When I was in the army, the prevailing ethos was that your duty is to the Constitution, the soldier on your left, and the soldier on your right. Whatever their beliefs may be. Because if you don't have that, you don't have an army. You have a rumble. You don't have to look lie those two soldiers, sound like them, pray like them, or even LIKE them. But they're your responsibility, and you are theirs. Thats' the only way you all survive.
Framing the Iran war as a holy war, one that adheres to a minority religious view of end times prophecy, violates the Constitution’s separation of church and state. Military officers are obliged to not comply with unconstitutional orders. At the very least, the religious right’s love of religion-based exemptions, even in the military, means that military members who don’t share that Apocalyptic view should be exempt from participating in a holy war.
In the First Amendment of the Constitution under the Establishment Clause it clearly states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." In other words, the government is prohibited from establishing a state religion or the indoctrination of people into one.
The real danger here is creating a populace that abides by and follows directives issued by leadership without question. It ends critical thinking and instills mob mentality.
They could refuse an illegal order, right? Wow… talk about a perilous situation. Power, ego and unwillingness to do their work and be responsible. Not what Jesus the Christ exemplified. Love and forgiveness and grace and goodness…
They could, and should. But there is a cost to falling on your sword. Anyone refusing in this environment would likely be courts martialed and probably jailed. I believe they would eventually be exonerated, but that would not happen until we’ve had our own regime change. The short-term cost would be high. Easy for me to say, I’m no longer in their position.
Your writing needs spreading throughout the nation. Even within Trump's cult there are several theologies vying for dominance; Catholic vs evangelical, for instance. Talk to Russel Vought. Oh, why bother?
It amazes me sometimes just how stupid these people can be. To start with the very 1st Amendment expressly gives us all Freedom of Religion and the Military being a part of the Government means it has no right to command religion to anyone. Just a fact. Also, there are as many as 4.5 Muslims in the USA adn what they are doing will cause a fight inside our own Military and country. The level of ignorance with these people is mind blowing.
They know what they are doing but that doesn't stop it from being stupid. Our country doesn't have benefits, national health care, base income, etc., what we have as Americans is Democracy and it is defined by the Constitution that provides our freedom and voice in our government. To point out a part of their ignorance, when you mention Democracy to a Trumputian the first thing they will say is that we have a Constitutional Republic not a Democracy being to stupid to know that a Constitutional Republic is a form of Democracy. The few that are smart enough to have a clue are too radical and evil to be totally effective. The other thing it that most everything has been done with Exec Orders, all which will be reversed with the next president. Trump will go down in History as one of the greatest con men in the USA. He fooled 76 million people a second time after being proven in court rooms to be a fraud, sexual predator, a convicted felon and an insurrectionist. Simply your Uncle that would change Trump's sh!tty diaper if he would let Trump baby sit his children.
A majority of Americans have barely any idea how much of America Trump, MAGA, and the GOP has destroyed, or the consequences of that historic destruction has wrought on everything that truly made America great.
The United States of America has never been great, nor has it created individuals exhibiting American Exceptionalism. It has always been what it is right now with the mask off.
Candidly, any officer, from general to company commander to noncom platoon sergeant couches an order using any such language should be court martialed and drummed out of the service. It really is that egregious. I say that as someone baptized Roman Catholic, an atheist for over 50 years, and now Greek Orthodox in my dotage--but also a Navy brat whose father, uncles, father in law and brother in law fought in WWII, Korea and Vietnam (where I would have gone but for failing my draft physical due to congenital eye issues).
I support our military 100%. I do not and cannot support the current felonious Clown in Chief or Whiskey Pete, the Secretary of "War". If they were both accidentally torpedoed in a luxury yacht in the "Gulf of America", the world would not mourn. It would celebrate.
I don't see how Armageddon could hold an 'appeal' for anyone, aside from perhaps a suicidal person who has no friends or loved ones to care about. It's frightening to me that apparently a lot of people have no idea what happens in a nuclear war.
I remember when Christian nationalism and evangelical endtimes thinking was infecting the Air Force Academy. This has been on the fringe for years. Now it has turned into a war video game for our unqualified Secretary of War so he can use real guns. How does this happen and why don't the adults in our commands stop it? Have you heard Hegseth's rhetoric lately? He is as unhinged as our President. This is scary stuff, folks.
Yes it is. KICK THAT FEARS ugly ass . We ARE gonna STOP THIS UGLY NIGHTMARE composed of fear, lies, cruelty and violence. I was born to do that in 1952. "Aliens" , or as I prefer to call them, Galactic Travelers , were there flying over the White House. I was born at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington DC. To most people the realities of my life are quite unbelieveable. Thats understandable. I came to do great things such as bringing peace on Earth. Today I started with music and baking an apple pie for my neighbors.
