The Citadel: the 'Religion of Special Needs' loses

The Citadel is Dixie's West Point and has been so since 1842. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, it is one of six Senior Military Schools in the country. It has 17 academic departments, 19 major subjects and 36 minors. Students are required to live on campus for their 4-year bachelor's degree.

The Citadel is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school combines physical challenges, academics and military discipline.

The South Carolina Corps of Cadets is one of the largest uniformed student bodies in the United States and all members are required to participate in ROTC.

The mission statement of The Citadel reads:

To educate and develop our students to become principled leaders in all walks of life by instilling the core values of The Citadel in a disciplined and intellectually challenging environment. A unique feature of this environment for the South Carolina Corps of Cadets is the sense of camaraderie produced through teamwork and service to others while following a military lifestyle.

Note the operant words "uniformed," "military" and "camaraderie." 

An American Muslim student admitted to the class of 2020 Corps of Cadets requested permission to wear a hijab, or Islamic headscarf. Religious headscarfs are against the uniform regulations of The Citadel and therefore the young woman was denied permission. 

Citadel President Lt. General John Rosa released a statement explaining that the decision to reject the request came from an "essential" need to standardize the appearance of the cadets regardless of their religious requirements.

Thus, Jews cannot wear yarmulkas, Sikhs cannot allow their hair to grow beyond a specified length nor wear their traditional turban, and Amish cannot wear their straw hats and black coats. 

And so on.

But Islam always presents itself as "the religion of special needs," and wants the rest of the world to accommodate them, rather than the reverse. An example of this occurred at Catholic University in Washington D.C. where Muslims requested that offensive crosses be removed from the school because it distracts them from prayer.

The use of uniforms, particularly at a military academy, is to bring a sense of camaraderie and instill a singleness in purpose. 

"This process reflects an initial relinquishing of self during which cadets learn the value of teamwork to function as a single unit. Upon graduation, The Citadel's graduates are prepared to enter a life committed to principled leadership in military service and civilian careers," Rosa said in the statement. 

Rosa made it clear that in spite of the rejected request, religious beliefs are respected at The Citadel and freshman cadets meet with many faith-based organizations. The school also offers places of worship as well as the accommodation of dietary and prayer requirements.

What they don't offer is Sharia compliance, but the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is doing its best to break that barrier and force all American institutions, private and governmental, to become Sharia compliant or face consequences in the future.

CAIR is an un-indicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial that linked the Muslim Brotherhood to terrorist organizations such as Hamas.

A spokesman for the family of the Muslim future student says the prospective cadet is disappointed over the rejection of being Sharia compliant.

Ibrahim Hooper spoke with the woman to tell her the hijab is off, but Hooper said the woman will not attend The Citadel this fall unless they give in to Sharia law. 

And CAIR, as is their 'go-to' move, will be suing the school.

Why we allow organizations with terrorist ties in our country is beyond belief. All they want, as the Muslim Brotherhood goals show, is to "destroy [their] miserable house from within." 

Just look at Europe and Sharia--this is their goal and "Democracy can go to hell."


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