Operation Straight Up is no longer planning to send care packages that include the Left Behind video game to troops in Iraq.
Operation Straight Up is an official member of the Defense Department initiative “America Supports You,” as one of more than 250 home-front groups that have joined the effort to support troops by sending letters, e-mails and care packages, and by giving assistance to military families, including the wounded and their families. (emphasis added)I decided to see if I could find out a little bit more about what had the reporter's panties in such a twisted knot, so I looked up the AmericaSupportsYou website to see where the DOD was "endorsing" this tour. Searching the AmericaSupportsYou website for the OSU organization, I found this link: Tour Takes Entertainment to Troops
Here is the "About Us" page for the AmericaSupportsYou website: http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/about.html
This is a DoD supported site that allows individuals and groups to support our troops in various ways. It sounds like you object to the idea of religious groups participating in this support as a possible violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. I would argue that to allow other groups to participate but to prohibit the participation of religious groups would violate the Free Exercise and Free Speech clauses of the First Amendment.
Here is a link to the official website for Operation Straight Up: http://www.osutour.org/
Here is a current description of the gift packages that OSU sends to deployed soldiers:
Deployed Gift Packages - "Freedom Packets"We send care packages to soldiers on the front lines of the war in Iraq. We call them “Freedom Packets” because the truth will set you free. Included in each “Freedom Packet” is:
- Greeting card
- 75 Minute Phone Card
- White Socks
- Baby Wipes (suggested by Col Oliver North)
- Gideon’s pocket size New Testament
- Extreme Sports “Livin It” DVD
- and an assortment of snacks.
We ship them to Iraq free of charge to soldiers. The approximate cost per package is $50. Two items – phone cards and shipping cost – account for approximately half that total amount. Most of the items were donated at no cost to support our troops. Your donation helps us send a clear message that God cares, including their mind, body and soul.
Now that you have more information than the distortions reported by the Sun-Times reporter, do you still object to this?
We send care packages to soldiers on the front lines of the war in Iraq. We call them “Freedom Packets” because the truth will set you free. Included in each “Freedom Packet” is: Greeting card, 75 Minute Phone Card, White Socks, Baby Wipes (suggested by Col Oliver North), Gideon’s pocket size New Testament, Extreme Sports “Livin It” DVD and an assortment of snacks.”
“...because the truth will set you free.”
Unbelievable. Not even a subtle approach to what they are actually doing.