I find it quite ironic, and
mostly sad that the very ones who are appointed to protect this country,
and the freedoms we hold dear—like the freedom of speech—are being told
they cannot exercise them.
Lt.
Col. Kenneth Reyes, a Christian chaplain serving in the US Air Force on
a base in Alaska, was likely not expecting the controversy he's
received over using a quote from President Dwight D. Eisenhower in one
of his latest blog postings. (Photo: Lt. Col. Reyes/Daily Mail)
Lt.
Col. Kenneth Reyes, a Christian chaplain serving in the US Air Force on
a base in Alaska, was likely not expecting the controversy he's
received over using a quote from President Dwight D. Eisenhower in one
of his latest blog postings. (Photo: Lt. Col. Reyes/Daily Mail)
Reyes
had written and posted a piece that used the well-known
quote-turned-cliché in its title: "No Atheists in Foxholes: Chaplains
Gave All in World War II."
The saying, originally attributed to a WWII Catholic Priest, became famous after Eisenhower used it in a 1954 speech.
"I am delighted that our veterans are sponsoring a movement to increase our awareness of God in our daily lives. In battle, they learned a great truth that there are no atheists in the foxholes," Eisenhower had said.
You
may think there is nothing wrong with quoting a former president (and
really, you'd be right according to the US Constitution), however,
apparently this kind of speech is offensive and should not be allowed—at
least that seems to be the opinion of the newly implemented Pentagon
advisor, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation's Mikey Weinstein. (Photo: President Eisenhower)
Reyes' base commander received a complaint from the MRFF about the essay title saying that by the chaplain's "use of the bigoted, religious supremacist phrase, 'no atheists in foxholes,' he defiles the dignity of service members."
Reyes' "Chaplain's Corner" blog posting was promptly removed, and the MRFF wants Reyes to be "punished" for his essay.
Family Research Council's Tony Perkins notes that Reyes wasn't beating anyone over the head with "faith" in his posting, and that he even ended it by pointing out that there are many different kinds of faith.
"Everyone expresses some form of faith every day, whether it is religious or secular," wrote Reyes. "Some express faith by believing when they get up in the morning they will arrive at work in one piece, thankful they have been given another opportunity to enjoy the majesty of the day, or express relief the doctor's results were negative."
I find it quite ironic, and mostly sad that the very ones who are appointed to protect this country, and the freedoms we hold dear—like the freedom of speech—are being told they cannot exercise them.
The saying, originally attributed to a WWII Catholic Priest, became famous after Eisenhower used it in a 1954 speech.
"I am delighted that our veterans are sponsoring a movement to increase our awareness of God in our daily lives. In battle, they learned a great truth that there are no atheists in the foxholes," Eisenhower had said.
You
may think there is nothing wrong with quoting a former president (and
really, you'd be right according to the US Constitution), however,
apparently this kind of speech is offensive and should not be allowed—at
least that seems to be the opinion of the newly implemented Pentagon
advisor, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation's Mikey Weinstein. (Photo: President Eisenhower) Reyes' base commander received a complaint from the MRFF about the essay title saying that by the chaplain's "use of the bigoted, religious supremacist phrase, 'no atheists in foxholes,' he defiles the dignity of service members."
Reyes' "Chaplain's Corner" blog posting was promptly removed, and the MRFF wants Reyes to be "punished" for his essay.
Family Research Council's Tony Perkins notes that Reyes wasn't beating anyone over the head with "faith" in his posting, and that he even ended it by pointing out that there are many different kinds of faith.
"Everyone expresses some form of faith every day, whether it is religious or secular," wrote Reyes. "Some express faith by believing when they get up in the morning they will arrive at work in one piece, thankful they have been given another opportunity to enjoy the majesty of the day, or express relief the doctor's results were negative."
I find it quite ironic, and mostly sad that the very ones who are appointed to protect this country, and the freedoms we hold dear—like the freedom of speech—are being told they cannot exercise them.
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