Posted on 05/04/2006 9:14:42 AM PDT by DesScorp
The military has always relied upon the brave few who choose to "fall upon their swords". The US Army had Billy Mitchell and now The US Navy has this chaplain.
Good on him!
The military isn't a political entity. You don't "clean out" the ranks when the political party that holds the presidency changes. As a vet it irks me when I hear folks complain about this general being a Clinton appointee. Do you realize that it takes decades to grow a general? You just can't pick and choose one out of the blue. They have to come up through the ranks. I came in under Reagan and retired under Bush II. Military professionals don't serve one administration then get out until another one of their liking comes on board. The military serves the country not political parties.
I can never forget those old WWII war footages where military chaplains are praying with soldiers/marines about to go into combat, with the men on the knees, heads bowed.
This sickens me to the core.
Amazing how this is too complicated for so many people here.
I served in the 60's and even then the military did not allow one to protest in uniform.
A slave who serves many masters betrays them all.
I think it's inappropriate to hound enlisted soldiers who don't share your particular brand of faith, yes. Chaplains serve their own communities of faith within the services. It's not appropriate to go lower morale among others by telling them they're wrong and need to get right with you. That's not what they signed up for.
If you think the PC crowd has gotten out of hand, wait until President Hildebeast takes office!
Yep...and it is still forbidden, but this guy can't seem to get it.
He can still perform denominational services for those who WISH to attend them. When performing an invocation at a ceremony which hundreds of people from different faiths attend, the rules are to keep it nondenominational.
This guy has even protested in uniform outside the Whitehouse! Time for him to go bye-bye from the Navy.
I agree with your post; however, you also have to consider what is the majority? If (just for sake of argument), 99% of the military is Southern Baptist...it would make sense to pray in Jesus' Name. However, if only 51% is Southern Baptist and the rest are Jews, Muslims, and Catholics...then you have to make it a prayer of mush which means nothing...so why even have it.
My point is that I think the prayer at the beginning of banquets and other things are stupid because they mean nothing. Why not save the money by not paying to have a chaplain and just take a moment of silence to pray in your own way?
Kinda like the arm-chair generals lately huh? They may not have actually been in uniform, but everyone was calling them "GENERAL" so and so, and everyone KNEW they were military and GENERALS.
Your sarcasm doesn't warrant response. You want to antagonize me? Sorry, can't be done.
I'm not being sarcastic. I'm illustrating precisely the type of dispute this sensible policy is intended to prevent.
So Wesley Clarke became supreme NATO commander on his own merits?
The increasingly large number of idiots and zealots on this blog is amazing, and JIM Bob must be sleeping more. It used to be that the complainers would learn the truth before showing themselves to be such ASSumes.
First, this guy was in uniform at a political/activist activity, which has been against military regulations since 1953 in my personal knowledge.
Second,all Chaplains are trained and educated in all the various religions they may encounter while on duty, and are charged with performing proper rites according to the circumstance for which they are in attendance. For example, on a battle field, it is encumbent on the Chaplain to inquire as to a dead or dying military man's religion and performing appropriate rites for that religion. Similar responsibilities are required during religious ceremonies and events when the Chaplain is in uniform, or performing in a duty status.
Third, this man is not truthful in his complaints, and is instead seeking notoriety to further a zealot's agenda through the "Press". (Too many references in TV, radio, new organizations, etc. available for you to do your own research...might surprise you what you can find and verify).
While the military may rationalize that it's serving the country rather than a particular political party, it serves the policies of the party in power. The country did not elect clinton to go to war in the Balkans and bomb Serbia. However the military carried out those policies.
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