quote:
Originally posted by Ben Weaver:
Sounds like they had the option of attending the concert, or remaining in the barracks. I don't see the problem. Typical in this day, people whining over nothing that their rights were violated and constantly wanting undeserved special treatment.
Hi Ben,
So true. I served in the Air Force and was never forced to attend any religious services. Although, I may have been better off if I had been -- might have set me on the path to salvation many years earlier.
But, I suspect what we have are a handful of atheist, secularist, and those too afraid of losing their worldly gods if the name of the Jesus Christ is mentioned within their range of hearing. So, they whine and cry. If they don't want to hear the name of God -- walk away.
Now, I will say this. If the commanding officer did attempt to force anyone to attend a Christian concert -- or any concert -- that would have been wrong. But, how do we know that this was not just a bunch of losers who were already under disciplinary action -- and possibly given an opportunity to stay in the barracks and do disciplinary work -- or go to the concert and get out from under the discipline?
In the early 1960s, I worked with a young man who was street racing and hit the car of an elderly couple killing them both. The judge gave the young man two options: go to jail -- or go into the Army. Personally, I think the judge was too lenient. But, the young man chose to go into the Army. If he had not gone into the Army -- he would have had to face the disciplinary action of going to jail.
Now, we can wonder if that is what happened in this case -- that the men did not want to attend the concert. Did they reject the offer of the concert -- and then whine because they had to do their disciplinary work? Not saying this is so -- but, from my own personal experience in the military -- it sounds logical to me.
But, on the other hand -- maybe they did have a commanding officer who was a Christian nutcase. It would not be the first time. After all, we Christians are only "forgiven sinners" -- and, believe it or not -- we are not perfect. Some of us do make mistakes. If that was the case in this instance; he was wrong. But, my gut tells me that this is more whining than punishment.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill