ADF: DADT Puts Soldiers' Religious Views in 'Jeopardy'
This comes as no surprise: anti-gay right wing group Alliance Defense Fund has come out against President Obama and the Pentagon's certification of Don't Ask, Don't Tell's repeal.
"Our troops’ religious liberties are in unprecedented jeopardy because the government has caved in to pressure from small groups of activists to impose homosexual and bisexual behavior on our military,” said Daniel Blomberg, ADF's litigation staff counsel.
Blomberg continues, "No Americans, and especially not our troops, should be forced to abandon their religious beliefs.”
So, yes, this isn't surprising, but it is sad: don't Blomberg and his ideological allies have other things to worry about other than gay troops? I mean, if I had as much time and energy as these people expend on anti-equality activism, I'd be living a life of leisure.
You are absolutely right "No American, and especially not our troops, should be forced to abandon their religious beliefs.”
And NO ONE is forcing them to do so!
If you want to hate other Americans or delight in discriminating against them....do it at your church - not the military.
Posted by: Mike Triggs | Jul 23, 2011 12:05:32 PM
When your "religious view" is "those people are subhuman and have to hide under a rock when I'm around," then you're the one causing the problem. You're the one who has to make the sacrifice to maintain your "religious view"--you can't put the burden of your peculiar belief on other people.
Posted by: John Equality Bickford | Jul 23, 2011 12:05:36 PM
They're not allowed to stone adulterers either. Maybe they should work their way through historical precedent of all the biblical premises that have been outlawed by the state.
Posted by: Michael | Jul 23, 2011 12:06:21 PM
Maybe they may need to learn TOLERANCE. God forbid...
Posted by: Christian | Jul 23, 2011 12:08:28 PM
Awesome new slogan for organized religion: Church - The Last Place You Can Legally Discriminate!
They should totally promote their intolerance. What better way to boost their membership?
Posted by: Monaural | Jul 23, 2011 12:09:30 PM
Make sure that THOU SHALT NOT KILL is firmly enforced for all these military guys.
Posted by: Michael | Jul 23, 2011 12:10:40 PM
Why are their religious beliefs more important than mine?
Posted by: Adam | Jul 23, 2011 12:12:57 PM
These crazy anti-gay right wingers have lost and now they are grabbing at straws. The anti-gay bigots in the military can still hold any anti-gay beliefs them want, (under the thinly veiled religious front) but their hatred for gays won't result in any action being taken against gays including discharge.
Posted by: Ron | Jul 23, 2011 12:15:37 PM
"impose homosexual and bisexual behavior on our military”
Um...did I miss the part of DADT repeal that requires soldiers to have gay sex? If orgies are mandated now I just might have to stop by my local recruiter's office...
Posted by: John Blatzheim | Jul 23, 2011 12:20:38 PM
Again with the wording. Forcing straight soldiers to have gay sex. Please, hopefully everyone that reads that statement sees right through it.
Posted by: Mike | Jul 23, 2011 12:46:02 PM
Amy Winehouse has just died by the way....RIP.
Posted by: Rowan | Jul 23, 2011 12:53:09 PM
Does that mean that if someone doesn't want to work with me because i'm gay then they don't have to...? Wait, no, they do...why would the military be any different.
Posted by: Michael | Jul 23, 2011 1:00:19 PM
Andy must never earn or be granted a "life of leisure". Without this website what would the rest of us do.
Posted by: uffda | Jul 23, 2011 1:04:45 PM
Religion -- the one freedom that supercedes all rights; the shadow government desperately trying to hold onto undemocratic power; not unlike Sadaam Hussein, Mubarak or Kim.
Posted by: woodroad34d | Jul 23, 2011 1:06:53 PM
Religious bigotry is so entrenched in the military it is scary. The proliferation of fundamentalist Xtianity is so blatant -that the AFA was called on the carpet for their practices and congressional studies on the problem have been ramped up - there is practically a religious test to get in- it is scary and very troubling
Posted by: Nick | Jul 23, 2011 1:11:28 PM
While we have had some (and some significant) issues with the fundies in our midst, including the unfortunate Air Force Academy mess, there is NOT "practically a religious test to get in" to the military. I can assure everyone of that much.
Posted by: BreckRoy | Jul 23, 2011 1:38:09 PM
I like how merely not having to lie about yourself is now "[imposing] homosexual and bisexual behavior on our military." The kaleidoscopic distortion in the perspective of these people is mind-boggling.
Posted by: Jason 2 | Jul 23, 2011 1:40:55 PM
My religion teaches me that we are all god's children. DADT put my religious views in conflict with a discriminatory policy.
Posted by: QJ201 | Jul 23, 2011 1:57:38 PM
They never tire of lying.
Posted by: wtf | Jul 23, 2011 2:11:31 PM
"No Americans, and especially not our troops, should be forced to abandon their religious beliefs.” - Daniel Blomberg, ADF's litigation staff counsel.
...Ummm, forgive me if I am wrong, but aren't our troops fighting for ALL Americans and ALL the freedoms that come with being an American?
Posted by: J. Alan | Jul 23, 2011 2:13:42 PM
"Man is kind enough when he is not excited by religion." Mark Twain
Posted by: PLAINTOM | Jul 23, 2011 2:36:25 PM
All soldiers will be forced to have gay sex? Why is this the first I'm hearing of this, and where do I sign up!
Posted by: JJ | Jul 23, 2011 3:14:36 PM
Human Beings > anyone's silly "beliefs"...sorry if this hard to understand
Posted by: epic | Jul 23, 2011 3:21:11 PM
Based in Arizona... Shocking, or something.
Posted by: Alpha | Jul 23, 2011 3:55:50 PM
If these troops are in the military already, it would have to be the case that they've already abandoned their religious principles, because Christianity teaches that you not kill, ever, period, and that when it comes to your enemy, you should love your enemy and turn the other cheek. That completely contradicts the point and purpose of the military. Not that I believe any of this nonsense, but I just want to point out the hypocrisy of those religious folks who argue against repealing DADT.
Posted by: Nick | Jul 23, 2011 4:01:56 PM