Atheists in Uniform Fight Back Against Religious Radicals in the Ranks

[Synnical]

http://www.northstarwriters.com/ct119.htm

Candace Talmadge

September 29, 2008

U.S. Army medic Dustin Chalker, a decorated Iraq combat veteran and atheist, last week sued the U.S. Department of Defense and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, claiming he was forced to attend military events where fundamentalist Christian prayers violated his constitutional rights.

Chalker’s experience with religious coercion by his chain of command is pervasive in today’s U.S. military under the George W. Bush Administration, according to Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

. . .

As of mid-September, the MRFF had collected more than 9,100 reports about such activities at a rate of 80 to 100 per week. By far most of those complaining – 96 percent – come from other Christian service or reserve members who are being targeted because “they are not Christian enough,” in Weinstein’s words.

. . .

Albuquerque, N.M.-based MRFF is a partner in this new lawsuit, as it is in an earlier and similar legal action involving another Iraq war veteran, Spc. Jeremy Hall. The plaintiff in the latest case, Chalker, joined the Army in 2002 and earned the Combat Medic Badge and a Purple Heart in Iraq.

According to the Chalker lawsuit, on May 16, 2008; February 7, 2008; and December 5, 2007; the medic was ordered to attend a barbecue, a change of command ceremony and a formation upon returning from Iraq, respectively, where sectarian Christian prayers were offered. The suit states that Chalker has asked his commanding officers to be relieved from attending such events without success.

. . .

Related AP story:

Atheist soldier alleges discrimination by military
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i-FIz_Hb0DFkqr78IZ6HlvfATpuQD93EN4880

[onager]

1. Has everybody seen "Generation Kill?"

The HBO series about a Marine recon unit during the first few months of the Iraq war. It was based on the book by Rolling Stone reporter Evan Wright, who was "embedded" with a similar Marine unit.

One episode has a Navy chaplain trying to organize a church service. The Marines respond enthusiastically:

"Sorry, sir, but my boss over there is of the Hebrew persuasion. And in this case, I think I will have to side with the Christ-killers."

The character of the "Christ-killer" is the main protagonist of the series. He was adopted by a Jewish family, but makes his feelings about chaplains pretty clear:

"The chaplain is useless. He doesn't even carry a weapon. Why are we dragging him around with us? Him and his make-believe shit?"

The previous character then says: "Uh-oh. As if things weren't bad enough...Brad just pissed off God."

At the end of each episode, over the credits, the show uses recordings of real Marines in Iraq. We hear one saying: "And on the seventh day, when God rested, the U.S. Marines overran his perimeter and we've been runnning the whole show ever since."

(All quotes from memory.)

As a former Marine, I can vouch that the show caught perfectly the irreverence, profanity and everyday racial/sexual insults of that organization.

[Kolesar]

3. Available at Netflix

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Generation_Kill/70089223?lnkctr=srchrd-sr&strkid=954349794_0_0

I could not find it at Blockbuster movies.

[onager]

4. This fine print is interesting...

This movie has not been released on DVD. Future availability is not guaranteed.

It will probably be available on DVD soon. It was a 7-episode HBO mini-series. IIRC, the last episode only aired on American HBO in mid-July. Here in Egypt, it is showing on the satellite channels right now.

Over at IMDB, the Freepers complained that the series was suspiciously produced and directed by some Furrin Wimmen. They include a producer of the HBO series Rome and the film Last King of Scotland. So it's not like they are cinematic Sarah Palins or anything. (Couldn't resist...)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995832/

[Kolesar]

5. I missed that!

What a shame. Most of my tv viewing is 60 minutes or the Daily Show or I zone out watching baseball. I miss baseball.

[and-justice-for-all]

2. They should not put up with that shit...

People and their invisible friends, get on my nerves.

[sarcasmo]

6. Kick,