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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 19769
[Civil]
Date Posted:
6/18/2008
8:47:06 am EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 15,369
RSS: 14,386
Comments: 21
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Lawyer's Home Vandalized For Views On Religious Liberty
Author: KOAT Source: KOAT.com (NM)
Title: LAWYER'S HOME VANDALIZED FOR VIEWS ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
  An Albuquerque lawyer and his family are recovering from what he calls the latest retaliation against his crusade for separation of church and state in the military.
Lawyer Mikey Weinstein said his family has a total of 130 years of military service; Weinstein is a veteran himself. But the former counsel to President Ronald Reagan has locked horns with the military over religious freedom, and this is just the latest in a long series of retaliation -- but he said it's the worst.
Weinstein is no stranger to controversy, and no novice at being a lightning rod for those who hate.
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Community Thoughts: There are 21 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Not New, Not Random, Not Unplanned | Jun 20th. at 9:43:01 am EDT
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Stormsinger (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) - Email Me
I really try to be a voice of reason in our forums, folks. I'm perfectly willing to be the person to stick the pin into ballooning pretension. But this is a lot bigger than many people believe
For a well-annotated report on Christian Dominionism and the Religious Right: [Web LINK] and
[Web LINK]
and
[Web LINK]
For information on the problems of Christian Dominionism in the military, ESPECIALLY in the Air Force, and about Mikey Weinstein's years of involvement in this issue:
[Web LINK]
[Web LINK]
[Web LINK]
[Web LINK]
A lot of reading, but real information is usually not contained in sound bites.
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| Not Surprising.. | Jun 19th. at 11:40:45 pm EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
There are apparently a lot of folk in the military that want to hitlerize it for their own benefit. After all, this is the kind of hare-brained grandiose apocalyptic situation they have been looking for, A holy war against an infidel, so literally, they are no better than the enemy they have been fighting. In fact, worse, because they are hiding their true intentions behind a rhetoric of " we are fighting for "your" peace and freedom.
That's why Pagans and others need not apply. After all, we are their enemy, even though we are supposedly on the same side. We aren't supposed to even exist as far as they are concerned.
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| Military Hardly For Any Civil Rights | Jun 19th. at 10:27:43 pm EDT
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foreverknightfan (Dardanelle, Arkansas) - Email Me
The news that this guy is being harassed for trying to get the military to in essence not have mandated attendance on the dominant religion is hardly anything new. Just ask the women sexually harassed at the Tailhook convention or the military for decades segregating black men from the rest of the military. And the military's hysteria over gays.
What this is is the Christian military officers who are offended by chaplains having to serve non-Christians basically showing their muscle by coerced attendance to Christian functions. It might be that the Dominionists infiltrating enough in the military to test their influence, or it might be just plain Christian arrogance.
From what I understand the military acting in such an intolerant way regarding freedom of religion is a recent phenomenon. Someone in brass is giving the okay for this, or there's an unwritten message that harassing those who choose not to be Christian is acceptable behavior.
Considering the attitude of fundamentalist Christianity about all other beliefs and atheism and agnosticism, somehow the intolerance from those extremists has been nutured within the military. If it's Dominionism, they want all non-believers out and silenced.
Although I find it ironic that while we're supposed to be fighting religious based terrorism that is highly anti-Christian that our own military is being intolerant of anyone not fundamentalist Christian
As Pogo said " we have met the enemy and he is us."
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| Not So Hard For Me To Believe | Jun 19th. at 6:34:40 pm EDT
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booley (Saint Louis, Missouri) - Email Me
When I was in Boot Camp in the Navy, I volunteered to escort people to Church. Not because I was Christian ( I never attended the services) but because it was so nice to have a break from the constant training and tedium.
My superiors obviously did not know this, however, as they asked I help with a "special event". Seeing this as another chance to get a break from another boring night in the barracks, I agreed.
My first clue something was amiss was when they started "quoting" Ben Franklin's opposition to separation of Church and State and his Fundamentalist Christian beliefs (Give yourself a cookie if you see the problem)
Two hours of propaganda telling a packed auditorium of impressionable kids mostly just out of high school and trained to believe whatever their superiors told them that that to be a good soldier and American, they had to be Conservative Christians. That was their "special event" , their very well organized, slick, multi media special event of which my base was but one stop on a tour.
And this was in the early 90s under a Democratic President and a still Democratic Congress. Somehow I doubt years of Republican rule was changed this any.
