What is Digg?582 Comments
- inactive, on 03/07/2008, -1/+731Oops, forgot to change the thumbnail. Please enjoy this carefully placed ad for Aunt Jemima brand pancake mix ;)
- gonegoogling, on 03/07/2008, -3/+280dugg for pancakes
- Mewchu11, on 03/07/2008, -5/+266Despite it being an error, Aunt Jemima is strangely fitting for this story. Auntie J is a relic from a bygone era where a group of people were prejudiced against by a large portion of the population. Now a days you can't make make light of a black person without being shunned and booed, but in many places ripping into atheists is still considered sporting fun.
I think it will be worth it if we get our own brand of pancakes though.
"Richard Dawkins Brand Pancakes: Enjoy an ever changing universe of flavor!" - hauntedchippy, on 03/07/2008, -23/+224It's no secret that there are large scale organised evangelical groups operating within the U.S. armed forces. I've heard plenty stories of how they intimidate and threaten their fellow soldiers simply because they don't buy into their particular brand of bs.
Full support to this brave soldier for standing up to this. - Jareth86, on 03/07/2008, -3/+141Is he a Jemima's Witness?
- clayasaurus, on 03/07/2008, -7/+124Religious folks are easier to control, that's why.
- mrloco, on 03/07/2008, -10/+125Dugg fo' aunt jemima
- inactive, on 03/07/2008, -9/+112As an atheist who used to be in the military I can tell you this is just a mild case of discrimination. My military Chaplin refused to marry my wife and I unless we converted to some form of Christianity, we went to the court house. God damn ridiculous
- inactive, on 03/07/2008, -12/+115Cute.
"Fort Riley spokeswoman Alison Kohler said the post "can't comment on ongoing legal matters" and offered no further statement."
So the commander can email the base and tell them this guy sued, but they "can't comment" on it otherwise.
So the good old tactic of turning everyone against you for standing up for your rights still lives on in the Army?
How very Bush administration of them. - TwineHornet, on 03/07/2008, -2/+103Damnit, haven't they seen Full Metal Jacket? Joker was promoted to squad leader for sticking with his lack of beliefs!
- dunderballer, on 03/07/2008, -3/+99We heard from the Republican debates that things that conflict with the "Judeo-Christian" values of the troops threaten cohesion. It is very concerning that it is now acceptable to deem the US military a religious organization. Especially when we are fighting wars in two in Islamic countries.
- borez, on 03/07/2008, -2/+78it's an open and shut case... according to the thumbnail.
- schmitey, on 03/07/2008, -5/+80As a Christian...I say that that is *****. If a fighting man is willing to die alongside me and take a bullet, I wouldn't give a ***** what he believes in.
- toxicityj, on 03/07/2008, -4/+70wouldn't it be lack of religious beliefs? Pretty sure atheism isn't a religion.
- taybone, on 03/07/2008, -6/+71"If Atheism is a religion, then health is a disease."
- inactive, on 03/07/2008, -3/+63as a smoker, an atheist, an anarchist and a gay, I can tell you that you all have it pretty damn easy.
- Zarokima, on 03/07/2008, -2/+48As one of very few atheists in a predominantly Christian population, some leaders of which clearly have a huge stick up their ass about opposing beliefs (or lack of any), I'm sure that soldier and the others like him could have used some support.
- scarysnow, on 03/07/2008, -8/+51seems like you'd reward a soldier who wasn't in it for martyrdom or heavenly rewards.
- spillingvoid, on 03/07/2008, -10/+52When I was in Anaconda in 2004 we had what the 'Desert Moon Grove". It was a group of different kinds of pagans from wiccan to even a couple of guys who followed the old Norse faith. All of us in the group had faced problems in the army whether it was with leadership of just general jabs from other soldiers. But after someone would find the group they would feel better because now they had others of like mind to discuss religious ideas with, and others to preform protection rituals and celebrate the sabbaths with.
Its to bad that this soldier wasn't able to meet with other soldiers, and marines that might be atheists because it would have helped them with there moral and also helped them with unit cohesion when they returned to there units after a meeting. - dtfinch, on 03/07/2008, -6/+46Denied promotion for not being crazy enough. No wonder things are so ***** up over there.
- unicronband, on 03/07/2008, -1/+38http://youtube.com/watch?v=qq_2GOoFaXE
I swear it's not a rickroll. - Matri, on 03/07/2008, -2/+39Buried for not also being a gun owner.
/jk - WNW3, on 03/07/2008, -0/+37Why does Aunt Jemima hate Jesus?
- fuzed, on 03/07/2008, -6/+43Maybe he can get promoted to second lieutenant to the flying spaghetti monster.
- L4WL3RS34L, on 03/07/2008, -9/+45Atheism isn't a religion.
- inactive, on 03/07/2008, -3/+38I remember one particular sort of discrimination when in basic training for the Air Force in 1980 - when Sunday's rolled around, those who wished to attend church services were excused from the weekly dorm cleaning, all others were stuck doing the work. This included the several muslims in the unit and, of course, those of us who were atheists or just plain didn't give a damn for religion. It became clear that, if you didn't want to get stuck cleaning for everyone else, you went to church. After 15 years of military service, I realized that the "christian soldiers" mentality didn't change, it only got worse. I can only imagine with the new administration and under the stresses of war in Iraq and Afghanistan and other places, it's become incredibly difficult to be "out" about one's beliefs if they do not perfectly match those of "god's/Bush's Army".
