Is military fight a supernatural battle?

Tags

“So help me God”, COEXIST, freedom of religion, Jihadists, mainstream faiths, military, Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, Military for Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), Tolerance, U.S. military

By Diane Markins

Does including the phrase, “So help me God” to an oath add value or impact? The United States Air Force Academy believed so in 1984 when it changed the candidate oath to include these words. But now they are removing the same words because of a complaint by the Military for Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).

Only a year ago, the Latin word for “God” was removed from the logo of an Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. The word was removed after objections by the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers.

Is religion in the U.S. military under attack from “friendly fire?” Undermining and demeaning Christian faith in the armed forces is expected to come from Jihadists, but it seems that there is a domestic battle being waged as well.

Read MORE

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“Two military chaplains are suing Eric Shinseki, secretary of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, or VA, for allegedly being harassed and drummed out of a training and placement program because of their Christian faith.

Chaplains Major Steven Firtko, U.S. Army (Retired) and Lieutenant Commander Dan Klender, U.S. Navy, claim they were mocked, scolded and threatened for their faith while enrolled in the San Diego VA-DOD Clinical Pastoral Education Center program, which trains and distributes chaplains to military and VA medical centers in the San Diego area.



According to their lawsuit, Firtko and Klender allege the Center’s supervisor, Ms. Nancy Dietsch, a VA employee, derided them in classrooms and even had one of them dismissed for failing to renounce his Christian beliefs.

In July, Firtko, Klender and their sponsoring organization, the Conservative Baptist Association of America, filed formal complaint against Dietsch and the VA.

Now the lawsuit, filed with the help of Military-Veterans Advocacy, explains that Firtko and Klender have exhausted all administrative options and that the harassment the chaplains endured violates the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the Administrative Procedures Act and the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“No American choosing to serve in the armed forces should be openly ridiculed for his Christian faith, and that is most obviously true for chaplains participating in a chaplain training program,” said Commander J.B. Wells, U. S. Navy (Ret.), executive director of Military-Veterans Advocacy. “Not only was the treatment these men received inappropriate, it was also a violation of federal law and the religious freedom guarantees of the First Amendment.”

The lawsuit, Conservative Baptist Association of America v. Shinseki, has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.”

DREW ZAHN

How can atheism “COEXIST” with mainstream faiths (Christianity, Judaism, Catholicism, Buddism) when it precludes any existence of God while the others assume a sovereign power of some nature? We managed for 235 years to peacefully live side by side, yet now, in the name of “tolerance” ALL reference to any deity is being erased. Are we so childish that anyone who disagrees must be WRONG? and therefore, denied freedom?

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Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier ~ Thank You!

Tags

American Veterans, Benghazi petition, heroes, honor, military, patriots, truth, veterans, Veterans' Day

EVERY VETERAN’S DAY, I stand with millions of Americans in debt to all Patriots who have gone before us in service to our great nation. Though I am a Vet, I served in time of peace, and dared to wear the same uniform as those brave souls who faced cunning and ruthless enemies. It is a debt I cannot repay, but it is a debt for which I am and grateful. I only wish more, particularly young people, had a better grasp of the ugliness of oppression experienced in other parts of our world. Maybe then, their appreciation of the liberties we yet enjoy would be greater.

Washington at Valley Forge. Lithograph by F. Heppenheimer, 1853.

THIS VETERAN’S DAY, there is a dark shadow looming overhead as our President continues to stonewall and dodge the questions of the American people concerning the Benghazi fiasco. CIA Directer Gen Petraeus resigned this week to avoid inquiry. Gen Ham of AFRICOM was “fired” after refusing to obey the order to “Stand down!” There is a general PURGE as President Obama removes record numbers of senior military officials. There are several websites collecting signatures on petitions, but I selected the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ). Please take a minute and stand on our enduring Oath to “Support & Defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic … ” Do this in memory of our fallen comrades. Do this to honor the memory of all who have served and given their all for their nation. And Pray …

BENGHAZI UPDATES:

• Paul: Benghazi should preclude Clinton from presidency
• Ratcheting Up Benghazi Questions
• Benghazi: Can Survivors Answer the Growing List of Questions?
• CBS: Government has put ‘extraordinary amount of pressure’ on people not to talk Benghazi