I don't think the words "God" and "religion" belong in the same sentence as the word "war", much less connecting God and religion together with war. That is a complete contradiction to me. Any God people choose to believe in would not encourage or approve the engagement of the horrors of war, that's obvious to me anyway.
If humans insist on killing, torturing and destroying each other, other countries and the planet, I don't think that has anything to do with God - any God.
Some of the ugliest periods of history were when the people in government power were closely intertwined with religious leaders. Corruption ran rampant. There's good reason the separation of church and state came about, and it has worked out just fine. I had a religious upbringing and still believe in God and the Golden Rule, but I do not consider myself religious. I do, however, consider myself spiritual. My Church is within my heart and soul. And I sincerely I mean it when I say, "Take your Bible off of my Constitution!"
Armageddon is also known as Megiddo. I was there in 1984. James Michener mentioned it in his novel The Source. In ancient times the community that lived there was protected by a wall but their source of water was outside the wall. To maintain access to the water they dug a tunnel (starting from both ends and met in the middle). We visitors were able to walk through that tunnel.
When I was in the army, the prevailing ethos was that your duty is to the Constitution, the soldier on your left, and the soldier on your right. Whatever their beliefs may be. Because if you don't have that, you don't have an army. You have a rumble. You don't have to look lie those two soldiers, sound like them, pray like them, or even LIKE them. But they're your responsibility, and you are theirs. Thats' the only way you all survive.
Framing the Iran war as a holy war, one that adheres to a minority religious view of end times prophecy, violates the Constitution’s separation of church and state. Military officers are obliged to not comply with unconstitutional orders. At the very least, the religious right’s love of religion-based exemptions, even in the military, means that military members who don’t share that Apocalyptic view should be exempt from participating in a holy war.
In the First Amendment of the Constitution under the Establishment Clause it clearly states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." In other words, the government is prohibited from establishing a state religion or the indoctrination of people into one.
The real danger here is creating a populace that abides by and follows directives issued by leadership without question. It ends critical thinking and instills mob mentality.
They could refuse an illegal order, right? Wow… talk about a perilous situation. Power, ego and unwillingness to do their work and be responsible. Not what Jesus the Christ exemplified. Love and forgiveness and grace and goodness…
They could, and should. But there is a cost to falling on your sword. Anyone refusing in this environment would likely be courts martialed and probably jailed. I believe they would eventually be exonerated, but that would not happen until we’ve had our own regime change. The short-term cost would be high. Easy for me to say, I’m no longer in their position.
To save our Bill of Rights, vote these vulnerable Republicans out of office:
CA: Ken Calvert, Mike Garcia-27, Young Kim-40, John Duarte-13, David Valado-22, Kevin Kiley-03,
OPEN-48,
IA: Zach Nunn-03, Ashley Hinson-02, Mariannette Miller-Meeks-01, Randy Freenstra-04,
PA: Robert Bresnahan-08, Brian Fitzgerald-01, Scott Perry-10, Ryan Mackenzie-07,
MI: Tom Barrett-07, Bill Huizenga-04, OPEN-10, John James-10,
AZ: Eli Crane-03, Juan Ciscomani-06, David Schweikert-06, Andy Biggs-05,
NY: Mike Lawler-17, OPEN-21,
VA: Jen Kiggans-02, Rob Whittman-01,
TN: Andy Ogles-05, John Rose-06,
WI: Bryan Steil-01, Derrick Van Orden-03, Tom Tiffany-07,
GA: Buddy Carter-01 Mike Collins-10, OPEN-11,
KY: Open-06, NB-OPEN-02, OR:OPEN-05, ID: Mike Simpson-02, SC: Nancy Mace-01,
AK: Nick Begich, SD: Dusty Johnson, LA: Juli Letlow-05, WY: Harriet Hageman, AL: Barry Moore-01,
NJ: Tom Kean Jr.-07,
Your writing needs spreading throughout the nation. Even within Trump's cult there are several theologies vying for dominance; Catholic vs evangelical, for instance. Talk to Russel Vought. Oh, why bother?
IMHO not one organized religion lives up to its teachings.
Outstanding commentary. Sadly.
It amazes me sometimes just how stupid these people can be. To start with the very 1st Amendment expressly gives us all Freedom of Religion and the Military being a part of the Government means it has no right to command religion to anyone. Just a fact. Also, there are as many as 4.5 Muslims in the USA adn what they are doing will cause a fight inside our own Military and country. The level of ignorance with these people is mind blowing.
