Troops: Skipping Christian concert got us punished

[Riverwind (imported)]

Mac, this is exactly what we are talking about,

Troops: Skipping Christian concert got us punished

http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/p/ap_logo_106.png (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/bra ... conditions)

By STEVE SZKOTAK, Associated Press Writer Steve Szkotak, Associated Press Writer – Fri Aug 20, 9:53 pm ET

RICHMOND, Va. – The Army said Friday it was investigating a claim that dozens of soldiers who refused to attend a Christian band's concert at a Virginia (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100821/ap_ ... t_soldiers#) military base were banished to their barracks and told to clean them up.

Fort Eustis spokesman Rick Haverinen told The Associated Press he couldn't comment on the specifics of the investigation. At the Pentagon, Army spokesman Col. Thomas Collins said the military shouldn't impose religious views on soldiers.

"If something like that were to have happened, it would be contrary to Army policy (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100821/ap_ ... t_soldiers#)," Collins said.

Pvt. Anthony Smith said he and other soldiers felt pressured to attend the May concert while stationed at the Newport News base, home of the Army's Transportation Corps (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100821/ap_ ... t_soldiers#).

"My whole issue was I don't need to be preached at," Smith said in a phone interview from Phoenix, where he is stationed with the National Guard. "That's not what I signed up for."

Smith, 21, was stationed in Virginia for nearly seven months for helicopter electrician training when the Christian rock group BarlowGirl played as part of the "Commanding General's Spiritual Fitness Concerts."

Smith said a staff sergeant (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100821/ap_ ... t_soldiers#) told 200 men in their barracks they could either attend or remain in their barracks. Eighty to 100 decided not to attend, he said.

"Instead of being released to our personal time, we were locked down," Smith said. "It seemed very much like a punishment."

The [Military Religious Freedom [Foundation (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100821/ap_ ... t_soldiers#) first reported on the Christian concert. The foundation said it was approached by soldiers who were punished for not attending or offended by the religious theme of the event.

The group's president, [Mikey Weinstein (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100821/ap_ ... t_soldiers#), claims Christian-themed events are "ubiquitous" throughout the military, and he credited the soldiers for stepping forward.

"Whenever we see this egregious, unconstitutional religious tyranny our job is to fight it," he said.

Smith said he and the other soldiers were told not to use their cell phones or personal computers and ordered to clean up the barracks.

About 20 of the men, including several Muslims, refused to attend the concert based on their religious beliefs, he said.

Smith said he went up the chain of command and traced the concert edict to a captain, who said he simply wanted to "show support for those kind of events that bring soldiers together."

While not accepting blame, the officer apologized to the soldiers who refused to attend the concert and said it was not his intent to proselytize, he said.

"But once you get in there, you realize it's evangelization," Smith said.

___

This is the kind of right wing crap that pisses off normal everyday Patriotic Americans.

OH yes, and I provided you with the story and the link.

River

[Mac (imported)]

River,

Yes there is bias both ways. However, Christian Military Chaplins have also been disiciplined for praying as their faith dictates. They have been restricted in the exercise of their faith.

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=39655

Both forcing non-believers per your example and restricting the Chaplins should be considered to be wrong. If you employ Chaplins of all faiths as a service to their believers they should be allowed to freely profess that faith.

[Riverwind (imported)]

What part of the article did you miss? Was it the part where troops were punished for NOT attending a religious act?

Trying to white wash it does not cut it.

When this investigation is over someone is going to get punished, it might only be that poor sgt. it may be the chaplain but somebody is going to catch hell for it and rightly so.

But you are so miffed when you think someone if taking away what you think is your religious freedom to shove it in everybody face but feel its your duty when you catch someone else you think is doing the same thing to point it out. Then like a true believer you point your finger and say see, see what there doing? and try as you might to minimize when you get caught doing the same thing.

One is a foot washing station the other was forced participation.

River

[Dave (imported)]

River,

Yes there is bias both ways. However, Christian Military Chaplins have also been disiciplined for praying as their faith dictates. They have been restricted in the exercise of their faith.

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=39655

Both forcing non-believers per your example and restricting the Chaplins should be considered to be wrong. If you employ Chaplins of all faiths as a service to their believers they should be allowed to freely profess that faith.

