{"id":35372,"date":"2016-06-27T00:15:38","date_gmt":"2016-06-27T03:15:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/?p=35372"},"modified":"2016-11-24T21:26:16","modified_gmt":"2016-11-25T00:26:16","slug":"us-military-focuses-on-sex-during-ramadan-ptsd-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/27\/us-military-focuses-on-sex-during-ramadan-ptsd-month\/","title":{"rendered":"US Military Focuses on Sex During Ramadan, PTSD Month"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-35406\" src=\"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/dodpride2.jpg\" alt=\"dodpride2\" width=\"880\" height=\"280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/dodpride2.jpg 880w, https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/dodpride2-300x95.jpg 300w, https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/dodpride2-768x244.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px\" \/>Though the month of June marks references to both Ramadan and PTSD awareness (among other things), from news coverage and official US military press releases, you&#8217;d think June in the US military was all about sex.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Veterans Affairs <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ptsd.va.gov\/about\/ptsd-awareness\/ptsd_awareness_month.asp\">recognizes June as PTSD awareness month<\/a>, though as yet Congress has only recognized June 27th as PTSD awareness <em>day<\/em>. Thus, PTSD awareness month is not enshrined in law as, say, <a href=\"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/2016\/01\/15\/religious-freedom-day-16-january-2016\/\">Religious Freedom Day<\/a> is.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, neither the current Congress nor any prior law recognizes any day <em>or<\/em> month as a celebration of &#8220;Gay Pride&#8221; &#8212; yet President Barack Obama <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/the-press-office\/2016\/05\/31\/presidential-proclamation-lgbt-pride-month-2016\">issued a proclamation<\/a> marking just such a recognition.<\/p>\n<p>While he has annually\u00a0issued praise for homosexuality in June, according to <!--more-->the White House website, President Obama has never issued a proclamation regarding PTSD awareness month or day. He did &#8220;retweet&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/barackobama\/status\/218094774538878977\">an announcement<\/a> from Vets4Obama in 2012 on PTSD awareness day, and the President also mentioned post-traumatic stress in April, when he included it with &#8220;depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder [and] schizophrenia&#8221; during his &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/the-press-office\/2016\/04\/28\/presidential-proclamation-national-mental-health-awareness-month-2016\">Mental Health Awareness Month<\/a>&#8221; proclamation.<\/p>\n<p>This disparity &#8212; in particular, when 22 veterans take their own life everyday &#8212; led one anonymous person to\u00a0wonder if the American government has its priorities wrong: Why are we so focused on\u00a0rainbow flags and not\u00a0folded flags?<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, Ramadan runs between June 5th and July 5th this year. While religious events are generally opportunities for personal interest,\u00a0educational stories, and discussion on religious liberty\u00a0in the US military (particularly with regard to Islam), there appears to be exactly one widely distributed article from the US military on the topic, discussing how US Army <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvidshub.net\/news\/202231\/muslim-soldier-remains-true-faith-dedicated-military\">SFC Khondokar Rahman<\/a> handles the dietary fasting requirements during his assignment at Fort Lee, VA.<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, there are dozens, if not more, widely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvidshub.net\/news\/203356\/proud-serve-proud-lgbt\">distributed<\/a> articles <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvidshub.net\/news\/202260\/naval-information-forces-and-local-commands-host-lgbt-pride-month-ceremony\">&#8220;celebrating&#8221; and even &#8220;honoring&#8221;<\/a>\u00a0homosexuality &#8212; which, ironically enough, is punishable by death in most Muslim-dominated countries. (Some would say <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-south-asia-11217772\">selectively so<\/a>, but that&#8217;s a topic for another time.)<\/p>\n<p>Shockingly, there is little consternation that virtually <a href=\"http:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/openly-gay-army-secretary-honors-orlando-victims-heroes\/story?id=40023526\">every article<\/a> referencing Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning <a href=\"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/2016\/05\/23\/us-army-makes-non-sexual-announcement-of-new-secretary\/\">leads off with<\/a> his preference for sex &#8212; so much so even <em>he<\/em> has joked about the attention.\u00a0 The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Special-Reports\/0616_pride\">military<\/a> (and the<a href=\"http:\/\/coastguard.dodlive.mil\/2016\/06\/coast-guard-opens-dialogue-with-lgbt-servicemembers\/\"> Coast Guard<\/a>) have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvidshub.net\/news\/203193\/us-air-force-chief-legal-officer-recalls-pulse-attack-victims-navy-lgbt-observance\">pushed out<\/a> official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvidshub.net\/news\/203334\/fort-lee-tenant-recognizes-lgbt-observance\">articles<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cvn68\/photos\/a.221812872480.141522.219951412480\/10154240072642481\/?type=3&amp;permPage=1\"> photos<\/a> on everything from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.af.mil\/News\/ArticleDisplay\/tabid\/223\/Article\/820211\/kirtland-doctor-shares-experience-of-being-gay-military-member.aspx\">speeches<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvidshub.net\/news\/201366\/lgbt-pride-month-offers-historical-reflection\">civilian homosexual activists<\/a>, to &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.af.mil\/News\/ArticleDisplay\/tabid\/223\/Article\/799132\/a-time-to-tell-a-lesbian-couples-story.aspx\">a lesbian couple&#8217;s story<\/a>,&#8221; to every <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvidshub.net\/news\/201459\/jbphh-celebrates-lgbt-pride-month\">rainbow-decorated<\/a> celebratory <a href=\"http:\/\/www.navy.mil\/submit\/display.asp?story_id=95118\">cake<\/a> in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.navy.mil\/submit\/display.asp?story_id=94975\">the Navy<\/a> and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvidshub.net\/image\/2643380\/2016-department-defense-lgbt-pride-month-event\">Air Force<\/a>.