I cannot envision being in today's United States Army..... On Tue, Jul 16, 2013 at 11:45 AM, plainolamerican <[email protected] > wrote:
> the military has created an atmosphere where those who do not approve of > homosexual conduct “must remain disapprovingly silent or face reprisal > --- > and we don't even have hate speech laws ... yet. > > > On Monday, July 15, 2013 4:29:20 PM UTC-5, Travis wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> ** >> Dr. Eowyn posted: "Do you remember our Trail Dust's post of April 28, >> 2013, "Christianity to be outlawed in U.S. military," on the Pentagon >> consulting the virulently anti-Christian atheist Mickey Weinstein to >> develop new policies on "religious tolerance," including a policy" Respond >> to this post by replying above this line >> New post on *Fellowship of the Minds* >> <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/author/eowyn2/> Obama military >> really is persecuting >> Christians<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/obama-military-really-is-persecuting-christians/> >> by >> Dr. Eowyn <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/author/eowyn2/> >> >> Do you remember our Trail Dust's post of April 28, 2013, "Christianity >> to be outlawed in U.S. >> military<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/christianity-to-be-outlawed-in-us-military/>," >> on the Pentagon consulting the virulently anti-Christian atheist *Mickey >> Weinstein* to develop new policies on "religious tolerance," including a >> policy for court-martialing military chaplains who share the Christian >> Gospel during spiritual counseling of American troops? >> >> 3 days later, on May 1, 2013, I posted a follow-up, "Pentagon may court >> martial soldiers for sharing their Christian >> faith<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/pentagon-may-court-martial-soldiers-for-sharing-their-christian-faith/>," >> about a statement from the Pentagon confirming that not only will military >> chaplains be court martialed, *any* soldier who engages in “religious >> proselytization” (i.e., who shares the Christian faith with another) will >> also be subjected to court martial and “non-judicial punishments.” >> >> A day after, on May 2, 2013, Bob Unruh of >> WND<http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/major-change-on-christians-in-military/>reported >> that the Pentagon was backing off. Lt. >> Cmdr. Nathan >> Christensen<http://www.adfmedia.org/files/20130502PentagonEmail.pdf>issued a >> statement saying that the Department of Defense “never and will >> never single out a particular religious group for persecution or >> prosecution.” >> >> Blah. Blah. Blah. >> >> All lies. >> >> *Christians in the U.S. military are being persecuted and prosecuted. *Below >> are two examples of Christian servicemen being coerced to either embrace >> the "gay lifestyle" or get out. >> >> [image: >> persecution-of-christians]<http://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/persecution-of-christians.jpg> >> *1. The case of Technical Sgt. Layne Wilson, a 27-year veteran of the >> Utah Air National Guard.* >> >> Todd Starnes reports for Fox >> News<http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/airman-punished-for-objecting-to-gay-marriage-in-military-chapel.html>, >> July 11, 2013, that *last December, TSgt. Wilson wrote a private emailto a >> chaplain at West Point, stating his unhappiness about a "gay" wedding >> in West Point's Cadet Chapel.* >> >> [image: >> West_Point_Cadet_Chapel]<http://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/west_point_cadet_chapel.jpg> >> *West Point Cadet Chapel* >> >> Wilson wrote: “This is wrong on so many levels. If they wanted to get >> married in a hotel that is one thing. Our base chapels are a place of >> worship and this is a mockery to God and our military core values. I have >> proudly served 27 years and this is a slap in the face to us who have put >> our lives on the line for this country. I hope sir that you will take >> appropriate action so this does not happen again.” >> >> Instead of responding to the private email, the Commandant of Cadets >> notified the Utah Air National Guard. All of which led to *Wilson being >> reprimanded for conduct inconsistent with the United States Air Force*, >> which had brought disgrace and discredit upon the Air National Guard. >> >> In a letter to Wilson, *Lt. Col. Kevin Tobias *of the Air National Guard >> reprimanded Wilson for failing “to render the proper respect to a >> commissioned officer” and that “As a noncommissioned officer you are >> expected to maintain a standard of professional and personal behavior that >> is above reproach. You have failed!” >> >> *Col. Ronald Blunck* concurred with Tobias – noting that TSgt. Wilson's >> “right to practice your religious beliefs does not excuse you from >> complying with directives, instructions and lawful orders.” >> >> *After formally reprimanding Wilson, the Air National Guard then >> terminated its six-year reenlistment contract with Wilson, in effect >> telling him to retire.