Tag Archives: religious freedom

Michael Weinstein Gets More Revisionist Credit

Michael Weinstein, generally bereft of actual victories in his fight against religious freedom in the military, is often forced to take his fight to the media.  He did so again recently in The Nation, a “progressive” independent publication.

The article is essentially a fluffed up summary of Weinstein’s crusade.  (Given the fact Weinstein apparently threatens to sue newspapers that criticize him, perhaps the light-touch is understandable.)  It seems to take Weinstein’s word as gospel, and doesn’t appear to once take a critical look at his accusations.

It even starts to compare Weinstein to Jesus.

Still, the article has some interesting highlights.  After fulfilling Weinstein’s psychological need to tell everyone Read more

DADT: Repeal Plan Published, Still Some Pushback

According to the Department of Defense, Clifford Stanley, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, issued the plan to implement repeal of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to the service secretaries (memo here).  The plan reportedly follows the prior implementation plan closely.  The Air Force says training will “soon begin,” while the Navy has already set its schedule.

The Air Force Times notes the training and logistical requirements of Read more

USAFA Prayer Luncheon on Many Faiths

A US Air Force Academy press release on its National Prayer Luncheon highlighted the “many faiths” represented at the event.  Key speaker Lt Clebe McClary spoke of his Christian faith, but he emphasized motivation, resilience, and self-worth:

Lieutenant McClary introduced his audience to a few acronyms they might not have heard of previously. Three examples included PRIDE: “Personal Responsibility in Daily Effort,” FIDO: “Forget It and Drive On,” and PATCH: “Positive Attitude that Characterizes Hope.”

“Life’s tough. You know that better than I do,” he said. “Are you going to get bitter, or are you going to get better?…”

The lieutenant also challenged people to think about Read more

Christian Leaders Call for Presidential Action on Said Musa

The story of the Afghan convert to Christianity sentenced to die for leaving Islam has picked up more steam as Christian leaders from John Piper to Rick Warren have called for action.

John Piper tweeted…”Mr. President, speak wisely and boldly, in private if necessary, for Said Musa, imprisoned in Kabul.”

On Sunday, Rick Warren, named as one of the top 20 Twitter celebrities by Forbes, brought attention to how the media has underreported Musa’s story.

“Media CLAIM to champion free speech but if they really did, they’d report these stories everyday,” Warren told his 245,653 Twitter followers.

Warren linked to an article questioning the Presidential intervention over the threat of Koran-burning in Florida, but the Read more

Islamic Chaplain Serves DoD’s Largest Muslim Community

The Air Force Times profiles Chaplain (Capt) Sharior Rahman, who is one of two Islamic Chaplains in the US Air Force.  (The other is Chaplain (Capt) Walid Habash; it is unclear what became of Chaplain (Capt) Abdulah Hamza Al-Mubarak, who was the Air Force’s first Islamic Chaplain and served at the Air Force Academy until a few years ago.)

Rahman serves at Lackland AFB — gateway for all enlisted recruits — and Read more

Soldier Sees Troops Support Each Other, Regardless of Faith

In a somewhat long but interesting article first published in the Jewish Exponent and republished by the Army, 1LT Avi Behar, a 23-year-old Army Lieutenant, recalls a day in Afghanistan in which he had an epiphany about religion and relationships both in the US military and the Afghan Army.

Earlier in the day, with the help of an Afghan General, his unit helped a local get his truck, overloaded with his produce, unstuck from the side of the road.  Later, he came back to base to celebrate Chanukah:

Upon returning that night…our battalion chaplain put together a Chanukah service. We had discussed the idea a few days prior, but I wasn’t expecting what I was about to experience.  Read more

Afghan Christian Convert Set to be Executed

As noted previously, Said Musa has been imprisoned in Afghanistan for the crime of converting to Christianity.  According to some articles, he has been sentenced to be hanged (and, depending on timing, may have been already). 

The World Evangelical Alliance’s Religious Liberty Commission has protested, claiming this violates Afghanistan’s own Constitution.  The article also notes that

Afghanistan is ranked No. 3 on Open Doors’ World Watch List of countries with the worst Christian persecution.

As noted at the Wall Street Journal, the US government has called on Afghanistan Read more

Weinstein Threatens Legal Action Against Gazette

Michael Weinstein, ever the critic, apparently doesn’t take kindly to criticism himself.

The Colorado Springs Independent reports Weinstein’s lawyers sent a “warning” to the publisher of the Colorado Springs Gazette over its recent editorial criticizing Weinstein’s attack on the US Air Force Academy’s prayer luncheon.

[Gazette Editor Wayne] Laugesen’s editorial scolded Weinstein for attempting to infringe on free-speech rights, and said Weinstein opposed McClary’s appearance “because he is Christian.”

“That is false, and I have no doubt Mr. Laugesen and the Gazette know it full well,” Dallas attorney Randal Mathis writes…, adding that “publishing the statement is obviously calculated to offend, scare, and potentially mislead to the point of inciting unstable people.” Mathis makes Read more

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