In Theory comments missed a point

All of the commentators to the Feb. 19 In Theory question, “Should the military test spirituality?” — even those who correctly pointed out that such testing makes a travesty of our Constitution’s separation of church and state — missed a vital point.

No one mentioned one infamous soldier who would undoubtedly have passed the test with flying colors: Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a devoutly religious man who murdered 13 of his fellow soldiers at Ft. Hood in November 2009. I’m sure he “often found comfort in his religion and spiritual beliefs,” and in difficult times, prayed or meditated.

Yes, our soldiers need and deserve counseling to help them come to terms with the horrific experiences they have had in the military, and the terrible things they have done. But to be effective, counseling must reach the soldier where they are and respect who they are, not attempt to impose any particular set of beliefs.

I would like to say that I expected better from our military. But then, Hasan was an Army psychiatrist.

Mary-Lynne Fisher

La Crescenta