Tonight was Navy Night at the Sox game (Chicago White Sox for all you non Chicagoans). I’ve gone to many games in my short 22 years of life, many even this season, so I was not caught off guard to have a “theme” night. I’m reluctant to use the word theme here though because it was really more of a special ceremony beforehand. You see, before the game started, a group of individuals, probably around my age or a bit younger, enlisted in the navy officially when they publicly declared their Oath of Enlistment before the crowd. The Oath of Enlistment goes as follows:
THE OATH OF ENLISTMENT
I, ___________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.
As they were reciting it, the words appeared on the screen so that those of us in the crowd could actually know what they were saying. I was caught of guard at the end of the Oath when the phrase, “So help me God” came on the screen, yet the men were asked simply to repeat, “So help me.” Not only did it catch me off guard, it broke my heart. All night long, I couldn’t help but think of this moment and think of the men and women serving in the various branches of our armed forces. Were all of these individuals making their oaths without God nowadays? I mean, after looking into it a bit more, I’ve learned that the Oath of Enlistment for the Marines and the Army also end with the line, “So help me God.” But do they? Is God being removed from these oaths as well?
While I understand that our country is supposed to be one founded on the basis of religious freedom, meaning nobody can be forced to practice religion, I can’t say I feel safe knowing the men and women across the country who are supposed to be protecting that very freedom, along with many more, are taking their oaths without God. What does, “So help me” even mean if there’s no God? Who’s helping you? I’m not asking that these individuals be forced to participate in religious rituals and practices, but is removing God from the Oath really a move towards secularization? Or is it really just another step towards atheism?
