or if they willingly marched up the hill to a ceremony that had religious meaning. What's certain is that teamwork and conformity, not individuality, are ingrained in military doctrine. So it's doubtful a non-Christian or non-believer would complain to a squad leader or platoon sergeant about being forced to attend a Christian religious ceremony—or, for that matter, a Christian who didn't approve of being taken to Jesus without his or her consent. Getting tagged as not being a team player is as bad as being branded the one in the squad who can't be depended on when you walk into the shit.

I haven't had a reason to review the American fighting man's Code of Conduct recently. But 45 years ago, it began with the purpose that "I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life" and ended with "I will trust in my God and in the United States of America." It did not say, "God who is symbolized by a Christian cross."

Meranda Carter

Semper Fidelis, indeed

Details

H.G. Reza worked at the Los Angeles Times for 25 years, 14 of them in Orange County. He was an Army combat infantryman in Vietnam with MACV Advisory Team 3, assigned to a six-man U.S. team that lived and fought with a South Vietnamese militia company.

Related Content

• [UPDATED with I.D.:] Camp Pendleton Marine Road Rager Sgt. Joshua Brightman was an Online Video Star Already
  April 4, 2013
• Is Calvary Chapel Preparing Camp Pendleton Marines to Fight for the End Times?
  August 14, 2012
• We Hang Out With Some Crazy Marines Drinking Their Asses Off at Coachella
  April 21, 2013
• Doc al-Qaeda
  March 21, 2013
• Oytun Ayse Mihalik, Former CVS Pharmacist, Gets 5 Years in Federal Prison for Aiding Al-Qaeda
  March 29, 2013

More About

• Camp Pendleton
• Tony Perry
• U.S. Marine Corps
• Religion
• Atheism and Agnosticism

This article appeared in print as "Crossing Over: How theLos Angeles Times' cozy relationship with Camp Pendleton hampers its coverage of religious controversies on the base."