* “Due to the fact that I expressed my views on >> homosexuality in uniform; Lt. Col. Tobias stated that I was no longer >> compatible with further military service,” Wilson wrote in a letter >> detailing the discrimination allegations. >> >> *What is even more outrageous is that at the time of Wilson being >> reprimanded, the Supreme Court had not yet ruled on the Defense of Marriage >> Act (DOMA), which means DOMA was still the law of the land. In other >> words, in objecting to the homosexual wedding in the West Point chapel, >> TSgt. Wilson was merely expressing his disapproval of an act that was in >> violation of a federal law!* >> >> Wilson maintains that the military has created an atmosphere where those >> who do not approve of homosexual conduct “must remain disapprovingly silent >> or face reprisal to our careers. It is evident those who refuse to affirm >> homosexuality and openly oppose it are being severely punished.” >> >> [image: John >> Wells]<http://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/john-wells.jpg>TSgt. >> Wilson has retained the counsel of *attorney John B. >> Wells<http://www.johnwellslaw.com/> >> *, a retired Navy commander, who is asking the military to rescind the >> reprimand and reinstate the original six-year reenlistment contract with >> Wilson. >> >> “This was an executed contract,” Wells said. “But they just went in, tore >> it up and issued a new one.” Wells said his client’s only “crime” was >> registering his opinion that a gay marriage in a military chapel was a >> violation of the law that existed at that time. “His actions were proper >> within the scope of the Uniform Code and the Manual for Courts-Martial. >> While his interpretation of the law may or may not have been correct, his >> actions should not have given rise to the firestorm of reprisals that he >> has suffered.” >> >> Wells believes that incidents like TSgt. Wilson's are just the "tip of >> the iceberg" and that “The military is trying to make examples of people >> who have religious beliefs that homosexual conduct in the military is >> wrong. When these people assert their First Amendment rights, they are >> getting slapped down and slapped down hard. *The end game is to force >> conservative Christians out of the military.*” >> *2. The case of Master Sgt. Nathan Sommers, a 25-year Army veteran.* >> >> Todd Starnes reports for Fox News >> Radio<http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/army-reprimands-soldier-under-fire-for-religious-beliefs.html>, >> June 24, 2013, that Master Sgt. Sommers is a 25-year military veteran, a >> decorated soloist with the U.S. Army Band, and a Christian conservative. >> >> *On June 9, 2013, one day after Sommers told Fox News he was facing >> discrimination and persecution because of his conservative political and >> religious beliefs, the master sergeant was found guilty of three Article 15 >> charges*: >> >> 1. Failing to go to an appointed place of duty; >> 2. Disobeying an order; and >> 3. Making a false official statement. >> >> But according to attorney* John Wells, *the Army's charges against >> Sommers stemmed from his giving a superior officer the wrong date for a >> doctor’s appointment. As for the charge of Sommers disobeying an order, >> Wells explains that in order to comply with that order, Sommers would have >> had to disclose private information about his autistic son’s medical >> records. “The timing does seem strange,” Wells told Fox News. “It’s >> suspicious. It looks like a graduated attempt to build a case against him >> on some really ridiculous charges.." >> >> >> >> >> >> Although Sommers received an oral reprimand and will not be reduced in >> rank, Wells says he plans on appealing the non-judicial punishment and is >> considering *a lawsuit under the Administrative Procedures Act and the >> Religious Freedom Restoration Act*: “MSgt. Sommers wants to thank the >> tens of thousands of Americans that have followed his case and offered up >> prayers for his case. He has decided to put his fate in God’s hands and >> continues to pray for those who are persecuting him.” >> >> >> >> >> >> *Retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin *believes the Army is trying to send a >> message to not only Sommers but others in his unit: “Over my 36 years in >> the US Army I saw numerous situations like this where a soldier is singled >> out by the chain of command for punishment. The Article 15 proceeding may >> be technically legitimate, but one must recognize that an Army Master >> Sergeant with 25 years does not normally do stupid things that are easily >> avoidable unless there is some mitigating circumstance.” >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> MSgt. Sommers believes the real reasons why he was reprimanded are his >> conservative political beliefs and Christian faith. >> >> His troubles began last year when *he was confronted about having >> pro-Republican and anti-Obama bumper stickers on his personal vehicle. *The >> stickers read: “Political Dissent is NOT Racism,” “NOBAMA,” "NOPE2012,” and >> “The Road to Bankruptcy is Paved with Ass-Fault.” That last bumper sticker >> included the image of a donkey. Sommers was told by his superior officer >> that the bumper stickers were creating “unnecessary workplace tension.” >> >> >> >> *Sommers also came under fire for reading the works of conservative Mark >> Levin, Sean Hannity and David Limbaugh.