A Good Soldier brought down by Christians

**The An-Jel** · 04-26-2008, 05:39 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/26/ath....ap/index.html

Quote:

JUNCTION CITY, Kansas (AP) -- Like hundreds of young men joining the Army in recent years, Jeremy Hall professes a desire to serve his country while it fights terrorism.
art.atheist.ap.jpg

Spc. Jeremy Hall says the pressure to believe in God is so strong, "I was ashamed to say that I was an atheist."

But the short and soft-spoken specialist is at the center of a legal controversy. He has filed a lawsuit alleging that he's been harassed and his constitutional rights have been violated because he doesn't believe in God. The suit names Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

"I'm not in it for cash," Hall said. "I want no one else to go what I went through."

Known as "the atheist guy," Hall has been called immoral, a devil worshipper and -- just as severe to some soldiers -- gay, none of which, he says, is true. Hall even drove fellow soldiers to church in Iraq and paused while they prayed before meals.

"I see a name and rank and United States flag on their shoulder. That's what I believe everyone else should see," he said.

Hall, 23, was raised in a Protestant family in North Carolina and dropped out of school. It wasn't until he joined the Army that he began questioning religion, eventually deciding that he couldn't follow any faith.

But he feared how that would look to other soldiers.

"I was ashamed to say that I was an atheist," Hall said.

It eventually came out in Iraq in 2007, when he was in a firefight. Hall was a gunner on a Humvee, which took several bullets in its protective shield. Afterward, his commander asked whether he believed in God, Hall said.

"I said, 'No, but I believe in Plexiglas,' " Hall said. "I've never believed I was going to a happy place. You get one life. When I die, I'm worm food."

The issue came to a head when, according to Hall, a superior officer, Maj. Freddy J. Welborn, threatened to bring charges against him for trying to hold a meeting of atheists in Iraq. Welborn has denied Hall's allegations.

Hall said he had had enough but feared that he wouldn't get support from Welborn's superiors. He turned to Mikey Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

Weinstein is the foundation's president and a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate. He had sued the Air Force for acts he said illegally imposed Christianity on students at the academy, though that case was dismissed. He calls Hall a hero.

"The average American doesn't have enough intestinal fortitude to tell someone to shut up if they are talking in a movie theater," Weinstein said. "You know how hard it is to take on your chain of command? This isn't the shift manager at KFC."

Hall was in Qatar when the lawsuit was filed September 18 in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas. Other soldiers learned of it, and he feared for his own safety. Once, Hall said, a group of soldiers followed him, harassing him, but no one did anything to make it stop.

The Army told him it couldn't protect him and sent him back to Fort Riley. He resumed duties with a military police battalion. He believes that his promotion to sergeant has been blocked because of his lawsuit, but he is a team leader responsible for two junior enlisted soldiers.

No one with Fort Riley, the Army or that Defense Department would comment about Hall or the lawsuit. Each issued statements saying that discrimination will not be tolerated regardless of race, religion or gender.

"The department respects [and supports by its policy] the rights of others to their own religious beliefs, including the right to hold no beliefs," said Eileen Lainez, a spokeswoman for the Department of Defense.

All three organizations said existing systems help soldiers "address and resolve any perceived unfair treatment."

Lt. Col. David Shurtleff, a Fort Riley chaplain, declined to discuss Hall's case but said chaplains accommodate all faiths as best they can. In most cases, religious issues can be worked out without jeopardizing military operations.

"When you're in Afghanistan and an IED blows up a Humvee, they aren't asking about a wounded soldier's faith," Shurtleff said.

Hall said he enjoys being a team leader but has been told that having faith would make him a better leader.

"I will take care of my soldiers. Nowhere does it say I have to pray with my soldiers, but I do have to make sure my soldiers' religious needs are met," he said.

"Religion brings comfort to a lot of people," he said. "Personally, I don't want it or need it. But I'm not going to get down on anybody else for it."

Hall leaves the Army in April 2009. He would like to find work with the National Park Service or Environmental Protection Agency, anything outdoors.

"I hope this doesn't define me," Hall said of his lawsuit. "It's just about time somebody said something."

Preposterous if you ask me and how un-American these Christians and soldiers behave huh?

romansh · 04-26-2008, 06:36 PM

SirArthur beat you to it An-Jel... not surprising either way

duck · 04-26-2008, 06:43 PM

I was just reading that story on CNN.

