An atheist airman at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada was denied reenlistment last month for refusing to take an oath containing “so help me God,” the American Humanist Association said Thursday.
And in a Sept. 2 letter to the inspectors general for the Air Force and Creech, Monica Miller, an attorney with the AHA’s Apignani Humanist Legal Center, said the airman should be allowed to reenlist without having to swear to a deity, and instead given a secular oath. Miller said the AHA is prepared to sue if the airman is not allowed to reenlist.
According to the AHA, the unnamed airman was told Aug. 25 that the Air Force would not accept his contract because he had crossed out the phrase “so help me God.” The airman was told his only options were to sign the religious oath section of the contract without adjustment and recite an oath concluding with “so help me God,” or leave the Air Force, the AHA said.
That is unconstitutional and unacceptable, the AHA said.
“The government cannot compel a nonbeliever to take an oath that affirms the existence of a supreme being,” Miller said. “Numerous cases affirm that atheists have the right to omit theistic language from enlistment or reenlistment contracts.”
Do these people really believe that saying "so help me God" holds any sway over a person's decision to honor a contract with the military or not?
It's like having to swear to tell the truth on a Bible.
People still lie, with little regard for the possibility that they may call upon themselves the wrath of God or not.
And by the way, whatever happened to the separation of church and state?
This is a case where President Obama should tell his secretary of defense to overturn this immediately and demote the general who put this policy into effect. Teach these bastards a lesson.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this is bullshit. It should be interesting to see how this shakes out with the Christianist-Support the Troops brigade.
ReplyDeleteEither he's a patriot hero for being willing to die for our freedom or an evil athiest who should be chased from America. Can't have it both ways.
Reminds me of something I saw on TV last night -- an interview with the American doctor who survived Ebola. According to him and to his wife, the question of his survival was totally in God's hands. Oh puhleeeeeeeze! How can any sane and educated person actually believe that? And yet I hear that same comment over and over and over ad nauseum. These are the same folks who cannot understand how Jim Jones got 500 people to follow him out of the U.S., and then commit suicide......
ReplyDeleteThey're missionaries sent to heal bodies and push christianity. The third arrived later, but he's not getting the same life saving medicine because they're out of it.
DeleteOnce again, our tax dollars going to tax exempt church missions. I know the intentions are good, but I wonder if a humanist organization in the same circumstances would have to reimburse the Gov't?
"Do these people really believe that saying "so help me God" holds any sway over a person's decision to honor a contract with the military or not?"
ReplyDeleteYes...
yes they do.
And they also believe that saying "So help me Allah" doesn't count.
It's the religious analogue to preferring "ooogedy-booogedy" over "uggeddy-buggedy".
Scratch out "so help me god" and write in "on my honor." I'd take and respect this Airman's honor over their god any time.
ReplyDeleteWhat can you expect from a country that was founded on greed, hate, lies, murder, rape, torture, back stabbing, dirty dealing, double talking, money grabbing, power hungry, arrogant, assholes? It's been this way since day one and continues to be. WHY? Exceptional my ass! It's always been, me for me and all for me and fuck you.
There are exceptional people that live here AND all over the world.
Oh come on! We all know the Bible is MAGIC! whenever people are forced to swear on the Bible they AUTOMATICALLY tell the truth! Duh! Why else do you think they do it? There has to be a really good reason.
ReplyDeleteSame for saying the oath. It makes you a perfect American soldier fighting to defend American freedom and because of that you can never do any wrong whatsoever. You are an American soldier! You should be untouchable- like that guy caught in Mexico!
If you swear on the oath you are a true American hero and no one should ever question you ever ever ever.
If you don't swear the oath...we don't claim you. Simple.
/snark off
The one and only time I've been called for jury duty, about thirty years ago, I nervously explained to the judge that I took exception to the phrase in the juror's oath, "so help me God." The judge allowed me to pledge the oath, sans that phrase, and to continue to perform my civic duty. I was impressed with the judge's impartiality, and proud of myself for having stood by my convictions, but as you can imagine, there was no shortage of disapproving looks from dozens of others in the courtroom that morning.
ReplyDeleteMore proof that America wants a holy war, fought by good, God-fearing fanatics.
ReplyDeleteThere aught to be a law against this crapola. Can an American of Muslim faith say "So help me, Allah" with their hand on the Quoran? And what difference does it make? An oath shows the one taking it's volition and consent to fight for their country?
ReplyDeleteIsn't it legal to have a humanist symbol on a soldier's grave?