Weinstein Emphasizes “Proselytization Factor” in Massacre

Michael Weinstein has written an article that on one hand calls the actions of Maj Nidal Malik Hasan “inexcusable,” but on the other says his alleged harassment may have precipitated his massacre at Fort Hood:

The alleged mistreatment Hasan received in the American military almost certainly played a key role in his disaffection.

He fails to note, however, that the same sources that cite the harassment note that Hasan dismissed it:

They’re ignorant. I’m more American than they are. I help my country more than they do. And I don’t care what they say.

“He felt sorry for them…He didn’t feel grudges. He felt sympathy.”

Weinstein also explicitly states that Christians are the source of all religious Read more

Remember American Troops on Veterans’ Day

Take a moment to thank a member of the American military for the sacrifices they make that ensure American freedoms.  Take a moment, too, to thank God for them, and to pray for their continued safety, as well as the safety of their loved ones.

While this should be a continuing endeavor, Veterans’ Day–which coincides with Armistice Day in the rest of the world, celebrating the end of the Great War–provides an excellent reminder of the cost of liberty not just in America, but around the world.

USS New York, and its Chapel, Commissioned

The USS New York was recently commissioned for sea service in its namesake state.  It is famous for the fact that seven and a half tons of steel from the World Trade Center were used in its bow.

According to a United Methodist news source, the ship’s Navy Chaplain, Chaplain (LtCdr) Laura Bender, requested that a few more pounds of that steel be used to create a Christian cross, Jewish Star of David, and Islamic crescent to be used in the ship’s chapel.  The symbols were a gift from the World Trade Center Tribute Center.

Kudos to the Chaplain for coming up with a unique way to help her Sailors and Marines integrate the faith of their soul with the soul of their ship, regardless of their religion.

First noted by Mitch Lewis.

Religion in the Military Endures Scrutiny after Fort Hood

The attack at Fort Hood has inspired almost visceral reactions around the world, potentially leading some to say things that are illogical at their core.

The New York Times has said the attack “complicated” the service of Muslims in the military.  Bryan Fischer, who lists his title as the Director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association, posted a blog on the AFA website entitled “No More Muslims in the US Military,” suggesting that Muslims be banned until they can “prove” they are not “jihadis” and threats to national security.

Fischer’s assertions are absurd, and they contravene the protections of the US Constitution and the heart of Christianity.  In addition, the AFA is Read more

Book Review: In His Service

Rick Bereit
Dawson Media, Colorado Springs, 2002.
Topic: Military life, Christian living

Col. Bereit wrote a good overall view of the military for those who know little of it or are considering joining it. The book is somewhat light on behavioral details and is not service specific (though the author is a USAFA graduate), but it is well referenced to Bible. His most in-depth chapter is that of discipleship. Col. Bereit relates the potential for hidden moral dangers in the military to “moral minefields.” He makes good use of this analogy to communicate the dangers of sex, drugs, profanity, lying, and then summing it up in a section of “How to Live Right.”

Recommended for any Christian interested in military service.

This book is available from Amazon. (This site is an Amazon Associate and may earn from qualifying purchases made through Amazon referrals.)

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Harassment, Christianity Blamed for Fort Hood Shooting

Following the violent attack on Soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, there has been an outpouring of support from the local community, with churches calling for prayers and military Chaplains asking for prayer for the alleged assailant.  Former President Bush quietly visited Fort Hood victims last Friday, and President Obama plans to attend a memorial on Tuesday.

The actions of Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the suspected gunman, have been roundly criticized by a variety of organizations representing the American Muslim community.

Though a footnote to the story has been Hasan’s apparent allegations of mistreatment for his faith, a local leader in the Islamic community, Osman Danquah, apparently saw more to the story.  He “sensed” that Hasan was “troubled,” and even went so far as to deny Hasan’s request to be a lay Islamic leader at Fort Hood:

He was disturbed by Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan’s persistent questioning and recommended the mosque reject Hasan’s request to become a lay Muslim leader at the sprawling Army post.

Indeed, some of Hasan’s former classmates indicated that he was the instigator of controversial rhetoric.

Another American Islamic leader who spoke on the attack was Read more

US Soldier Kills Comrades in Texas

Though there has been little official confirmation, multiple media outlets have reported that the Soldier who opened fire in a pre-deployment facility at Fort Hood, Texas, was Major Nidal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist most recently stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.

An undercurrent of religious association has already started, despite the fact that there is not yet any indication that Hasan acted for ideological reasons.  To this point, his story is one of contradiction.  Some news sources are reporting on his devout Islamic background, though others note his dog tags listed “No Religious Preference.”  He apparently hired a lawyer to try to get out of the Army, citing harassment for his religious faith, though he entered the Army Read more

Combat, Orders, and Pizza Hut

Though it is engaged in conflict across two regions, the US military makes an admirable effort to provide troops with the comforts of home.  Many bases across the region have banking facilities, military exchanges, and recognizable fast food restaurants; even Subway and Baskin Robbins grace US bases in the Middle Eastern desert.  Notably, these facilities are normally confined to the larger bases.  Forward operating bases and similar smaller locations often lack even basic facilities.

Apparently, General Stanley McChrystal, the American commander in Afghanistan, has decided that these facilities are detrimental to the warfighting spirit necessary for combat.  Read more

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