That's the problem, they aren't stupid. They know exactly what they are doing.
They know what they are doing but that doesn't stop it from being stupid. Our country doesn't have benefits, national health care, base income, etc., what we have as Americans is Democracy and it is defined by the Constitution that provides our freedom and voice in our government. To point out a part of their ignorance, when you mention Democracy to a Trumputian the first thing they will say is that we have a Constitutional Republic not a Democracy being to stupid to know that a Constitutional Republic is a form of Democracy. The few that are smart enough to have a clue are too radical and evil to be totally effective. The other thing it that most everything has been done with Exec Orders, all which will be reversed with the next president. Trump will go down in History as one of the greatest con men in the USA. He fooled 76 million people a second time after being proven in court rooms to be a fraud, sexual predator, a convicted felon and an insurrectionist. Simply your Uncle that would change Trump's sh!tty diaper if he would let Trump baby sit his children.
A majority of Americans have barely any idea how much of America Trump, MAGA, and the GOP has destroyed, or the consequences of that historic destruction has wrought on everything that truly made America great.
The United States of America has never been great, nor has it created individuals exhibiting American Exceptionalism. It has always been what it is right now with the mask off.
Scary that there are people that truly wish for the end of the world....
Candidly, any officer, from general to company commander to noncom platoon sergeant couches an order using any such language should be court martialed and drummed out of the service. It really is that egregious. I say that as someone baptized Roman Catholic, an atheist for over 50 years, and now Greek Orthodox in my dotage--but also a Navy brat whose father, uncles, father in law and brother in law fought in WWII, Korea and Vietnam (where I would have gone but for failing my draft physical due to congenital eye issues).
I support our military 100%. I do not and cannot support the current felonious Clown in Chief or Whiskey Pete, the Secretary of "War". If they were both accidentally torpedoed in a luxury yacht in the "Gulf of America", the world would not mourn. It would celebrate.
I don't see how Armageddon could hold an 'appeal' for anyone, aside from perhaps a suicidal person who has no friends or loved ones to care about. It's frightening to me that apparently a lot of people have no idea what happens in a nuclear war.
I remember when Christian nationalism and evangelical endtimes thinking was infecting the Air Force Academy. This has been on the fringe for years. Now it has turned into a war video game for our unqualified Secretary of War so he can use real guns. How does this happen and why don't the adults in our commands stop it? Have you heard Hegseth's rhetoric lately? He is as unhinged as our President. This is scary stuff, folks.
Yes it is. KICK THAT FEARS ugly ass . We ARE gonna STOP THIS UGLY NIGHTMARE composed of fear, lies, cruelty and violence. I was born to do that in 1952. "Aliens" , or as I prefer to call them, Galactic Travelers , were there flying over the White House. I was born at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington DC. To most people the realities of my life are quite unbelieveable. Thats understandable. I came to do great things such as bringing peace on Earth. Today I started with music and baking an apple pie for my neighbors.
Truly scary. Most people are in denial. They refuse to acknowledge just how dangerous and frightening all this is.
For the USA, this imbroglio is still a geopolitical war, but to the Iranian Leadership it is a Holy War!! The spectre of Mohammed is all around!!
I don't think the words "God" and "religion" belong in the same sentence as the word "war", much less connecting God and religion together with war. That is a complete contradiction to me. Any God people choose to believe in would not encourage or approve the engagement of the horrors of war, that's obvious to me anyway.
If humans insist on killing, torturing and destroying each other, other countries and the planet, I don't think that has anything to do with God - any God.
Some of the ugliest periods of history were when the people in government power were closely intertwined with religious leaders. Corruption ran rampant. There's good reason the separation of church and state came about, and it has worked out just fine. I had a religious upbringing and still believe in God and the Golden Rule, but I do not consider myself religious. I do, however, consider myself spiritual. My Church is within my heart and soul. And I sincerely I mean it when I say, "Take your Bible off of my Constitution!"
god does not exist, except to fool people.
Armageddon is also known as Megiddo. I was there in 1984. James Michener mentioned it in his novel The Source. In ancient times the community that lived there was protected by a wall but their source of water was outside the wall. To maintain access to the water they dug a tunnel (starting from both ends and met in the middle). We visitors were able to walk through that tunnel.
When the Department of Defense was renamed the Department of War, that should have told us right there where we were headed.
And when an ignorant host of a Fox “news” show was anointed as its head, that should have sent shock waves far and wide….
And NOT rapturously!