A military watchdog organization filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday against the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and a US Army major, on behalf of an Army soldier stationed in Iraq. The suit charges the Pentagon with widespread constitutional violations by allegedly trying to force the soldier to embrace evangelical Christianity and then retaliating against him when he refused.
"Immediately after plaintiff made it known he would decline to join hands and pray, he was confronted, in the presence of other military personnel, by the senior ranking ... staff sergeant who asked plaintiff why he did not want to pray, whereupon plaintiff explained because he is an atheist," says the lawsuit, a copy of which was provided to Truthout. "The staff sergeant asked plaintiff what an atheist is and plaintiff responded it meant that he (plaintiff) did not believe in God. This response caused the staff sergeant to tell plaintiff that he would have to sit elsewhere for the Thanksgiving dinner. Nonetheless, plaintiff sat at the table in silence and finished his meal."
Religious freedom is only espoused by Christians when they fear that their own beliefs are under fire.
Nobody should have to be forced to feel uncomfortable due to their beliefs or lack of beliefs in their workplace. Especially while facing danger everyday.
I just had to shoo away some bible thumpers while I was in the middle of posting this. Seriously.
Now I do not know any Atheists who feel it is appropriate to go door to door telling people that they should embrace their lack of beliefs. But these arrogant assholes have no problem interrupting a person in their home in an attempt to shove their primitive superstitions down our throats.
this is wrong....and he had to eat in Silence on Thanksgiving...that is just cruel....nothing worse than a bible thumper with a gun..
ReplyDelete