To any who contemplate going into the services, go with the full knowledge that the model for success (regardless of the language they'll use to convince you otherwise) is white-anglo-saxon-male-christian. Any variation on that becomes a missing rung in your career ladder. Yes, there are and will be notable exceptions. To get over any particular handicap though, you have to be twice as quick, twice as bright, twice as educated and, if you ask me, if you've got that much going for you, why are you going into the military in the first place? - eir574, on 03/07/2008, -23/+58That's ridiculous, and it's offensive to the people who put their lives on the line and to their families, who make a great sacrifice as well. Soldiers don't choose which wars they fight, and many of them are doing a great job interacting with the Iraqi people in a positive way. Condemning all of them is no different than condemning all atheists or all homosexuals for the bad actions of a few, and it is just as offensive. You make no progress in gaining respect for gays and atheists when you turn around and deny that same respect to every soldier.
Sometimes when I make a comment like this, someone assumes that I align myself with the religious right. I do not. I'm an atheist, and I strongly support equal rights (including marriage) for gays. I wish it were not necessary to include that disclaimer. - inactive, on 03/07/2008, -6/+40All the more reason not to join the military.
- GRIMREAPER187, on 03/07/2008, -3/+34wow one nation under ignorance
- Agger, on 03/07/2008, -4/+33You can't have non-believers in christian crusades!
- DeskFlyer, on 03/07/2008, -3/+31http://i27.tinypic.com/149mvt4.gif
- browwiw, on 03/07/2008, -3/+31NPR actually will no longer use that phrase because they got so many negative e-mails from atheist soldiers serving in the Middle East. They even apologized on air.
Support public radio. - DeskFlyer, on 03/07/2008, -1/+26Wall of text crits you for 59,782 damage. You die.
- talonstriker, on 03/07/2008, -1/+25dude, the wrong thumbnail just earned you a top 10 submission.
- Terr01, on 03/07/2008, -2/+26Uhm... WTF?
"Support groups" do not exist as dogmatic reinforcement, but as a basic social tool to solve or reinforce personal behavior.
I mean, it's not like AA is predominantly about spreading the Christian faith, is it? No, it's about a social system in which people can cooperatively solve problems.
Atheists need "support groups" just as much as everyone else. You're confusing "support group" with "dogma study group". - VSLOATHE, on 03/07/2008, -0/+24Hey man, martyrdom is an awesome perk. Don't knock it til you've tried it! Especially when you combine it with Sonic Boom and 3x Frag.
- FTLJohnson, on 03/07/2008, -4/+28Buried as inaccurate - Everyone knows there are no Atheists in foxholes.
/sarcasm - mentallyinhell, on 03/07/2008, -2/+25Wouldn't that just make atheism a religion?
And therefore, not atheist? - Kamill85, on 03/07/2008, -1/+24On the side note: Since Atheists do not believe in life after death, this guy is actually willing to sacrifice his for that country, he should get a ***** medal just for being there.
- bullcutter, on 03/07/2008, -0/+23you have "born to kill" written on your helmet, yet you also wear a peace pin. is that supposed to be some sort of a sick joke?
/best war movie ever - eir574, on 03/07/2008, -1/+24The same was said about integrating black people into the armed forces. While I agree that unit cohesion is very important and that this may be a reason to implement policies that would never be okay in civilian life, there has to be some balance.
- inactive, on 03/07/2008, -1/+23Wouldn't followers of Odin be appreciated in the armed forces? (question is rhetorical)
- zplot, on 03/07/2008, -3/+25Speaking as a fairly observant Jew (keeps kosher, doesn't drive on Saturday), this is ridiculous if the the story is true. In any profession one should have a right to his/her own beliefs, be it Judaism, Christianity, Atheism, Pastafarianism, whatever. I would especially want to see a separation of action and religion in a military, in particular when involved a conflict for which religious issues are a factor.
- FAT_PIGGY, on 03/07/2008, -16/+38Religion = Joke
- bitterbug, on 03/07/2008, -1/+23Are you left handed?
I'd swear they design tools just for the purpose of thinning out the lefty population. - thirdeyeopen, on 03/07/2008, -3/+25They really should just start telling people up front that they are required to be Christian to join the military.
- diggdowner, on 03/07/2008, -0/+21I'm outraged!!!
(...and hungry) - eir574, on 03/07/2008, -0/+20I understand your complaint, and I'm an atheist myself. I was raised in a Jewish family, and it meant a lot to my mother to see me married by a rabbi. My husband is not Jewish, though, so that was very difficult. We eventually found a rabbi who did not insist on extracting promises about how we'd raise our children, and who was happy to perform a completely secular ceremony (which was somehow okay with my mother) . . . for $1000.
But, at least in civilian life, religious officiants may decline to perform a wedding for a lot of different reasons (perhaps any reason at all?). Is it the same for military chaplains? If so, I can still understand why you'd be upset, especially if you had a relationship with the chaplain, but I'm not sure that's a case of discrimination. - mobbo, on 03/07/2008, -1/+21I am a soldier. When I was in basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO we were forced to go to an Evangelical Baptist church in Lebanon, MO for a "Free Day Away". It was a chance for our drill sergeants to have a day off and a chance for the soldiers to call home, relax, and eat outside food. But in the evening, we were forced to sit through a presentation by the church and given the opportunity to be "saved".
As a Catholic, I was quite offended by the teachings this guy was rambling off. I was never given the opportunity to "opt-out" of the presentation. And what was I supposed to do? Complain? To a drill sergeant?!?!
That free day away broke all sorts of rules both UCMJ and ethical. - richiewrt, on 03/07/2008, -3/+22The chaplain was well within his rights to refuse you. If you don't believe in God, why go to a religious man to try and have a religious ceremony performed. Go to the clerk of court and get your non religious ceremony there.
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