Air Force Throws Out Bibles but Forces Observance of Ramadan

Eagle Rising ^ | June 30 2014 | Onan Coca

[PoloSec]

The Air Force has decided to force our airmen serving in Bahrain to observe the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In case you think I must be making it up, read it for yourselves at Stars and Stripes, the official military news website.

U.S. personnel accustomed to drinking their coffee on the drive to work will have to put that habit on hold for about a month. It’s one of a few lifestyle changes Americans will have to make during the holy month of Ramadan.

…

For the 8,200 U.S. personnel living here, and those serving throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility — including service members, civilian personnel, contractors and family members — the month may require changing some daily routines.

…

Navy officials are requiring U.S. personnel to dress more conservatively off-base during Ramadan. Although not a requirement by Bahraini authorities, the Navy is demanding that men wear long-sleeved shirts and women wear sleeved blouses that cover their elbows. Also, men must wear long trousers, and women should wear pants or skirts that cover the knees.

Base cultural advisers have spent the last few weeks conducting Ramadan briefs to educate Americans about the holy month. Ali Hassan briefed about 150 personnel Tuesday about Islam, the lunar calendar and customs and traditions during Ramadan.

…

Hassan encouraged personnel to experience Iftar in a Ramadan tent, many of which are set up at various locations around Bahrain during the holy month and welcome non-Muslims.

“Make it a point to visit these tents while you’re here. You don’t know if you’ll ever come back to Bahrain in the future,” Hassan said during the brief.

For the last few years the Air Force has been cracking down on the rights of its Christians servicemen and women (see examples here, here and here), so this embrace of Islam is downright disturbing. The Air Force has repeatedly claimed that it is not persecuting Christian servicemen but only enforcing the imaginary “separation of church and state.” This latest acceptance of Islam seems to throw all of those rebuttals into question.

Just a couple of months ago the Air Force decided that they wouldn’t allow one of America’s most cherished Christian organizations, the Gideons, to distribute Bible’s to welcoming service people anymore.

For more than a decade new military recruits at Maxwell Air Force Base – Gunter Annex in Alabama have received a Bible from Gideons International volunteers. But that tradition has come to an end after volunteers said they were told by the military that they would no longer be allowed to personally distribute the pocket-sized Bibles to recruits.

 

“They kicked us out,” Gideon’s volunteer Michael Fredenburg told me in a telephone interview from his home in Montgomery, Ala. “They told us, ‘get your Bibles out.’”

So it’s not okay for the Gideons to give Bible’s to our airmen, it’s not okay for a soldier to write a verse on his white board which is for private and public correspondence, and it’s not okay for Christian servicemen to believe gay marriage is wrong… but it is totally acceptable for the military to force our servicemen and women to learn about Ramadan, to adjust their lifestyle for Ramadan, and to encourage our servicemen and women to TAKE PART in RAMADAN?

This makes absolutely no sense.

[reg45]

Celebrate Ramadan, hold a pig roast!

[GeronL]

I do not know why this would surprise anyone.

They will ban Christianity from schools while handing Korans and burqua’s to the students if they could.

[AU72]

That means no food or drink for 15 hours a day for 28 days in the desert.

[Responsibility2nd]

Solders must observe Rama Dama Ding Dong. Just like our Head Muzzie in Charge.

 

Statement by the President on the Occasion of Ramadan

Friday, June 27, 2014 2:35:29 PM · by Citizen Zed · 31 replies

The White House ^ | 6-27-2014 | President Obama

On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I extend our best wishes to Muslim communities here in the United States and around the world on the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan. A time for self-reflection and devotion through prayer and fasting, Ramadan is also an occasion when Muslims around the world reaffirm their commitment to helping the less fortunate, including those struggling because of economic hardship and inequality.  Here in the United States, we are grateful to the many Muslim American organizations, individuals, and businesses that are devoted to creating opportunity for all by working to reduce...

 

[wardaddy]

Mikey Weinstein.

[beethovenfan]

Screw Islam and screw rama-dama ding-dong.

[Enlightened1]

Once again we have two different standards. I don’t understand how they can get away with two different standards?

[old school]

Where can I locate a copy of this directive by the Air Force?

[afsnco]

I could never serve in today’s military.

[SoothingDave]

I suppose we could act like insensitive jerks and get our bases thrown out of Bahrain.

[Lil Flower]

It does make sense if you get your head out of the sand and realize our country has been taken over by islamists.

Time for Christians to stop joining the military I guess.

[MeganC]

No child of mine will serve in uniform. That’s because my husband (retired USMC) says he won’t put up with his kids serving in a disgraced uniform. I see things like this and I know his words to be true.

[metmom]

Every year about the time of Ramadan, I hear reports (not through the media of course) of muslims who are saved and convert to Christianity.

Apparently the month long time of prayer and fasting for those who are truly seeking to follow the real God, leaves them open for the Holy Spirit to work in their lives.

There have been reports of muslims having dreams and visions of Jesus, and converting as a result.

We ought to be praying for those souls.

All that said, the military is way out of line and I see this islamification of the military as the way those who are out to destroy our country will be able to have the military turn on its own citizens.

They know that loyal American citizens would never do that to the people they are sworn to protect and defend. So the only way to accomplish this is to convert the military.

We are so screwed if this continues. This is something else we need to pray against.

[wetphoenix]

Well, with Muzzie in Chief on AF1...