* Last summer he was quietly >> reading Limbaugh’s *The Great Destroyer* backstage at a concert when a >> superior officer told him that he was causing “unit disruption” and was >> offending other soldiers. “I wasn’t reading aloud,” Sommers told Fox News. >> “I was just reading privately to myself. I was told they were frowning on >> that and they warned me that I should not be reading literature like that >> backstage because it was offensive.” >> >> >> >> >> >> But *the incident that led to an official investigation of Sommers came >> late last summer when he served Chick-fil-A sandwiches, paid for with his >> own money, at his promotion party.* >> >> >> >> “My family likes Chick-fil-A and we like what they stand for,” he said. >> “I can make a statement and at least express a religious point of view at >> my promotion party – theoretically without any fear of reprisal.” The >> soldier also tweeted about the party: “In honor of DADT repeal, and >> Obama/Holder’s refusal to enforce DOMA act, I’m serving Chick-fil-A at my >> MSG promo reception for Army today.” >> >> >> >> The tweet came under fire from his superior officers, according to an >> official military document that states: “As a Soldier you must be cognizant >> of the fact that your statements can be perceived by the general public and >> other service members to be of a nature bordering on disrespect to the >> President of the United States.” >> >> >> >> >> >> Attorney Wells believes Sommers is being discriminated against not only >> because of his Christian faith, but also because of his objections to >> homosexuality: “There’s no question about it. Because he is religious, >> because he feels that homosexual conduct is wrong for religious reasons, he >> is basically being persecuted." >> >> H/t Western Center for >> Journalism<http://www.westernjournalism.com/christians-need-not-apply/> >> >> *~Eowyn* >> *Dr. Eowyn <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/author/eowyn2/>* | >> July 15, 2013 at 2:13 pm | Tags: Col. Ronald >> Blunck<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=col-ronald-blunck>, >> John Wells <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=john-wells>, Lt. >> Cmdr. Nathan >> Christensen<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=lt-cmdr-nathan-christensen>, >> Lt. Col. Kevin >> Tobias<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=lt-col-kevin-tobias>, >> Lt. Gen. Jerry >> Boykin<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=lt-gen-jerry-boykin>, >> Master Sgt. Nathan >> Sommers<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=master-sgt-nathan-sommers>, >> Mickey >> Weinstein<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=mickey-weinstein>, >> Technical Sgt. Layne >> Wilson<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?tag=technical-sgt-layne-wilson>| >> Categories: >> Christians/Christianity<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?cat=111409284>, >> Culture War <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?cat=20812>, >> Gays<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?cat=35219924>, >> Liberals/Democrats/Left<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?cat=115894710>, >> Military <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?cat=33806753>, Obama's >> America <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?cat=12285619>, >> persecution <http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?cat=79343>, >> Religion<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/?cat=4983159>| URL: >> http://wp.me/pKuKY-mtV >> >> >> Comment<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/obama-military-really-is-persecuting-christians/#respond> >> See all >> comments<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/obama-military-really-is-persecuting-christians/#comments> >> >> Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage >> Subscriptions<https://subscribe.wordpress.com/?key=80d8873ee52adffe4e178d01c25562cf&email=goosepickles%40gmail.com>. >> >> >> *Trouble clicking?* Copy and paste this URL into your browser: >> http://fellowshipofminds.**wordpress.com/2013/07/15/** >> obama-military-really-is-**persecuting-christians/<http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/obama-military-really-is-persecuting-christians/> >> Thanks for flying with WordPress.com <http://wordpress.com> >> >> >> -- > -- > Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. > For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum > > * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ > * It's active and moderated. 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