OF course, I don't have a google link to post for people too lazy to read it even If I did. and I am a liberal speaking ill of people who are conservatives. So naturally no one should believe me;-)
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| No Point Really - Just Musing... | Jun 19th. at 1:15:36 am EDT
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Marshall (Malone, New York) - Email Me
After reading all the previous responses, there seems to be something missing. Everyone seems to be striking out at the fundamentalists. Now I don't have much use for them myself, and a substantial percentage are not any better than Nazis. But many of the comments are based on one short newspaper article. We all know that news articles only give a very condensed version of the whole story. No one has said they attended the Air Force Academy, so we can't be sure what was said or done there. We have to take Mr. Weinstein's word for what his son faced.
I spent over 20 years in the military and never faced any harassment over religious beliefs, or the lack of them (I've been an agnostic for years) . Have others had problems? No doubt. Is it pervasive throughout the military? I do doubt that, but can only base that on my experience.
The situation could be as Mr. Weinstein says. Or it could be a case similar to the ACLU suing some elementary school because of a Christmas play - in other words, blown out of proportion.
Do Jews face discrimination in today's world? Surely. As do Catholics, Buddhists, Mormons, Wiccans and just about every other non-WASP sect you can think of. The fundamentalists take their share of heat also, but their "Christian" thinking gives them the impression that they are allowed to use violence to fight back and further their cause.
I guess the point of my rambling, if I have one, is that while there is no excuse for what Mr. Weinstein has put up with, is his situation really what he claims? Call me a fence-sitter if you will, but I would like to hear what some ex-cadets have to say before I make any judgments on this particular case.
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| More Power 2 Ya... | Jun 18th. at 10:26:46 pm EDT
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Katmandu (elba, Alabama) - Email Me
Lawyer. Despite the few details, I've got to give credit to this person. It takes guts to put up with stuff like that. And I say the same to those others out there who've gone thru similar stuff.
To the one of you posters who was almost court-marshalled over not obeying a constituionally questionable order, thank you. Not only do I respect anyone who serves, but I admire those who fight to improve things for those who may come along behind them. The military is a very diverse group. It's higher-ups should recognize that.
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| Go Figure. | Jun 18th. at 8:55:57 pm EDT
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Batman (Madison, Wisconsin) - Email Me
Go figure that the vandalism to his home was a cross right next to a swastika. Somehow, it just seems fittiing.
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| Albaquerque? | Jun 18th. at 8:40:20 pm EDT
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Ahr-Ohn (Bridgeport, Connecticut) - Email Me
Aradia used to live in that neighborhood; reports weren't pretty. If found, the football player involved will have his fine forgiven.
Jesus really was a good kid, and many of the early saints were canonized for receiving similar treatment. It's not an area, where the preachers believe Jesus taught something they could ever use.
If it's the Air Force Academy, I thought they were using preachers of the local seminary, who were a long ways from recruitment to the Chaplains'Corp, but it might also be a method of weeding out cadets who think for themselves. Left Behind might actually be studied by trainee officers, so they could understand the language of their less bright Canon Fodder.
Someone want to find Jesus? Do they need directions?
Arawn Graalord
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| Mikey Weinstein | Jun 18th. at 8:21:22 pm EDT
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Orion 6Xray (Park City, Kentucky) - Email Me - Web
Has been putting up the only resistance to the Evangelical/Dominionist Coup in the military since it came to his attention upon his son's senior year at the Air Force Academy. His son, being a Jew, was put up against a torrent of hateful bigoted and near hazing situations due to this fact. This lead Mickey to investigate, and found that this Fascist shift went into full swing right after 9/11.
[Web LINK]
This is another person who received some of the same.
[Web LINK]
And don't harp about Church and State issues until you get the depth and breath of this situation.
[Web LINK]
We now have Generals and staff officers making up battle plans for Iraq and Iran based on the book of revelations and Mathew. Some have even gone as far as making the Left Behind series mandatory reading for cherry lieutenant's.
Also check out what the Pentagon has been shipping our troops in the form of the Left Behind video game and allowing the perverted evangelical version of the USO to tour the troops in Iraq. It is called the OSU, Operation Straight Up and is helped along by one of the Baldwin brothers who found Jesus on 9/11.
Think I am making any of this up? Try talking to my Platoon Sergeant who personally and quiet loudly in front of the entire platoon that I had better find Jesus cause he is the only MFer that was going to save me".
SFC. Keron Vernon look him up he is still active.
