Check out the article from today’s NYTimes HERE (may require login):

Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

By NEELA BANERJEE
Published: April 26, 2008

FORT RILEY, Kan. — When Specialist Jeremy Hall held a meeting last July for atheists and freethinkers at Camp Speicher in Iraq, he was excited, he said, to see an officer attending.

But minutes into the talk, the officer, Maj. Freddy J. Welborn, began to berate Specialist Hall and another soldier about atheism, Specialist Hall wrote in a sworn statement. “People like you are not holding up the Constitution and are going against what the founding fathers, who were Christians, wanted for America!” Major Welborn said, according to the statement.

Major Welborn told the soldiers he might bar them from re-enlistment and bring charges against them, according to the statement. ...

It’s a sobering tale and worth a read.

Anyone catch the extensive NY Times article today about discrimination against atheists in the military?  I was just disgusted, but I suppose not surprised.  The level of ignorance about both the Constitution and our founding fathers is truly unbelievable!

musicmommy - 26 April 2008 07:00 PM

Anyone catch the extensive NY Times article today about discrimination against atheists in the military?  I was just disgusted, but I suppose not surprised.  The level of ignorance about both the Constitution and our founding fathers is truly unbelievable!

Two articles 1st.AP
Fort Riley atheist soldier speaks out on lawsuit
and 2nd NY Times writier
Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

(or if these links don’t work go to nytimes.com and search on the word ‘atheist’ --these are 4/26/2008 stories.)

Thanks very much for bringing these up—I read them and then got distracted.
These stories are as bothersome (or more) as the “truly expelled” examples of academics being harassed for believing in evolution.

dougsmith - 26 April 2008 06:56 AM

Check out the article from today’s NYTimes HERE (may require login):

Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

By NEELA BANERJEE
Published: April 26, 2008

FORT RILEY, Kan. — When Specialist Jeremy Hall held a meeting last July for atheists and freethinkers at Camp Speicher in Iraq, he was excited, he said, to see an officer attending.

But minutes into the talk, the officer, Maj. Freddy J. Welborn, began to berate Specialist Hall and another soldier about atheism, Specialist Hall wrote in a sworn statement. “People like you are not holding up the Constitution and are going against what the founding fathers, who were Christians, wanted for America!” Major Welborn said, according to the statement.

Major Welborn told the soldiers he might bar them from re-enlistment and bring charges against them, according to the statement. ...

oops Doug there was another post on the same topic—can you merge.  I agree the facts in this story are frightening.
It’s a sobering tale and worth a read.