Pray for:

• the TRUTH about the Benghazi attack, “Fast & Furious,” the downed chinook with 20 members of elite Seal6 aboard for starters;
• a unified American people;
• a clear and vibrant vision for the future; and
• an honest effort to reclaim the moral high ground of American Values

Take Your Pick — A Variety of Ways to Help Put a Smile on Every Service Member’s Face! (via Operation Gratitude Blog)

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Afghanistan, Army, cards, care-packages, charity, combat, community-service, crafts, crochet, deployed, donate, donations, facebook, gifts, hats, heroes, Iraq, knit, letters, Libya, marines, middle-east, military, military-care-packages, military-support, morale, navy, patriotic, sailors, scarves, service members, troops, twitter, uncategorized, usaf, usmc, veterans, volunteer, war

Lots of ways to help … PICK ONE or two! 🙂

We hear from people all across the country who want to join in to support deployed service members and our patriotic cause — but because they live far from our Los Angeles-area location, they think they can't. Not true! There are many, many ways to take part! For starters, check out these flyers for great ideas: Ten Easy Ways to Support the Troops Letter Writing and Letter Writing for Teachers Handmade With Love: Scarves, Hats and Cool-Ties Girl … Read More

via Operation Gratitude Blog

A Reason to Fight

Tags

"life lessons", armed forces, character training, destiny, duty, equality, freedom, history, Human nature, individuality, military, Military appreciation, patriotism, patriots, responsibility, spiritual, strength

Preamble

Congress OF THE United States
begun and held at the City of New York, on Wednesday
the Fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.:

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

A Reason to Fight

Dear President Obama,

“We The People” have stated resolutely we reject your vision for our country. You claim you have not heard us.

“We The People” have assembled across America resisting your efforts to subvert our constitution and undermine our liberty. You claim you have not seen us.

Since you have not acknowledged our message, let us here present it once more for if as President Wilson said, “a leader’s ear must ring with the voices of the people,” the time has come.

Our greatest treasure is freedom – the absence of restraints on our ability to think and to act. The corollary of freedom is individual responsibility. We believe in the power of the individual.

A few years ago President Bush said, “History moves toward freedom because the desire for freedom is written in every human heart.” Let us add that we will preserve it only as long as devotion to freedom is expressed in the heart of our actions.

When President Lincoln dedicated Gettysburg National Cemetery he declared, “It is for us the living to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus so nobly advanced.”

That unfinished cause for which our soldiers willingly go to battle and for which so many have given their lives is a free United States of America. It has been nearly one hundred fifty years and the work President Lincoln spoke of is not finished. In fact, that work will never be finished.

Freedom is the capacity of self-determination. It is not an entity but a condition and conditions change. Freedom can expand, yet so can it contract.
You promised change when you took office, Mr. President, but subjugation is not change we wanted or will accept.

You have expanded government, violated our Constitution, confounded laws, seized private industry, destroyed jobs, perverted our economy, curtailed free speech, corrupted our currency, weakened our national security, and endangered our sovereignty.

By compromising our nation’s cultural, legal and economic institutions, you are ensuring that our children will never achieve the same quality of life as we enjoy today. Through generational theft you are robbing the unborn of opportunity.

This is not acceptable. Not in America. We did not become a strong nation through hope but rather through self-reliance.

No one better understands the relationship between individual achievement, dignity and strength than our armed forces. Through every war our soldiers have held this nation’s destiny in their hands. They have not failed us. They cherish freedom enough that they are willing to die for it.

Our duty to them and to ourselves is to treasure freedom enough to live up to it.
We accept the challenge, Mr. President. That is why we are assembling across the land to deliver our message to you as often and in every way we can. Dismiss us at your political peril.

Our great nation is a Republic. We will not accept tyranny under any guise. Your policy to redistribute the fruits of our labor is Statism and will not be tolerated.

By our honor, Mr. President, we vow forever to resist coercive government in America. Patriots will not stand silent as you attempt to dismantle the greatest nation on earth. “We The People” will defend our liberty. We will protect our beloved country and America’s exceptionalism will prevail.

