I can understand why church/state separatists are upset about
this report, but I also know it should come as no surprise.
We are at war, after all, a war that has in Iraq claimed approaching 4000 lives. More than twenty thousand have been wounded, some severely, and permanently. A good many have accrued brain injuries, and an unknown number will struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome for years to come, perhaps throughout their lives.
A good many members of the military are faced with their second, third, and even fourth tours of duty-and there is no end in sight.
In situations such as this, many will seek spiritual comfort, and there are many others who, for good or bad reasons, will seek to provide it.
The problem here seems to be that a number of high ranking military personnel appeared in a video, in uniform, in promotion of an evangelical Christian group, which is against the military code of conduct. Such appearances could easily be miscontrued as amounting to military or Department of Defense official support of such groups, and so are not allowed.
This is a situation which would be easily remedied, it would seem, by a reprimand. If someone has valid reason to believe they have been denied promotion, or leave, or otherwise discriminated against due to objections to evangelizing efforts, or for failure to affiliate with such a group, then that is a different story.
Nevertheless, if someone wishes to affiliate with such a group, that door should be left open to them, as long as no special doors are opened to them that are denied to others as a result.
this report, but I also know it should come as no surprise.
We are at war, after all, a war that has in Iraq claimed approaching 4000 lives. More than twenty thousand have been wounded, some severely, and permanently. A good many have accrued brain injuries, and an unknown number will struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome for years to come, perhaps throughout their lives.
A good many members of the military are faced with their second, third, and even fourth tours of duty-and there is no end in sight.
In situations such as this, many will seek spiritual comfort, and there are many others who, for good or bad reasons, will seek to provide it.
The problem here seems to be that a number of high ranking military personnel appeared in a video, in uniform, in promotion of an evangelical Christian group, which is against the military code of conduct. Such appearances could easily be miscontrued as amounting to military or Department of Defense official support of such groups, and so are not allowed.
This is a situation which would be easily remedied, it would seem, by a reprimand. If someone has valid reason to believe they have been denied promotion, or leave, or otherwise discriminated against due to objections to evangelizing efforts, or for failure to affiliate with such a group, then that is a different story.
Nevertheless, if someone wishes to affiliate with such a group, that door should be left open to them, as long as no special doors are opened to them that are denied to others as a result.