\u00a0 Even USAFA got <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/feature\/nbc-out\/air-force-cadets-describe-life-after-don-t-ask-don-n588581\">in on the act<\/a>.\u00a0 (One Orlando-related photo posted on Facebook <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cvn68\/\">from the USS <em>Nimitz<\/em><\/a> was <a href=\"http:\/\/sdgln.com\/news\/2016\/06\/23\/uss-nimitz-facebook-photo-honors-orlando-some-comments-show-disgust\">celebrated by a homosexual group<\/a> &#8212; but the photo apparently generated such a firestorm of controversy it was pulled down.)<\/p>\n<p>The media has also kept the conversation going on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/magazine-36429860\">transgenders<\/a> in the US military &#8212; repeatedly saying open service by transgenders will be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2016\/06\/21\/pentagon-close-repealing-transgender-ban\/86180930\/\">any day<\/a> now and voicing <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stripes.com\/opinion\/complicated-is-code-for-delay-on-transgender-service-1.415689\">criticisms<\/a> on any delays.\u00a0 The date may be moot, since transgenders are serving openly now, anyway, but the latest report is that the ban will <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stripes.com\/news\/us\/ban-on-transgender-servicemembers-to-be-repealed-by-july-1.416203\"><em>officially<\/em> be lifted July 1st<\/a>. The Military Times <a href=\"http:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/story\/military\/careers\/2016\/06\/12\/transgender-military-troops-pentagon-policy\/85666768\/\">reported the story<\/a> of a male Army pilot who now says he&#8217;s female &#8212; and his commanders know it, despite policies forbidding it.\u00a0 The same article reminded readers that last June\u00a0the Air Force allowed a female Airman to wear a male uniform &#8212; because she was going to a White House LGBT event, presenting herself as a man&#8230;despite official policies prohibiting such behavior.<\/p>\n<p>Apparently, homosexual advocates were hoping that LGBTQ+etc., etc.,\u00a0pride month &#8212; June &#8212; would finally see the &#8220;T&#8221; allowed to serve, nearly a year after Secretary of Defense Carter <a href=\"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/2015\/07\/15\/us-military-launches-transgender-working-group-in-preparation-for-repeal\/\">said they should<\/a>, and just a few days after Secretary\u00a0Fanning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.army.mil\/article\/170177\/fanning_says_army_will_not_judge_by_gender_race_religion_or_sexual_orientation\">said the same thing<\/a>\u00a0(in an official Army story about sex):<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The military is more powerful when the American people know that no matter what their background, religious beliefs, political views, sexual orientation, or gender identity, we serve and sacrifice on their behalf &#8212; on behalf of this country we all love in order to protect all of our freedoms.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The US military has a lot going on. Troops are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/enemy-fire-kills-us-troop-in-northern-iraq\/\">being killed<\/a> in Iraq and Syria, operations have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stripes.com\/news\/middle-east\/us-launches-first-attacks-on-taliban-under-new-rules-1.415994\">actually <em>increased<\/em> in Afghanistan<\/a>, and random <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2016\/jun\/01\/al-shabaab-leaders-killed-airstrike-raid-somalia-abdullahi-haji-daud-mohamed-dulyadin\">places in Africa<\/a> continue to appear in the news, just to name a few.<\/p>\n<p>And yet, an outside observer over the past month might be led to believe the entire US military is focused on sex (and same-gender sex, at that).<\/p>\n<p>Mission first&#8230;?<\/p>\n<div class=\"fb-like\" data-share=\"true\" data-show-faces=\"true\" data-size=\"small\" data-action=\"like\" data-layout=\"standard\"><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><strong>ADVERTISEMENT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><!-- blogpost --><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block;\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-ad-slot=\"2728423835\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6450825356098669\"><\/ins><script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Though the month of June marks references to both Ramadan and PTSD awareness (among other things), from news coverage and official US military press releases, you&#8217;d think June in the US military was all about sex. The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes June as PTSD awareness month, though as yet Congress has only recognized June 27th as PTSD awareness day. [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35406,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[58,78,219,4136,3116,442,52,5638,2,43,5637,80,10,171,4958,1278,1812],"class_list":["post-35372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-government-and-religion","tag-afghanistan","tag-congress","tag-dadt","tag-eric-fanning","tag-gay-pride","tag-homosexual","tag-iraq","tag-khondokar-rahman","tag-military","tag-obama","tag-ptsd-awareness","tag-ramadan","tag-religion","tag-religious-freedom","tag-syria","tag-transgender","tag-veterans-administration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35372"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35372\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}