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Soldiers in Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC, have been able to take breaks in training on Saturday evenings to attend classes on Islam and Ramadan<\/a>. Muslim Soldiers attended — and they also invited their fellow Soldiers:<\/p>\n Muslim Soldiers…gathered at the Main Post Chapel Saturday evening to learn about Islam and to partake in the fast breaking, or iftar. They all invited non-Muslim friends.<\/p>\n “I’m here to learn,” said Pvt. Raven McKlintock, a Houston native who identifies as Christian. “I wanted to know more about my battle buddies, so I’ve been coming here since Ramadan started.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It’s an interesting example of religious freedom in the military, since the Army accommodated not only the Islamic Soldiers, but also the non-Muslim Soldiers who just wanted to observe. Their drill sergeant was nonplussed:<\/p>\n “We have to allow them free exercise of religion and this is just part of it.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Ironically, Michael “Mikey” Weinstein’s MRFF (and his research assistant Chris Rodda) have criticized the US military for making these kinds of events “enticing” by providing a break during Basic Training (Rodda called it “conversion by temptation<\/a>” when one group offered ice cream). Obviously, two hours away from the Drill Sergeant on Saturday night and a casual meal isn’t a bad thing — and it was something non-Muslim Soldiers probably recognized as well.\u00a0 Of course, Weinstein and Rodda only complain when the group is Christian<\/em>.\u00a0 They’ve filed no complaints over Muslim<\/a>, Jewish<\/a>, or atheist<\/a> groups doing the same thing.<\/p>\n Note, too, that Soldiers were free to invite their “battle buddies” to attend — contrary to accusations that religion in the military has to be kept to oneself or confined to the four walls of the chapel.<\/p>\n Naturally, the MRFF won’t demand that anyone be court-martialed over this weekly event, because it doesn’t match Mikey Weinstein’s tin-foil hat conspiracy theory of Christians trying to take over the world<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the meantime, these Soldiers were free to exercise their religion. Hopefully, Soldiers of other religions were, too.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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