We are in dire straights, when you can have a witch hunt in modern day America (i.e. 1999) lead by a congressman (i.e. Bob Barr) don't tell me how much freedom we have in this country or how progressed we are.
The burning times never ended, it just became taboo to commit murder. Plus there are worse things then death, like loosing you kids in a custody battle just because of your religion, loosing a job because you don't believe the right way, or having to keep one eye open in a combat zone because your not a chirstian and been told you were no better then the enemy.
FYI that is what the cross symbolizes, a sword, because after a psychotic break in which Constantine spoke with Jesus, Jesus told him that with this image you will conquer. The image was a sword pointing down.
And for those of you still hung up on the crucifixion, which fiction is only half of it, you need to ask yourself why it is illegal in Judaic law to crucify some one. You also need to read in the Encyclopedia Judaica and the Talmud what really happened to Jesus, or should I say the historic Jesus not the myth or legend.
Find More info -- HERE
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| ... | Jun 18th. at 8:13:49 pm EDT
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Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web
Time for my favorite quote regarding one of my usual targets:
"Culture carries no privilege to exist. Cultures do not have value simply because they are. Some cultures, the world is better off without. I submit, for your consideration, the Imperial Order." - Kahlan Amnell, Terry Goodkind's "Soul of the Fire"
Chimpy McFlightsuit and the christianist zealots deserve one another. Just leave me out of their stupid f*cking rapture and the tent revival the Armed Forces has become.
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| The Image Came To Me... | Jun 18th. at 7:46:45 pm EDT
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Aritimi Morgana (RotterdamJct/Schdy/Scotia, New York) - Email Me
that if you turn the end of a cross into a point, it looks an awful lot like a sword. Maybe that's the hidden meaning of fundamentalist Christianity. Using violence to attain their goals. It's a disturbing idea, which is being proven true in this case. It's pathetic that because someone has a differing point of view and has the courage to speak his mind, he is the target of bloodthirsty fanatics.
America has its very own Taliban---the Christian fundies. Notice how they're running rampant across this country without anyone trying to stop them, just like in Afghanistan? Once we ship all the prisoners from Gitmo back, I'd like to see those fundies spend some time there. To me, fundies are nothing more than religious terrorists and our present political regime is simply enabling them by not condemning their repulsive behavior.
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| Oh, | Jun 18th. at 6:59:18 pm EDT
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Panthea Ge (T-Town, Michigan) - Email Me
the military is pushing Christianity on soldiers like cigarette companies who push their wares on children, without a doubt.
What I wonder is which came first: the soldier or the war god. They feed on each other. The military uses the us v them scenario to whip the soldiers into a bloodthirsty frenzy, and the church uses the military to expand their territory and their flock. The fact that this man has taken on this nasty hydra is commendable, but I think it may be futile.
Whatever happened to this rapture I've heard so much about? Maybe that would help us make some progress.
'ow do zey say...'let God sort zem out'?
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| ...sigh... | Jun 18th. at 6:31:30 pm EDT
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Lucien211 (Perris, California) - Email Me
I Agree with Mysteries Child, but there is something that no one mentioned, when we decide to take our political selves public, there will be criticism, and hotter heads will most likely prevail. I dont support the vandalization of his property, but he must have expected this...and ...as someone who has gone to such a military function, (albeit just for a week with my school) we had a choice, go to sunday service, or sweep the barracks. (since there was no...services that would interest me) i chose the first...while there we were passed out a dog tag that had...oh let me go get it...ah, a prayer from Joshua 1:9 that reads "I will be strong and courageous, I will not be terrified, or discouraged, for the Lord my God is with me, wherever I go." so dont bother trying to say that the military IS NOT trying to shove christianity down the cadets throats, because they are to my opinion.
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| OY! | Jun 18th. at 1:16:12 pm EDT
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Artemis (Denver Metro, Colorado) - Email Me
Sheeple...can't we just find a good shepherd dog to herd them and send them off a high cliff somewhere???
I do agree that there should be distinct separation of church and state. I don't care what church, it needs to stay away from my state, and I don't care what state, it needs to stay out of my church!
Regardless of what this man's political preferences are, I think it's abhorant that someone violated his personal property in this way.
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| Which Is It? | Jun 18th. at 1:06:47 pm EDT
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Panthea Ge (T-Town, Michigan) - Email Me
I cant tell if these vandals are worshippers of Jesus or Jacka$$.
:sigh: ...followers...
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