Posted on 06/25/2008 6:02:19 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
ACLU tries to halt mealtime prayer at Naval Academy
By Josh Mitchell | Sun reporter 8:09 PM EDT, June 25, 2008
A national civil liberties group is renewing a push to end mealtime prayer at the U.S. Naval Academy, where a group of midshipmen recently complained to officials that they felt pressured to participate in the longtime practice.
The tradition, believed to date back to the college's founding in 1845, now involves a chaplain's leading grace before a noon meal that all 4,200 midshipmen must attend at King Hall. Midshipmen are not required to pray, though they must stand during the recital, and most bow their heads.
Nine students recently approached the American Civil Liberties Union for help in getting the academy to end the practice. In a letter recently sent to the academy's superintendent, Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler, the ACLU threatened legal action.
"The government should not be in the business of compelling religious observance, particularly in military academies, where students can feel coerced by senior students and officials and risk the loss of leadership opportunities for following their conscience," Deborah A. Jeon, legal director for the ACLU of Maryland, wrote.
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
The obvious solution is to isolated the complainers in a sound proof room so they aren’t touched .
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
EVERYTHING to do with the ACLU working to undermine our military and its academies.
"The government should not be in the business of preventing private religious foot bathing...
"The government should not be in the business of preventing private short prayers five times per day in specific directions...
"The government should not be in the business of ...
Let’s see...the Democrats promote no religion, they insist we can’t drill anywhere, and Obama has promised a huge tax increase. Why are they winning? Exactly what percentage of Americans say “Let’s ban prayer, oil should be higher, and my taxes are too low?”
As a grad - the ACLU can kiss my A..................
Twice
Since the military and the military academies are separate from cilivian life, isn’t there some way Congress would pass a law, or the pres. issue an executive order, to make them exempt from lawsuits that might be possible in the civilian world?
Or, alternately, since the military courts function under the UCMJ, could there be a requirement that such a nuisance lawsuit by the ACLU would have to be tried in a military court?
Dare I hope that their classmates might, uh, discourage them from pursuing this?
Discouragement as in O’dark-thirty (nocturnal) visits and motivational sessions.
Good grief. What planet IS this?
OK, how many MCV folks out there can remember the prayer: God Bless this food for our use, and us to thy service. Amen. Take Seats.
Every friggin meal. Every friggin day. For four years.
Not very religious....
But the ACLU should keep their mitts out.
A national anti-Christian hate group ...
"The government should not be in the business of compelling religious observance,..."
The ACLU says that the government should not be in the business of permitting the overwhelmingly Christian majority at Annapolis to participate in daily organized prayer, nor should the Naval Academy's leadership expect non-Christians to show respect for the faith of others.
On a personal note, I would hope that no one will retalliate against those who filed the complaint, but I also doubt that the six who want their will imposed on 4200 classmates have the character to earn respect.
Hey American Communist Liberal Union; STFU. Followed by a quick trip to hades..
group of midshipmen?
What do they do, go find a FEW idiots that will protest anything
and to hell with the MANY? Grrrrrrrr
Minor correction. everybody elses taxes are too low , Mine are just fine.
It’s coming to that. That’s why they want to disarm us before it goes much further.
One of these days the ACLU may achieve it’s goal of taking the good parts of this nation down. And when it does, the government and public that are left are going to take every one of it’s members, draw and quarter them.
I hope they reap what they have sewn one trillion times to the x.
Easy answer for this. No grace, no eat. Done.
Let me guess... Muslims?
These whiners have no place in being officers. They do not have to pay - and if they are this intolerant about others praying then they should never be officers. I can imagine them laughing at dying soldiers who wants somebody to say prayers said for them.
Ole Joe Stalin. Must be dancing in hell right now...
Here is a suggestion for the ACLU..... Why not let those who participate decide..... oh gee wait that is what is happening now.
The ACLU has dropped any veil trying to hide their socialist roots and now they and the dems are set on instilling measures to control you.... We are not only confronted with an enemy at or gates.... we must also fight the enemy within those gates....
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Nine spoiled brats whine about being made to stand before a meal.
Hopefully they won’t graduate.
when are we going to start standing up to these Nazis? What happens if the Academy doesn’t comply? Will ACLU take them to court? What happens if ACLU loses? What if they win? Why can’t they be ignored?
Which proves that the tradition - going on for over 150 years - somehow didn't cause the US to adopt a national religion. So what's the problem?
Any FReeper who is planning to vote for that assclown Bob Barr, remember: the ACLU are his best friends.
Did you make that? Because it has the dreaded “your” misuse when it needs to be “you’re” as in you are.
That drives me bonkers
Give all Midshipmen a copy of the Koran and allow one of the many Moozie Chaplains to read excerpts at mealtime.
Anti Christian Litigation Union will simply fade away.
Outstanding observation. Worth repeating.
“Hopefully they won’t graduate.”
Hopefully their lives are a living Hell such as to demand to pray to God.
Graphic came in a received e-mail. I agree with you about the error, but wanted to post it as it is. Thanks.
ACLU-— Their whole idea is to oppress and demoralize those who believe in God and America. Belief in God simply means you acknowledger a higher power that is divine. This is too much for atheists to bear. The activist scum at least
Their god is themselves. A sure prescription for arrogance and disaster. Come to think of it Obama is one of them
What it really tells you is the ACLU is comprised of nothing more than losers who hate people of faith. Why else would someone get so excited over something like a prayer or a Nativity scene.
Haters all, every one of them.
Post 25: OUTSTANDING GRAPHICS!
I now plan to shamelessly steal them.
Thank You
I wonder if McCain’s left side jaw was broken when he was tortured.
It looks like it in recent photos.
Me also!
Great graphics need to be shared.
I have every confidence that the Midddies can see to it that these jerks need to learn to pray - silently and frequently.
They may find themselves pulling guard duty at the IHTFP brick in front of Bancroft Hall (between midnight and 4 AM)!
Take those 9 students and immediately strip them of their free education at taxpayers expense. Let them go out and get a job on their own with no government sponsorship making minimum wage. Then ask them if it’s still too much to ask that they acknowledge a tradition that dates back to a time when we held our freedoms in reverence to the Almighty for giving us those freedoms.
Have at it!
Good question.
Were you expecting something else from the ACLU?
A Navy ensign who graduated from the academy last month said that SHE
Wow imagine that, a girl leading the charge.
You are sooooooo right! I thought it was freedom OF religion (to avoid a state religion that would be forced on the populace) not freedom FROM religion! The ACLU was founded by a Marxist.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
What does a prayer at a military event have to do with Congress? What leg does the ACLU stand on? According to the Constitution, our Government could not interfere if they had to, so what is the point?
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