Troops Force Fed Christianity

CHUQ · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:18 am Post subject: Troops Force Fed Christianity

I thought this was a very interesting article. Thoughts?

At Speicher base in Iraq, US Army Spec. Jeremy Hall got permission from a chaplain in August to post fliers announcing a meeting for atheists and other nonbelievers. When the group gathered, Specialist Hall alleges, his Army major supervisor disrupted the meeting and threatened to retaliate against him, including blocking his reenlistment in the Army.

Months earlier, Hall charges, he had been publicly berated by a staff sergeant for not agreeing to join in a Thanksgiving Day prayer.

On Sept. 17, the soldier and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) filed suit against Army Maj. Freddy Welborn and US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, charging violations of Hall's constitutional rights, including being forced to submit to a religious test to qualify as a soldier.

LINK
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Tumbleweed · Black Ops Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 3687 votes: 3

Quote:

When the group gathered, Specialist Hall alleges, his Army major supervisor disrupted the meeting and threatened to retaliate against him, including blocking his reenlistment in the Army

Sounds like that is a violation of our constitution, though I don't know how that applies to our military.
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Izzibeth · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:24 pm Post subject:

I believe the case has gotten pretty big. Also, it would be illegal (and will be brought up during trial from what I understand) for the major to attempt to block Hall's re-enlistment (which he did try to do) based on his religious affiliation.

sglaine · NSA Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 123 votes: 1

Yeah I'm sure that is Bush's idea for sure.....Back when Bush ran the last election his campaign supporter had to sign an affidavit that they would only vote for him.

I wonder if any Republicans are doing that this time around

Tumbleweed · Black Ops Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 3687 votes: 3

Atheists and other nonbelievers deserve evey right all of us have. To say they can't have the right to assemble sounds odd.
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To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.
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It's impossible to be an effective leader of a country when everyone thinks you are stupid.

CHUQ · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:04 am Post subject:

sglaine wrote:

Yeah I'm sure that is Bush's idea for sure.....Back when Bush ran the last election his campaign supporter had to sign an affidavit that they would only vote for him.

I wonder if any Republicans are doing that this time around

Good question and I would say it will depend on which of the boys gets the nomination. If Rudy is the lucky one, there will probably be no such affidavit.
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Kizzume · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 6:55 am Post subject: religion

When I read this story and then hear right wingers talk about how "Christians are losing rights", it really makes me wonder what they think their "rights" are.
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Rupchuk · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 1:35 am Post subject:

Thanksgiving? Not really Christian, it's about as Christian as Christmas (which to the uninformed seems Christian, it's not it's really Catholic with pagan influences).

Anyways I would think that Hall's supervisor would get his nuts chopped off for trying to block a soldier's re-enlistment for trivial reasons, especially when the Army is hurting for bodies.
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CHUQ · Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:40 am Post subject:

Hiya Rup! How's things going for you? OK, I agree, there is no excuse for forcing religionj on anyone and then using it in a re-enlistment thing is just sad.
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Rupchuk · Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 9:41 pm Post subject:

Good seeing as how I'm no longer in Kuwait. Smile

Something to think about. When I was in Kuwait Ramadan started, on like the 12th or so. They made us do certain things to try and be as non-offensive as possible to our hosts. We weren't supposed to eat, smoke, or drink (except water) outside.
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"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."