FoxNews reported on a gym in Massachusetts that hung a large flag inside. Some complained that it blocked the TVs. Others said it was offensive. The report quoted one person who said hanging the flag was like “putting a Jesus cross in my face.”
The owner of the gym Read more
As previously discussed, a civilian author recently criticized a military Chaplain for “expressing contempt” for the Constitution when he made “derogatory remarks about Islam:”
When a uniformed officer of the US military makes derogatory remarks about Islam, he’s violating [his] oath and expressing contempt of the First Amendment.
The comment was made by Jeff Sharlet, posting under the moniker Ishmael, on the Daily Kos website. Sharlet is also the author of The Family, a book that purports to be an expose on a secretive and conspiratorial religious organization (the “Christian Mafia”) attempting to influence the US government.
The comment was in defense of Chris Rodda, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation researcher, when she criticized Camp David Chaplain (LtCdr) Carey Cash for his religious views. Sharlet’s use of the word “derogatory” notwithstanding, is he right? Can a religious leader of one faith in the military say nothing negative about another–even if such statements are consistent with the tenets of their faith?
The core question: Can a Chaplain (or any other military officer) espouse specific, even exclusive, religious ideology?
The shortest, most accurate answer: Read more
The US Navy has reported a T-34C training jet missing off the coast of Texas. The aircraft is one of the basic trainers for Navy flight training. It can carry a two person crew.
When it was first constructed, Luke Air Force Base was well outside of the small town that would eventually become bustling Phoenix, Arizona. Now Luke suffers from a severe case of encroachment, with occupied houses literally right off the end of the runway. That encroachment, reflected at many bases across the country, has led to noise complaints and community actions that have impacted the flight operations at major military bases.
Now the Tucson community, just south of Luke, is one among several that is weighing the pros and cons of trying to become host to a major F-35 training base. Tucson hosts Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the current location of A-10 training. The good part of the F-35: Such a training base would likely be a boon to the local economy. The problem: Read more
Recently, a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event was held at a local Florida high school under seemingly innocent and legal circumstances. The initial news report simply described the event, in which hundreds of students gathered in the school’s bleachers in the evening to “celebrate their faith.”
However, the event has now been criticized by some who have said they were “uncomfortable” with it, despite the fact that it appears to have met all necessary restrictions and followed all rules concerning legality and Constitutionality.
Rabbi James H. Perman of the local Naples, Florida, community was a former Air Force Chaplain in Vietnam Read more
Over at War is Boring, David Axe, a civilian war correspondent, notes the unique history of a particular F-15E Strike Eagle. The fighter has a star and a Sidewinder stamped on its side, indicating two very unique air-to-air kills.
The star is from a kill in Operation Desert Storm. Nearly 20 years ago, that aircraft dropped a bomb on an airborne helicopter in Iraq.
The Sidewinder is from an unofficially reported shootdown of a friendly Reaper UAV just last month. According to Aviation Week (sometimes called “Aviation Leak” Read more
While the nature of war spawned the cliche that “there are no atheists in foxholes,” another stereotype of religion and war is sometimes overlooked: those that grow to doubt their faith because of the brutal combat that they see–and participate in.
That questioning spirit is the objective of Chaplain (Maj) Dale Forrester. He is the unit Chaplain for a Warrior Transition Battalion, which is composed of those who will likely not return to their unit. Forrester was formerly Read more
Afghans recently protested an alleged incident in which ‘foreign soldiers’ burned a Quran during a raid. NATO and US force representatives denied that any such incident occurred, instead calling it a Taliban rumor.
Perhaps more interesting were the actions the protestors took. While a few Americans claim that US actions are convincing the Muslim world that Americans are on a Christian ‘crusade,’ the protestors repeated the more common accusation: Read more