What in the heck is this nation turning into? I can only hope that the next eight months until the Idiot in Chief is out of office and we can go back to being America!

xexon · 04-27-2008, 01:20 PM

The people who have controlled Washington for the past 100 or so years will still be there after the election. Old money Europeans, Israel friendly zionists, major corporations. Zionists in particular have been thick in Washington since Reagan was in office. The New World Order, Neocons, and the Iraq war are all their babies.

Changing out the talking head to a newer model does nothing to correct the course of this country.

You must remember that "they" are the ones who pick the candidates that "they" allow you to vote for.

McCain, Obama, and Hillary are all 3 zionist friendly. Obama got his start with the financing of a wealthy family of zionist jews in Chicago. Ever wonder how he came out of nowhere to become a top presidential contender?

This man was groomed. And there's no doubt he's bought and paid for. Just like they all are.

x

romansh · 04-27-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xexon

The people who have controlled Washington for the past 100 or so years will still be there after the election. Old money Europeans, Israel friendly zionists, major corporations. Zionists in particular have been thick in Washington since Reagan was in office. The New World Order, Neocons, and the Iraq war are all their babies.
Changing out the talking head to a newer model does nothing to correct the course of this country.
You must remember that "they" are the ones who pick the candidates that "they" allow you to vote for.
McCain, Obama, and Hillary are all 3 zionist friendly. Obama got his start with the financing of a wealthy family of zionist jews in Chicago. Ever wonder how he came out of nowhere to become a top presidential contender?
This man was groomed. And there's no doubt he's bought and paid for. Just like they all are.

Not quite sure what this has to do with the topic.
But I am surprised that enlightenment still looks for blame?

duck · 04-27-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xexon

The people who have controlled Washington for the past 100 or so years will still be there after the election. Old money Europeans, Israel friendly zionists, major corporations. Zionists in particular have been thick in Washington since Reagan was in office. The New World Order, Neocons, and the Iraq war are all their babies.

Changing out the talking head to a newer model does nothing to correct the course of this country.

You must remember that "they" are the ones who pick the candidates that "they" allow you to vote for.

McCain, Obama, and Hillary are all 3 zionist friendly. Obama got his start with the financing of a wealthy family of zionist jews in Chicago. Ever wonder how he came out of nowhere to become a top presidential contender?

This man was groomed. And there's no doubt he's bought and paid for. Just like they all are.

x

xexon · 04-27-2008, 01:46 PM

I was replying to Duck's comment on going back to being America.

Blame? I prefer cause and effect, which are easily traced based upon the evidence. I have no problem shaking a switch in the direction of those who cause grief in the world. I don't care who they are.

When you gain "enlightenment", one of the first things that happens is you become the ultimate socialist. If something is out of sorts in the human community, you want to know how to best remedy it.

This often involves turning the powers that be, off.

x

**debdodd** · 04-27-2008, 08:42 PM

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN , not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN , not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN , not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN , not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN who salutes the Flag,

It is the VETERAN who serves under the Flag,

this is not something I wrote but an email I got the same day An-jel started this thread ... just thought I would share. Deb

**debdodd** · 04-27-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xexon

The people who have controlled Washington for the past 100 or so years will still be there after the election. Old money Europeans, Israel friendly zionists, major corporations. Zionists in particular have been thick in Washington since Reagan was in office. The New World Order, Neocons, and the Iraq war are all their babies.Changing out the talking head to a newer model does nothing to correct the course of this country.You must remember that "they" are the ones who pick the candidates that "they" allow you to vote for. McCain, Obama, and Hillary are all 3 zionist friendly. Obama got his start with the financing of a wealthy family of zionist jews in Chicago. Ever wonder how he came out of nowhere to become a top presidential contender?This man was groomed. And there's no doubt he's bought and paid for. Just like they all are.x

Alrighty then .... so what is your solution to fixing it? I doubt anyone would dispute the fact that in this election one will be chosing the lesser of two evils.

duck · 04-27-2008, 09:52 PM

What was stated sounds suspiciously like a conspiracy theory type of view.

I don't buy that. I will say that it will take up to 20 years to undo what the Bush administration has done.