No, it's not equivalent. World Net Daily is one of the most dishonest web sites on the planet. I would sooner trust the National Inquirer than WND.

Now you want to know what I dislike --

semi-religious,self-doubting, right wing, bat-shit crazy people who wrap themselves in the American Flag and declare everyone else apostate and traitor and "other"...

Do they honestly think I don't love America?

Do they or you or anyone else online honestly think that River or any one else doesn't?

That what offends me. The arrogant, superficiality of their disdain for anyone who isn't on your political side. The hatred expressed by the Tea Party is palpable and it lives in their hearts. They hate the OTHER, the NOT THEM.

I do not like being compared to Nazi's and Communists when that's the farthest thing from the truth. That's my complaint about what I do not like.

Being asked to tolerate Dr Laura's idiotic rantings about N***** and every other impolite word that she and Limbaugh, a convicted criminal, think they ought to be allowed to say say in public. Well I got news for you, even what I just typed OFFENDS ME. Just seeing their lily white ass of a face spouting the shit of the racism contained in that word, OFFENDS ME.

I've seen racism and been a victim and I've scrubbed it from my heart and my behavior but they want to create a shrine to keeping out the OTHER, to disparaging the OTHER, to making the OTHER less than human.

ANd the worst of it is, they Demand that they be the moral arbiters of the world, that they have the right to tell anyone how and where to worship God. THAT OFFENDS ME.

Don't ask me to say much more because it might be a truth you don't want to hear.

[A-1 (imported)]

Dave, I am willing to take the risk, SAY IT, please...

[Mac (imported)]

River, I did not miss that point in the article. I totally agree with you that forcing compliance of the non-believers was wrong and that somebody should be punished.

River and Dave, I realize that our views differ widely on many issues but I support your right to freely express your views. I will never personaly attack you for expressing your views.

We should be able to be friends and to be open to each other's views even though we may frequently dissagree.

I have never tried to tell you where or how to (or not to) worship and will not attempt to do so. I have only questioned restricting the rights of any group at the request of those who disagree with their views.

On that point, I think that we agree.

[seriously curious (imported)]

River, I did not miss that point in the article. I totally agree with you that forcing compliance of the non-believers was wrong and that somebody should be punished.

Are you kidding me "NON-BELIEVERS" The article mentioned some Muslims other than that there was nothing said about the other soldiers religious conviction. Allow me to illustatrate a point. I am Catholic, I am the original Christian When Jesus said to Peter you are the rock that I build my church on, Peter went on to found Catholisim. Know I understand that you believe me to be a NON BELIEVER, because I dont adhear to a protestant faith. I' am truly, truly sickend by the statement of NON BELIEVER. Get a grip!

[seriously curious (imported)]

River, I did not miss that point in the article. I totally agree with you that forcing compliance of the non-believers was wron

g and that somebody should be punished.

Are you kidding me "NON-BELIEVERS" The article mentioned some Muslims other than that there was nothing said about the other soldiers religious conviction. Allow me to illustatrate a point. I am Catholic, I am the original Christian When Jesus said to Peter you are the rock that I build my church on, Peter went on to found Catholisim. Know I understand that you believe me to be a NON BELIEVER, because I dont adhear to a protestant faith. I' am truly, truly sic

kend by the statement of NON BELIEVER. Get a grip!

Could someone explain to me how you do the quote thing I'm a bit flummoxed on how to do it

[Sweetpickle (imported)]

Some of you sound as close-minded as Rush.

It was clearly wrong for a sargeant to do that if the article is accurate.

That does not mean that it's something the Army condones. Maybe

they'll throw the sargeant in the brig.

What about the Army's policy of not allowing it's personel to take

bibles to Iraq, do you approve of that?

This country was founded by people seeking the seperation of church

and state, and it's still a struggle every day to keep all the zealots

who want to force their ideas onto us at bay.

If you want to practice religion or anti-religion that's OK with me,

but don't try to shove your personal brand of shit in my face.

[Mac (imported)]

seriously curious,

I never made any charges against you or any other group. I only agreed that it was wrong to force people of other beliefs to attend. By the term "non-believer" I simply meant those who didn't agree with the beliefs of the group making the presentation.

On your comment regarding being a Catholic and a Christian, yes you are a Christian.