God Bless the United States of America!

Sincerely,

We The People

WE THE PEOPLE have a treasure worth defending. That is why we have an all-volunteer military. There are those who recognize the value of FREEDOM and have counted the cost, and are willing to sacrifice their own lives in the preservation of our Nation and her FREEDOMS. For generations, the comforts have home have lulled us into complacency while others by design or by default have stolen some of these freedoms. It is my prayer and my fervent hope that the revelations of the last 2 years have begun to awaken the complacent, sleeping Giant and that her people will unite under the banner of Honesty and reality in Government so the issues that threaten further freedoms can be dispelled vehemently and resolutely. To this end, WE THE PEOPLE embrace the US CONSTITUTION. A document, an ideal, a reason to fight!

Mr. President, We the People have not yet begun to fight

Thanks to VOTINGAMERICAN for the transcript for the “WE THE PEOPLE” video!

Inspiration Monday XVIII

Submitted, though late, I think, for Inspiration Monday XVIII to bekindrewrite

All American Pie

Tags

"life lessons", Afghanistan, America, appreciation, celebration, freedom, freedom isn't free, Human nature, military, Military appreciation, some gave all, spiritual, Taliban

What is America? Too big for words, although I have tried. haha! I thought I would put together a random video experience to share my appreciation for my country. The Military holds a special place in my heart, and they cannot be celebrated too much!

Our military are doing sometimes special in Afghanistan, in case you are unaware. They are working to TEACH FREEDOM to those who have never in their wildest dreams experienced it. Can you imagine what it might be like to never know FREEDOM? To never be able to make a choice, at least an important choice and then to bear the responsibility for that choice … something I wish more Americans remembered. Hard to imagine, right?

10th Mountain soldiers add job program to win over enemy fighters


FORWARD OPERATING BASE PASAB, Afghanistan — As the spring fighting rages in Kandahar province, soldiers with 10th Mountain Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team are hoping to stem the violence by working to reintegrate local Taliban fighters into their villages in the Zhari and Maiwand districts.

The existing reintegration process offers fighters who are willing to leave the Taliban a safe haven and a 90-day stipend. The 10th Mountain is adding a yearlong jobs training program. READ MORE NOW

Some Gave ALL

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American Founders ………

Only in America

What is Fair Pay for our Military Personel?

Tags

appreciation, Human nature, military, military pay, obama, spiritual, understanding

What do WE THE PEOPLE think is FAIR PAY for those who stand on the front lines of combat in uniform? Many of the lower ranked service members qualify for food stamps and other “low income” programs. How can this be???

SNOPES.com -verified

“Help me to be, to think, to act what is right, make me truthful, honest and honorable in all things: make me intellectually honest for the sake of right and honor and without thought of reward to me.” (Prayer carried by Gen. Robert E. Lee)

CINDY WILLIAMS (not the actress, but a different Cindy Williams,) was appointed by Obama
As an Assistant Director for NATIONAL SECURITY in the Congressional Budget Office…..

Military Pay

This is an Airman’s response to Cindy Williams’ editorial piece in the Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should be printed in all newspapers across America .

Ms. Cindy William wrote a piece for the Washington Times denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members’ way this year citing that she stated a 13% wage increase was more than they deserve.

A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get a bonus for this.

“Ms Williams:

I just had the pleasure of reading your column, “Our GI’s earn enough” and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I’m wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117..80 before taxes per month. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40 after.

I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for “Network Technicians” in the Washington , D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years’ experience in my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum………… I’m sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.

Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces.

Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military’s lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN; I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full “deployment experience.”

As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they’ll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone. Obviously they’ve been squandering the “vast” piles of cash the government has been giving them.

Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites… And when you’re actually over there, sitting in a foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night, and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren’t enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE’s (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor.

Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won’t be nearly long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your open piece.

But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it.

You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment right and every other right you cherish…On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective noses at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can’t offer the stability and pay of civilian companies.

And you, Ms.. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve?

A1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB AFNCC

In Celebration of Flag Day – June 14th

Tags

America, character training, Flag Day, God, honor, military, nationalism, patriotism, respect, service members, USA

Tuesday is Flag Day in the United States of America.

