Posted on 09/14/2006 10:29:02 AM PDT by Dubya
Me thinks he picked the wrong battle to fight. And it is going to damage the "freedom of religion" fight that is going on in the military.
They went easy on him. This Southern Baptist USAF officer would have been a lot harder.
It seems that you've never read the constitution : congress shall make no laws respecting religious beliefs. A muslim chaplain has just as much right to express his beliefs, IN UNIFORM, as anyone else. When a person puts on his nation's military uniform he doesn't automatically become a god-hating atheist as you suggest. The hand of Jesus that saves him will also be upon you, in judgement. Rules, pride, arrogance...where will they be THEN?
Have you been in the military?
This isn't about beliefs; it's about specific elements of conduct.
Klingenschmitt appeared at a political rally in uniform. That is illegal. He verbally trashed his chain of command from President Bush on down. That is illegal. He disobeyed specific orders from his seniors in the chain of command. That is illegal. He chose to make a public spectacle of himself that was as worthy of the Pharisees that Jesus routinely condemned. That's not illegal in and of itself, but it was conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, so that's another illegal act.
With that said, Klingenschmitt got off very lightly, and should be loudly thanking Jesus for saving him from the consequences of disobeying orders he was forsworn to obey.
If one cannot obey an order that one dislikes, there's always the option of resigning one's commission.
Silly me -- I thought it was because the military had regulations against mixing the uniform with politics.
James 4:11 (New American Standard Bible)
11(A)Do not speak against one another, (B)brethren He who speaks against a brother or (C)judges his brother, speaks against (D)the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not (E)a doer of the law but a judge of it.
Cross references:
1. James 4:11 : 2 Cor 12:20; James 5:9; 1 Pet 2:1
2. James 4:11 : James 1:16; 5:7, 9, 10
3. James 4:11 : Matt 7:1; Rom 14:4
4. James 4:11 : James 2:8
5. James 4:11 : James 1:22
What's your point?
The thing is, this sort of behavior (attacking the rules which were established to bolster the apolitical status of the military) in the name of Christianity makes Rosie's statement seem a bit more credible....
I strongly suggest he do it as a civilian. He is clearly out of place wearing the uniform of the U.S. military.
Whosoever violates or fails to obey any lawful general order or regulation shalt be be punished as a court-martial may direct. So saith the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Amen.
"He's in the military and he's obligated to follow orders."
He did not do anything that was illegal. Unless you mean to say that soldiers have to do anything that a commanding officer tells them? Then I guess murder and rape would be ok too, huh?
"lawful general order"
How is what he did unlawful?
What part of the phrase 'lawful general order or regulation' are you finding so hard to understand? Does rape or murder sound like a lawful order to you?
Wearing a uniform at a political rally--illegal.
Disobeying specific written order from his admiral--illegal.
Verbally trashing his chain of command from the President downward--illegal.
Being a complete a$$hat in uniform--illegal ("conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman").
Unless you mean to say that soldiers have to do anything that a commanding officer tells them?
There is a presumption of legality that has to be overcome with respect to being able to disobey an order. Being ordered to restrict his denominational prayers in uniform to actual worship services for his denomination is perfectly legal, as the Navy has to respect not only his rights, but the rights of sailors who may not believe as he does but are required to be present for events where he holds forth.
Then I guess murder and rape would be ok too, huh?
I see you are not one to let facts get in your way.
"The hand of Jesus that saves him will also be upon you, in judgement. Rules, pride, arrogance...where will they be THEN?"
Ewww...that sounds scary!!!
Because, by offering prayers specific to his denomination at public events where sailors are required to attend (as opposed to denominational worship services, which are voluntary in nature), he is violating the rights of those sailors who do not believe as he does.
Or would you be comfortable with a Muslim chaplain, with a captive audience of sailors that is there under penalty of court-martial, offering Islam-specific prayers?
Are you stupid, or just ignorant? In the military, any lawful order given by a superior must be obeyed. Murder and rape cannot ever be considered a lawful order.
He got off very lightly.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.