Right here in our own back yard, it appears that someone in the military is practicing religious oppression. According to the Huffington Post:
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 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,” 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.
“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 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 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.
Shades of what was going on at the Air Force Academy. Mikey Weinstein and his organization were all over this effrontery. NPR.org explains:
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation 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, 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.
Mikey Weinstein got very involved with first amendment issues, specifically the establishment clause issues, when his kids were attending the Air Force Academy. Some contributors might remember him from the film Constantine’s Sword. His kids felt they were under a tremendous amount of pressure from the school to attend evangelical events, religious films, and services. Additionally, his sons suffered harassment.
When will people learn that this kind of mandated attendance is simply unacceptable in a pluralistic society. Most of us have no problem with these events being staged. Some people love Christian Rock music. However, attendance should be optional. To punish those soldiers who did not chose to attend by having a lock down is just dead wrong. Hopefully, those who forced the issue will be identified and punished themselves.
Further reading:
Wow, HuffPo having a hard time finding news stories??
I will admit, listening to Christian Rock music is, without doubt, punishment. Makes water-boarding look like a massage.
Huffington Post was only one of about 30 that had the article. Check it out before you take a shot at Huff.
I would have skipped also. I agree about the waterboarding. I do like most traditional hymns. Its all a matter of taste.
Here you go, Slowie. Beliefnet.com must have had a hard time finding news stories also. Here it is from the ‘other side.’ wowowowowowow
http://blog.beliefnet.com/gospelsoundcheck/2010/08/barlowgirl-concert-causes-cont.html
(I even agree with the author on this one.)
@Moon-howler
Ithink Slowpokes true colors are beginning to show through. Somehow I think if the Huffington Post reported the discovery of anything out of the ordinary on a “slow news day”, say the alleged golden tablets on which the Book of Mormon were based or perhaps one of the alleged tablets containing the ten commandments, Slowpoke would find something wrong with it.
George, good morning. I think you are on to something.
I hope Slowpoke isn’t waiting for me to consider World Net Daily as my main source for all the stories. I was tempted to put up the Ann Coulter one though. 😉
Where do we draw the line on what the military is required to do as far as religion is concerned?
I thought they had cleaned up their act as far as bias goes. Don’t they now recognize Wiccans as a legitimate religion?
@Moon-howler
Wiccans in the military? Here is a lengthy article from the WaPo regarding Wiccans:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/june99/wicca08.htm
But I would say I can believe the story about the concert. You have to understand how the “word” comes down from the commander to the troops–goes through many iterations before some sqaud leader puts out the “word” to the troops. So the commander says, “I would like a good turnout for this concert” becomes, “Ok you clowns, get your asses to that concert or we’ll find something ‘constructive’ for you to do, like clean the barracks.”
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt, Gimme Cap and CD! 😉
I would like a few more details before jumping on the bandwagon. For instance, did this concert take place between 8 and 5 on a normal weekday? It may be that soldiers were excused from normal duty to attend a special event. If they did not participate, then they would be required to perform their normal duty. There are plenty of non-religious events for which this happens all the time. Community outreach at schools. Volunteering to participate in charity events.
But George is also right. These types of things can and do happen when a squad leader (mis)interprets statements from his chain of command.
George, the squadron leaders sound like my mother. You never wanted to let that woman think you might be bored.
kelly, somewhere between Mikey Weinstein’s group and Huffington post might be your answer. And you make a good point. Was it when they would have been doing normal work and the default was to work and the exception was to attend a concert? Both you and George have brought 2 different points of view to the table that might shed some light on things.
Perhaps it wasn’t religious oppression. I wonder how we could find out? I know it does happen. Someone gets overly zealous to save the world….
I also know that there are people who want to make something out of nothing…like disgruntled soldiers.
George, that was an excellent piece on Wiccans. Didn’t realize it had been 11 years ago. Naturally some busy body had to mess with them.
As you would if it were on Breitbart. And Moon……Beliefnet.com????? LOL.
If this story were on Fox News, I’d say: “Fox News having a hard time finding news stories?” It wasn’t a shot at HuffPo. Now my mocking Ahhhhhriana Huffington’s ridiculous accent, THAT’S taking a shot at HuffPo.
Breitbart…nah I wouldn’t be on there. Beliefnet. Not even sure what it is…but it doesn’t sound very howlerly.
And you know I use Fox often….and why. HOOOOWWWLLLLLL!
Ahhhhriana isn’t one of my favorites, for sure.
@Slowpoke Rodriguez
Were you on Breitbard and Beliefnet? I missed it!!!
@George S. Harris
Hey, George
Go check out HuffPo’s lead breaking news. Can’t miss it…letters so big and red, it’s one letter per screen. Then read the story. I’m supposed to respect these folks?
Glenn Beck? He is an idiot. He need to stop with the non diplomacy. He is way out of his league.
His political agenda will help bridge any gaps.
Slow,
I liked your new avatar, put it back!
@Elena
That was from my cell phone at lunch. I have to put the right email address in my cell phone. But then again, I’m waiting for my droid X to come in. I “pre-ordered” it, like a month and a half ago. I walk into the store now and they just start laughing ’cause they know I’m going to ask “where’s my f*(&ing Droid X?”
My daughter got the droid x in Florida last month. She cant put it down.