Public Confidence in the Military

Ben Wattenberg’s column (Editorial Pages, Jan. 12), “Military Can Count on Public Confidence,” should be viewed with alarm by all thinking persons capable of understanding the implications of its content.

Wattenberg takes great pleasure in announcing the results of recent public opinion polls revealing that the American public has more confidence in the military than in organized religion or any other institution. He then proceeds to gleefully attribute this fortuitous development to what he perceives as the churches’ controversial stands on apartheid, the nuclear arms race and social justice.

One can accurately conclude from Wattenberg’s column that he shares the same distorted views on the responsibility of religion in our society as do his counterparts on the religious right.

The results of the 1986 Gallup and Harris polls alluded to in the column should be regarded as tragic events. Tragic because they reveal that Ronald Reagan, through his constant glorification of military might, his psychotic obsession with standing tall and his irrational penchant for getting government off our backs, has finally succeeded in infecting the moral psyche of our society.

In light of this most disturbing revelation, it is more important now than ever that the leaders of all organized Christian religions speak out forcefully and unhesitatingly on all issues that affect the moral and spiritual well-being of their members:

In speaking out on the evils of apartheid; in confronting the immorality of the arms race and its obscene waste of human and material resources; and in denouncing the deplorable manner in which our society administers to the needs of its most disadvantaged, the churches are honoring their respective commitments to Christ’s sacred ministry.

Let us never forget that Christ did not come on earth to win a popularity contest. On the contrary, he came to challenge us to a more meaningful way of life. I fervently pray that the churches will never abandon their responsibility to confront the obstacles to that challenge--be it the threat of nuclear annihilation or a callous disregard for economic justice for all.

ROBERT A. McKENNON

Hacienda Heights