The Pentagon forced an Army post in Afghanistan to remove a cross on its worship tent. It’s offensive to liberal atheists.
The Politico reported:
A large cross that had been prominently displayed outside a chapel on an isolated military base in northern Afghanistan was taken down last week, prompting outrage from some American service members stationed there.
“We are here away from our families, and the chapel is the one place that feels like home,” a service member at Camp Marmal told POLITICO. “With the cross on the outside, it is a constant reminder for all of us that Jesus is here for us.”
“Not having it there is really upsetting,” added another. “I walk by the chapel daily on the way to chow and the gym, and seeing the cross is a daily reminder of my faith and what Jesus accomplished for me. It is daily inspiration and motivation for me to acknowledge my faith and stay on the right path.”
Camp Marmal is a German base that hosts NATO forces. The interfaith chapel in question is supervised by the U.S. Army.
The soldiers said they found great comfort in the chapel — and the cross visible outside. “Sometimes the Church and the ability to openly express religious views ultimately gets people through the deployments over here,” one told POLITICO by email.
The service member said he asked the base chaplain, a military officer, what had happened to the cross. “I had to take it down,” said the chaplain, according to the solider, without further explanation.
Pentagon spokesperson Commander William Speaks confirmed the cross was removed and told POLITICO, “The removal was, in fact, in accordance with Army regulations” and pointed out that the Army chaplain manual prohibits permanent display of religious symbols.
“Distinctive religious symbols, such as crosses… will not be affixed or displayed permanently on the chapel interior, exterior or grounds,” reads the manual.
Nothing like being denied the right to express your faith while fighting for your country, huh?
So let me get this straight.
If you worship Dick, you can plant a phlag.
If you were an America-hating Marxist and you were POTUS what would you do to undermine the United States? Would you cripple her with massive debt? Would you work to destroy her energy base? Would you implement policies that crush the elan of her military?
If Obama isn’t he sure is acting like he is.
“Distinctive religious symbols, such as crosses… will not be affixed or displayed permanently on the chapel interior, exterior or grounds,” reads the manual.
Huh?
As it has been many moons (as my mentor Rush is fond of saying) since I served (some 40+ years ago) and as I can't exactly remember if the chapels on the many USAF installations I served on had crosses or not, can anyone edify me as to whether this has always been the official policy or something his Neo-Commie, Fascist Admin has instituted on his own?
Note that it’s an “interfaith chapel” chapel.
That means it’s the designated building for all services for all faiths. Greek Orthodox to Jewish to Buddhist.
That cross is only applicable to some Christian faiths, though. And they do not have ownership of the building.
So, I’d say that whatever religion is conducting services at the moment should have their symbol on the door. And then, when it’s over, it’s taken down so the next religion can place their symbol on the door.
Same goes for the interior.
Which explains why the manual states: “Distinctive religious symbols, such as crosses… will not be affixed or displayed permanently on the chapel interior, exterior or grounds”.
Or, are you willing to pony up the extra dough so that all the religions in the military have their own separate chapels on all bases? Or advocate that only Catholics, Protestants, and Evangelicals may join the military?