The Pledge of Allegiance

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands,
one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

A few interesting things about our Flag. “On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: “Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” Subsequently, it took three executive orders to establish and confirm the dimensions and proportions for our Flag today. LEARN MORE

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America’s birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as ‘Flag Birthday’. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as ‘Flag Birthday’, or ‘Flag Day‘.

Wave Your American Flag Proudly!!!

America is unique in that her beginnings were noble. The early pioneers, pilgrims, puritans, and dreamers sought a land of freedom. Even among themselves, there was not complete agreement about if or how to form a local government. But they were intelligent enough to understand that together, finding the common ground and building on that. From there, our nation grew and flourished, I believe, because of in inherent willingness to share, to give of whatever we had to those with less. The first settlers from Europe understood hardship and from their own affliction learned compassion … along with some fear.

The stories of the first encounters with Native Americans are mixed. Some were heroic and honorable, some were not. While there are many things in our history for which we can be ashamed, there are many more acts of kindness and compassion. In my opinion, this compassion has been in past times, a driving force, an underlying current that kept us moving in a good and worthy direction. There are times in our history we forgot our compassion only to be reminded by some cruel and harsh reality. In America, I don’t know one way or another about other places, as my personal experience in other nations is limited, but in America, it has often been true that hard times bring out the best in us.

Look around. Do you see neighbors in need? If you are able to help, consider it. If you cannot, perhaps you might pray. Care. On this Flag Day, care …

We really can’t depend on the government. But together WE THE PEOPLE can re-build Joplin, Tuscaloosa, and America!

We must honor those who serve in uniform here and abroad, and remember that they sacrifice friends and family at the very least to protect the interests of the United States. Visiting Europe may not seem so severe, but living there for a year or more … well … it’s not HOME! THANK YOU, Service Members wherever you are!!!! Keep safe!!!!!

GOD, please continue to bless our GREAT nation, and flood her with your MERCY!

The Crime of Forgetting

Tags

character training, complacency, forget, freedom isn't free, military, remember, sacrifices

“A Hamilton, N.J., native who died in the line of duty in Iraq was brought home on Sunday.
Twenty-five-year-old Omar J. Vazquez was a 1st lieutenant with the United States Army. He and a fellow soldier, Pfc. Antonio G. Stiggins of Rio Rancho, NM, died Friday in Numaniyah, Iraq. Both were assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Hood, Texas. They were the victims of an improvised explosive while serving in Iraq.”

Yes, soldiers are still under fire in Iraq contrary to what we hear about “peace-keeping” forces. Lest we forget …

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“The most-powerful earthquake in Japan‘s recorded history struck off the country’s northeast coast on Friday, leaving hundreds of people dead, injured or missing March 11, 2011.

“The 8.9-magnitude earthquake triggered a deadly tsunami that washed far inland, swamping towns, sweeping away a train and sparking massive fires that burned through the night,” destabilizing major nuclear reactors along the coast …

It’s been a few months, but what is going on in Japan today? I cannot say when I last heard anything about those crippled reactors. How is it that something so catastrophic can be so easily brushed aside?

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“In 1776, a few patriots were very concerned about their loss of freedom. The British King had imposed unjust laws, and excessive taxation without representation. However, the majority of colonists were complacent — afraid to stand up for their freedom, and their Unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

“At great personal risk, 56 men stood up for all Americans and signed their names to the Declaration of Independence. It was adopted on July 4, 1776, and a new nation, The United States of America, was born. Our Founding Fathers (interactive picture of signers) established this nation upon amazingly wise and relevant documents, but there are those among us who believe they know better how the government should perform.

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We must never forget … Never forget the lives given, freely sacrificed for the good of the nation, for the good of their neighbors. We must never forget those who have gone before us and made a way for us to experience the various freedoms we so often take for granted everyday. We must never forget those who suffer and need our assistance and prayers whether here. across the world in the deserts of the Middle East or devastated island of Japan. Hardship demands a response, but the choice of HOW to respond is ours. We can walk away and forget, or we can find our way toward involvement. It’s a crime to forget …

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Inspiration Monday XIV!!! Thanks for the creative prompts! BeKindRewrite