Atheist soldier claims harassment

Cybergal · Apr 27, 2008

Atheist soldier claims harassment

4/27/08

JUNCTION CITY, Kansas (AP) -- Like hundreds of young men joining the Army in recent years, Jeremy Hall professes a desire to serve his country while it fights terrorism.

But the short and soft-spoken specialist is at the center of a legal controversy. He has filed a lawsuit alleging that he's been harassed and his constitutional rights have been violated because he doesn't believe in God. The suit names Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

"I'm not in it for cash," Hall said. "I want no one else to go what I went through."
Known as "the atheist guy," Hall has been called immoral, a devil worshipper and -- just as severe to some soldiers -- gay, none of which, he says, is true. Hall even drove fellow soldiers to church in Iraq and paused while they prayed before meals.

"I see a name and rank and United States flag on their shoulder. That's what I believe everyone else should see," he said.
Hall, 23, was raised in a Protestant family in North Carolina and dropped out of school. It wasn't until he joined the Army that he began questioning religion, eventually deciding that he couldn't follow any faith.
But he feared how that would look to other soldiers.
"I was ashamed to say that I was an atheist," Hall said.
More here ...... http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/26/atheist.soldier.ap/index.html
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Gearjammin' Penguin · Apr 27, 2008

"I will take care of my soldiers. Nowhere does it say I have to pray with my soldiers, but I do have to make sure my soldiers' religious needs are met," he said.
"Religion brings comfort to a lot of people," he said. "Personally, I don't want it or need it. But I'm not going to get down on anybody else for it."
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Right on. Why does the military feel the need to push their lifestyle on everyone?

truckermario · Apr 28, 2008

Yeah. Until the schmit hits the fan and bullets are flying, and then you don't care if the guy next to you likes wearing thongs, only if he can save your butt! Seriously. Who cares? And atheism is not the same as devil worshipping. It's not even paganism.

Of course when the schmit hits the fan, I wonder if he's going to find SOMEBODY to pray to.

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