Anyone who has ever served and has worn the uniform understands when deployed overseas that cultural differences within that country should be respected and understood, and is a vital part of military training in establishing a good relationship within those foreign countries..
However, the issue isn’t in understanding a diverse culture “overseas” but to actually embrace that culture and religion right here at home, and apparently at the exclusion of other religions , as this military directive sent out to military personnel at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, which is a Department of Defense medical and graduate school in Maryland practically demands.
The memorandum was released just before the start of Ramadan, and states in writing; “This is a period of great personal restraint and commitment in addition to renewed focus on worship,” Brigade Commander Col. Kevin Glasz wrote. “I’d like to encourage you to learn just a little more about this religion, but more importantly, I’m asking you to be considerate and do not consume food or drink in front of our Muslim colleagues; it is a simple, yet respectful action.”
The announcement received some HYPERLINK "http://www.usherald.com/obama-makes-another-anti-military-move-before-his-final-exit/" \t "_blank" backlash from some of the officers and doctors who were in training.
“I respect the intention behind this email, but note that there is no similar call honoring other faiths,” one Marine told a Fox News reporter. “There is no similar invitation for non-Jewish colleagues to refrain from eating leavened products during Passover, or non-Christian colleagues to refrain from eating meat during Lent.”
But the Obama administration has directed the military to not allow personnel to say “Christmas”, in spite of the holiday’s status as a federally-recognized holiday.
The reason given by armed forces officials is that not everyone celebrates Christmas and that out of respect for them, military members should refer to Christmas celebrations simply as “holiday”-themed festivities.
This prohibition comes in the context of a wider push for political correctness in society in general and the military in particular, as evidenced by the recent reprimanding of Navy Chaplain Wes Modder for simply discussing religion, as chaplains are wont to do, with military personnel.
This blanket ban on Christmas in the military has apparently been in the works for sometime. Within the past couple years, military personnel have reported incidents in which they’ve been told to keep their faith to themselves lest they offend others, even when no demonstrable harm has been done. According to Coach Is Right:
“Being the Christmas season it seems the right time to recall one of Barack’s most despicable slaps against the Christian faith to which he has falsely claimed allegiance throughout his political career. It took place in 2013 at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. During a pre-Christmas meeting with members of the 158th Infantry Brigade, the discussion turned to the upcoming Christmas football tournament. According to a soldier present at the meeting, it was at this point that ‘…the equal opportunity representative stopped the briefing and told us that we can’t say Christmas.’ This PC lunatic continued on, ‘…[telling] our commander that not everyone celebrates Christmas and we couldn’t say Christmas celebration. It had to be holiday celebration.’ And this was no simple suggestion. It was an order–that is a threat, backed up by Military ‘Justice’ as necessary.
Of course it isn’t like the military has made Christians who talk about their religion guilty of a felony, warranting a court martial or removal from the service. Oh wait! That was just a few months ago wasn’t it! Christians do not have permission to talk about their religion, they are not allowed to share their faith even when asked. In June, the Navy took Chaplain Wes Modder to task for discussing religion in counseling sessions. The Navy ‘…removed Modder from its promotion list, terminated him for cause, removed him from his unit, and brought him before an official Board of Inquiry.’”
Source:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/15/us-military-losing-christians-because-of-hostile-c/?page=all
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