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Air Force Removes Video that Mentions God
Townhall.com ^ | June 7, 2013 | Todd Starnes

Posted on 06/08/2013 6:22:45 AM PDT by Kaslin

The U.S. Air Force directed a military base to remove a video tribute to First Sergeants because it mentioned the word ‘God’ and might be offensive to atheists or Muslims.

The tribute was created by a chaplain at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The chaplain wrote a poem titled, “God Created A First Sergeant.” It was later adapted into a video with a narration.

The video was modeled after the Dodge Ram Super Bowl commercial titled, “God Created A Farmer.”

“On the eighth day, God looked down on His creation and said, ‘I need someone who will take care of the Airmen,’” the tribute read. “So God created a First Sergeant.”

Chaplain leadership at the base signed off on the project as well as other base officials and earlier this week the video was posted on YouTube. But it was soon taken down after other officers objected.

“Proliferation of religion is not allowed in the Air Force or military,” wrote the chief of the Air Force News Service Division in an email I obtained. “How would an Agnostic, Atheist or Muslim serving in the military take this video?”

“I would not recommend using this at all,” the chief wrote.

He also took issue with the wording of the video, according to the emails.

“The choice of ‘On the Eighth day’ verbiage to begin this video is highly suggestive from the book of Genesis in the Bible and has Christian overtones,” he wrote.

An Air Force spokesperson told Fox News the video was removed for a legal review.

“The Air Force removed the ‘God Created a First Sergeant’ video from the official Joint Base McGuire Dix YouTube site to evaluate whether it is consistent with official Air Force guidance, to include whether it meets official guidance governing religious neutrality in the Air Force as prescribed in Air Force Instruction 1-1, Air Force Culture,” spokesperson Ann Stefanek said in a statement.

A source with knowledge of the incident tells me that the video was made to simply honor First Sergeants. The chaplain had written the poem several months ago and it was recently turned into a multimedia presentation.

The decision to censor the video comes less than a week after the Military Religious Freedom Foundation ordered the Air Force to remove an inspirational painting from Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

The painting included a reference to a Bible verse in the Gospel of Matthew, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

The Air Force complied with those demands and less than one hour after MRFF founder Mikey Weinstein filed the complaint, the painting was removed.

An Airman who reached out to Fox News said Air Force leadership is “hypersensitive to anyone who says they feel like their rights are being violated.”

“It’s extremely frustrating,” the Airman said. “The Air Force is living in fear of Mikey Weinstein.”

The Airman, who asked not to be identified because he feared being disciplined, said many people are furious over the censorship of the chaplain’s video.

“If our chaplains cannot speak the name of God, let alone Christ, why have them?” he asked. “I’ve towed the company line for years but this has pushed me too far to sit quietly while personal liberties are trampled upon.”

The Airman said in recent months they have been reminded that they cannot proselytize and they cannot share their faith on the installation.

“We are strongly discouraged from having any kind of Christian items on our desks or in our offices,” he said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: bho44; bhodod; chaplains; chrisianity; god; mikeyweinstein; purge; usaf; usairforce
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btw here is the video

1st sgt project mp4

1 posted on 06/08/2013 6:22:45 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

What a monstrous slap in the face of all veterans, dead or alive. Tragic . . . sick . . .


2 posted on 06/08/2013 6:23:55 AM PDT by laweeks
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To: Kaslin

Solution? If you are not a fan of god, you are free to choose another career path.


3 posted on 06/08/2013 6:24:53 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (The reason we own guns is to protect ourselves from those wanting to take our guns from us.)
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To: Kaslin

“””The U.S. Air Force directed a military base to remove a video tribute to First Sergeants because it mentioned the word ‘God’ and might be offensive to atheists or Muslims. “””

Instead, they want to offend all the believers. Now I get it.


4 posted on 06/08/2013 6:27:30 AM PDT by shelterguy
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To: laweeks
It is a monstrous slap in the face of God and he will not take it kindly.
5 posted on 06/08/2013 6:28:00 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: Kaslin

And. All this time I thought it was freedom of religion, not freedom FROM religion.


6 posted on 06/08/2013 6:29:37 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: shelterguy

That sounds about like it


7 posted on 06/08/2013 6:29:43 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: hinckley buzzard

Bump


8 posted on 06/08/2013 6:30:24 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

Unfortunately, the military is sending the exact opposite message: “If you don’t like our new policies of cowering to the slightest look of disapproval from atheists or muslims, and embracing lifestyles of rampant sodomy, find another career path.”

As a matter of fact, why doesn’t DOD just promulgate a policy that those who live by Christian values are not welcome in the Armed Forces? That’d simplify the whole issue.


9 posted on 06/08/2013 6:33:14 AM PDT by ScottinVA ( Liberal is to patriotism as Kermit Gosnell is to neonatal care.)
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To: Kaslin

I wonder if the Air Force has any videos that mention atheists or Muslims. That might be offensive to some.


10 posted on 06/08/2013 6:33:28 AM PDT by wildbill (You're just jealous because the Voices talk only to me.)
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To: Puppage
It is Freedom of Religion, but the left hates the constitution
11 posted on 06/08/2013 6:33:43 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Kaslin

What’s next? Removing crosses at military cemeteries?


12 posted on 06/08/2013 6:36:47 AM PDT by ScottinVA ( Liberal is to patriotism as Kermit Gosnell is to neonatal care.)
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To: shelterguy
The Atheists claim that Atheism is a religion and since religions are based on beliefs it must be true. After all Atheists believe there is no God
13 posted on 06/08/2013 6:39:04 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: hinckley buzzard

Agreed, his hand of protection has been leaving us for several years now. He is patient, but one day soon disaster is coming unlike any we have ever seen.


14 posted on 06/08/2013 6:39:54 AM PDT by seeker41 (Take back your country before it is too late-STOP islamic expansion in the USA remove zero)
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To: wildbill

“I wonder if the Air Force has any videos that mention atheists or Muslims. That might be offensive to some.”

Atheism and islam are all the rage now, so any expression of disapproval of such videos would be prosecuted as “hate speech.”


15 posted on 06/08/2013 6:39:56 AM PDT by ScottinVA ( Liberal is to patriotism as Kermit Gosnell is to neonatal care.)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

Solution? Impeach the Muslim atheist communist President and send Democrats packing across the land, replace the corrupt military leaders and put God back into out lives. Meanwhile sue the bastards. And raise a ruckus. Say God whenever you please in the military.


16 posted on 06/08/2013 6:40:50 AM PDT by WashingtonSource
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To: Kaslin

The military, like the country, is FUBAR.


17 posted on 06/08/2013 6:41:09 AM PDT by ScottinVA ( Liberal is to patriotism as Kermit Gosnell is to neonatal care.)
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To: Kaslin

An Airman who reached out to Fox News said Air Force leadership is “hypersensitive to anyone who says they feel like their rights are being violated.”


Wrong, Air Force leadership is “hypersensitive to to only non Christians who say they feel like their rights are being violated.”


18 posted on 06/08/2013 6:45:02 AM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse (Why do you need a fire extinguisher when you can call the fire department?)
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To: Kaslin

Bump


19 posted on 06/08/2013 6:45:38 AM PDT by lowbridge
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To: ScottinVA
bttt

What’s next? Removing crosses at military cemeteries?

20 posted on 06/08/2013 6:46:54 AM PDT by headsonpikes (Mass murder and cannibalism are the twin sacraments of socialism - "Who-whom?"-Lenin)
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