Joan Ganz Cooney | 04/28/2008 12:26 pm

No Atheists Allowed in the Foxhole?

No recent news story has angered me as much as the one recently in The New York Times under the headline "Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats," about a soldier in Iraq who assembled a group of non-believers. Remember that believers are encouraged to assemble and pray as much as possible, but this group was told charges would be filed against them and they’d be prevented from re-enlistment. The young man who assembled the group has been sent back to the States because of threats against his life.

It is well known that proselytizing by evangelicals in the armed services is constant and often borders on harassment. It is also well known that officers, when they meet on military business, always start with a prayer. Am I crazy or does all of this border on a violation of the Establishment Clause (First Amendment) of the Constitution? This comes so close to imposed religion by a government body that it is hard to see the difference. The Founding Fathers explicitly wanted this country to be free from the tyranny of religion. What could be farther from what they had in mind than the armed forces, either overtly or subtly, pressuring enlistees and officers to manifest a religious belief (and let’s face it, whether stated or not, Christian belief) and forbidding any to dare say that they aren’t believers?

Read more about: Military, Religion, The New York Times

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It is not my intention to disrespect any of the troops who serve this country. If that was how you interpreted my remarks, I apologize. After more than 21 years of service, I have just as much respect for those who wear a uniform as anyone else. Perhaps more. I also did not mean to imply that my theory applies to EVERYONE, as you seem to have assumed. In future I will try to be more specific. However, I still stand firmly behind my main point: A great many of the troops — most being young, most being inexperienced, and most having been exposed to this type of “religious rule” behavior on a regular basis — have the potential to escalate it to an extreme, such as the incident being discussed in this thread. Especially when they are already frustrated, homesick and fearful for their lives in a hostile atmosphere. If you don’t believe in the effects of “exigent circumstances,” I invite you to do some research. There is plenty of it to be considered. I truly believe this incident is the result of a failure of leadership, just as much as of the individual consiences of those troops involved. Perhaps more so, as the leadership is made up of individuals who have been entrusted with molding the future of America’s military, not to mention keeping that future safe for today. As far as this particular case being dealt with, I’m sure you’re correct: It will be dealt with. How could it not be, now that the press has gotten ahold of it? But I have to wonder about the other cases — and I’m quite certain that there are some, unreported — that will not. Anyone who thinks this is a first is kidding him- or herself. Best wishes to your brother-in-law and to your son, and my deepest thanks to both of them for serving.

By Retired Coastie on 04/29/2008 10:20 am

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According to politicians we are fighting in Iraq for our democracy - freedom of speech. Guess this only applies to those who pray. Thanks Joan for writing about this, very upsetting.

By Barbara Taylor on 04/28/2008 5:46 pm

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Did I not know about the Oath you take when you join the military!? Does it now include you MUST be Christian or believe in some other “acceptable” established religion?? I am Christian by the way…..

By Sharon S on 04/28/2008 6:01 pm

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Sharon, the scariest thing about that Oath is that you pledge to follow the orders set down by the Commander in Chief (whoever is the president at the time). My knees always went a little weak at that point every time I re-upped because that part was more frightening than God.

By C A Rose on 04/29/2008 3:43 am

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I’m also a follower of Jesus Christ, Sharon … by the way.

By Michael Salling on 04/29/2008 7:20 am

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Well, Joan, you opened up Pandora’s box and I thank you for it! Proselytizing by anyone to our service men and women is unconstitutional and outrageous. It makes me livid! You are right, you are right about it violating the First Amendment. If Thomas Jefferson knew what was happening in the military he’d be shitting bricks. “Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law”. -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, February 10, 1814

By Maurine H on 04/28/2008 6:24 pm

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Thanks for that Jefferson quote Maurine. It baffles me to hear Bush wax christian commentary. It alienates so many people who don’t believe that particular dogma. There are so many paths to the top of the mountain…and the view is the same when you get there! Best to you all! Oh and on the lighter side, we better spread it around that atheists get to go home from the war. It might end more quickly. :)

By Amelie Poulain on 04/28/2008 7:51 pm

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For me all I have to do is read about those girls in Texas, ages 14-17, who are pregnant by men in that fundamentalist sect. That’s frankly is enough religion for me for the rest of my life. And Maurine, the Jefferson quote is marvelous—thank you.

By Frank Peterson on 04/28/2008 9:59 pm

Whenever these hypocritical characters say, “Let us prey,” I always wonder if they realize everyone else is spelling it with an “a”?

By Mugsy Peabody on 04/28/2008 11:00 pm

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Frances, I am not willing to assume that the soldier is lying. This is not the first story of it’s kind. I love you to death. But…because your son has experienced a completely different scenario, does not mean it does not exist. Abu Ghraib is an example of the differences that can exist within different groups. We should not be quick to say, oh no that doesn’t happen. Because as we have seen, unbelievable things are in fact happening. AS a nation, we kept believing that our leaders could not be doing the things they were doing and so it has taken years to accept the horror and injustice that has taken place, on so many levels. As I said this is not the first story like this. And you know, there were stories and pictures about the torture going on at least a year before we would look at what was happening. They were there online for everybody to read and see. But nobody thought it could possibly be true. So we stayed in the dark. If we doubt it, then we should look into it further. But I don’t think we should denigrate a soldier, who, if he is telling the truth, is telling a truth that needs to be told and that he is brave enough to tell. I don’t think we should suggest that he is at fault, unless we know for sure that he is. Because if it true, we would closing our eyes, yet again and slamming the one”s who tried to open en them. I send strength and love and good wishes for you, your son, his friends and your family. He sounds like such a fine, wonderful man.

By Deni G on 04/29/2008 12:13 am

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I am constantly amazing by rabid dogs who rant and rave about defending our freedom and then prove they have no tolerance or understanding of what freedom really is.

By RoseMerry Hoffman on 04/29/2008 5:02 am

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Joan, is there such a thing as a Libertarianness? If so, may I be an honorary member of the club? You’d be the Chair(person?) of the Board, no doubt.

By Michael Salling on 04/29/2008 6:44 am

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Joan, the information you share here is so very shocking, but I thank you for it, and also for your very brilliantly expressed outrage. I share it. Poor America. What the Hell has happened to our dear country?

By Holland Taylor on 04/29/2008 10:32 am

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Holland, we no longer have front porches. That really was it. We used to be outside in our neighborhoods, and now we have lost that connection with each other. Do you know your neighbors?

By Mugsy Peabody on 04/29/2008 2:43 pm