We’re not “encouraged,” we’re ordered by commanders to censor our prayers and sermons! If we fail to obey their “encouragement” Chief of Chaplains here claims we have NO LEGAL TITLE 10 PROTECTION to stop a commander from punishing us, when Senior chaplains ADVISE THEM TO PUNISH US (even during “Divine Services”) just like Chaplain Gragg openly advised CAPT Carr to punish me for quoting the Bible during an optionally-attended “Christian Memorial Service” in the chapel, and so they dishonored the Christian faith of a deceased member of my flock, who deserved a Christian burial.
http://www.persuade.tv/frenzy/NewNavyPrayerPolicy1.pdf
When I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966, I swore an oath to protect this nation from both foreign and domestic enemies. I swore that I would protect the Constitution of the U.S. and all citizens. When I returned from Vietnam in December 1968 there were people who cursed me, called me a baby killer, a drugged out no good S.O.B. It took every ounce of strength not to strike back. I had just got off an airplane at Travis Air Force Base and not more than 20+ hours earlier was just departing a “War Zone”. After the initial shock of this group of protestors trying to spit on me I got into a taxi cab, went to a hotel, crawled into a real bed for the first time in a year, waiting the dawn of a new day to catch a commercial airliner to go home.
What I believe I was fighting for was the freedom that we have through our Constitution and hoping to help another country realize the same freedom.
I believe, today, “We The People…” need to stand up to fight for our 1st Amendment Rights. The first right we need to fight for is the 1st line:
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
This right ensures each of us the freedom of choice whether we believe in God, a Prophet, or some other deity, and also gives us the freedom not to believe. When we begin to let a group of activists impose their religious will on a few of us, we are opening the door for these same groups to take away your freedom as well. We let them slowly change the wording and intent of this Amendment and then one day instead of it just applying to one group of believers we have let these changes affect us all.
We have all heard and read that Freedom isn’t Free, but somehow we have forgotten that “We The People…” must stand up and protect our freedoms domestically. My friends, this applies to our military and all of our citizens. Don’t let a group impose their will on the Military by forbidding them to Pray, or if they are Christian, forbid the use of the name Jesus Christ by Chaplins. The next thing to happen is that those who fight for our country and believe differently will begin to suffer the same restrictions. We must come together and stand up to groups who want to take away our Constitutional Rights. If we continue to wait, one day you will awake and all of our Freedoms will be gone.