Atheist soldier sues The Army for discrimination.

[wilbur]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/08/ath...ier/index.html

snip...

In March, Hall filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, among others. In the suit, Hall claims his rights to religious freedom under the First Amendment were violated and suggests that the United States military has become a Christian organization.

"I think it's utterly and totally wrong. Unconstitutional," Hall said.

Hall said there is a pattern of discrimination against non-Christians in the military.

Two years ago on Thanksgiving Day, after refusing to pray at his table, Hall said he was told to go sit somewhere else. In another incident, when he was nearly killed during an attack on his Humvee, he said another soldier asked him, "Do you believe in Jesus now?"

Hall isn't seeking compensation in his lawsuit -- just the guarantee of religious freedom in the military. Eventually, Hall was sent home early from Iraq and later returned to Fort Riley in Junction City, Kansas, to complete his tour of duty.

...snip

The interesting bit, is he's not suing for any compensation. Sounds like mostly a peer pressure type situations, not acts by the institution itself, unless the story about being denied promotions is accurate.

[LogansPapa]

Guess this falls under the ‘go along to get along’ reality.

[Aklover]

I wouldn't doubt it, however I doubt it was more than one or two people in his chain of command who were persecuting him if true. Not suing for compensation lends to his credibility I think.

[noonwitch]

I wouldn't doubt it, however I doubt it was more than one or two people in his chain of command who were persecuting him if true. Not suing for compensation lends to his credibility I think.

I agree that if he's not asking for money, he just wants the harrassment to stop, so he can keep doing his job.

[Aklover]

I agree that if he's not asking for money, he just wants the harrassment to stop, so he can keep doing his job.

(SARCASM) ....... But christians don't harass people, they save them by attempting to bring them to jesus! (SARCASM)

[Molon Labe]

(SARCASM) ....... But christians don't harass people, they save them by attempting to bring them to jesus! (SARCASM)

How do you know it's only "Christians" ?
My old unit used to harass the hell out of a particular Christian. Using this article...He would have had every right to do what this gentleman has done

[Aklover]

How do you know it's only "Christians" ?
My old unit used to harass the hell out of a particular Christian. Using this article...He would have had every right to do what this gentleman has done

Then tell him to do it. The military has stringent rules that regulate most aspects of service members lives, why not lump on one more that says "As relates to religion or the lack of MYOFB".

[MrsSmith]

Military can't find officer named in lawsuit

Soldier's harassment lawsuit names major, but man hasn't been located

By John Milburn
The Associated Press
Published Sunday, September 23, 2007

Military officials in Iraq are investigating allegations that an Army specialist is being harassed for being an atheist but said Saturday they can't find an officer that the soldier has sued in federal court.

>>>

Lt. Col. James Hutton, a spokesman for multinational forces in Iraq, said in a statement from Iraq on Saturday that the Army was investigating Hall's situation, but added: "Several media reports list a person named Maj. Paul Welborne as having been involved in this situation. To date, we have not located any soldier by that name."

http://capitaljournal.cjonline.com/s...02046749.shtml

http://www.milum.net/military_religi..._complaint.pdf

New evidence in military religious freedom case
Comments 5 Email by Terry Rombeck

Tuesday, 18 December 2007

This is from the Associated Press today:

By JOHN MILBURN

Associated Press Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A religious freedom foundation has uncovered evidence it says bolsters its federal lawsuit claiming that the military is permitting widespread violations of religious freedom at installations across the country, including Fort Riley.

The evidence is part of a lawsuit filed by Army Spc. Jeremy Hall and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation against Maj. Freddy J. Welborne and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

I guess there's no reason to doubt Jeremy's word just because he didn't even know the name of the guy "persecuting" him...

Examples at Fort Riley, where Hall is stationed, included a display outside his military police battalion’s office with a quote from conservative columnist Ann Coulter saying,

“We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.”

Another photo from Fort Riley shows the book “A Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam” for sale at the post exchange.

“These astonishing and saddening evidence which our foundation is making public today only further buttress our lawsuit filed in federal district court,” said Mike Weinstein, an attorney in Albuquerque, N.M., and president of the foundation who graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1977.

http://www2.ljworld.com/blogs/faith_...gious_freedom/

wow, how horrible...or whatever.

I have respect for Jeremy for his service, but serious doubts about the rest of this.

[LibraryLady]

If he was truly being discriminated against all he would have to do is go to his EO (Equal Opportunity) NCO or officer.