Atheist Soldier Sues Army For Discrimination
By Wyatt Earp | July 9, 2008
I don’t believe in atheism.
KANSAS CITY, Kansas (CNN) — Army Spc. Jeremy Hall was raised Baptist.
Like many Christians, he said grace before dinner and read the Bible before bed. Four years ago when he was deployed to Iraq, he packed his Bible so he would feel closer to God.
He served two tours of duty in Iraq and has a near perfect record. But somewhere between the tours, something changed. Hall, now 23, said he no longer believes in God, fate, luck or anything supernatural.
I wonder if he believes in aliens?
His sudden lack of faith, he said, cost him his military career and put his life at risk. Hall said his life was threatened by other troops and the military assigned a full-time bodyguard to protect him out of fear for his safety.
In March, Hall filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, among others. In the suit, Hall claims his rights to religious freedom under the First Amendment were violated and suggests that the United States military has become a Christian organization.
The next thing you know, they’ll made everyone wear chain mail and robes with a crucifix on it. The Crusades are back, and they’re better than ever!
Hall said there is a pattern of discrimination against non-Christians in the military.
Two years ago on Thanksgiving Day, after refusing to pray at his table, Hall said he was told to go sit somewhere else. In another incident, when he was nearly killed during an attack on his Humvee, he said another soldier asked him, “Do you believe in Jesus now?” (H/T – CNN)
Oh, for God’s sake, you have to be kidding me! Heh. I’m sorry, but I don’t believe this for a blessed second. I’m sure there were asshats that ripped him for being an atheist, but the jump between that and institutional discrimination is so big that even Evel Knievel wouldn’t touch it.
Personally, I think is just another frivilous lawsuit.
Topics: The Troops | 13 Comments »
July 9th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Yeah, they were against him. Why, providing a bodyguard is proof of it! /snark
Most of the people I knew who were in the military were about as far from God as one can get.
Puhleaze!
July 9th, 2008 at 12:27 am
RT – Hell, look at Daisy Dorkelina. She’s practically the Bride of Satan! And I say that with all due respect.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:26 am
I’ve met two kinds of atheists. One is like this:
Atheist: I don’t believe in God.
Me: I do
Atheist: That’s nice. Let’s go to a movie.
The other is like this:
Atheist: I don’t believe in God.
Me: I do
Atheist: You are a stupid idiot and probably want to bring back the Crusades.
Me: Bye now, got to see a man about a dog.
July 9th, 2008 at 8:06 am
The effect of a litigation society. Everyone is looking for a reason to sue. There are plenty of lawyers ready to make a buck or a name for themselves.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:05 am
There are NO true athiest in foxholes… Sounds like this punk is trying to game the system by hitting all the hot buttons!
July 9th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I call BULLSHIT on this one, especially since there are vocal and proud Liberals in my Husband’s ANG unit who never claim discrimination.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:18 am
No one should be surprised by this at all. The Army is just a microcosm of the entire US society. This entire country is “sue-happy”. Until the legal system is changed so it penalizes people for frivolous lawsuits, this will continue.
If he loses, they should make him (and all of the other frivolous lawsuit losers) pay all of the court costs….and the lawyers who take these cases should be punished too. Unfortunately, this will never happen.
$2.86 Million for spilling hot coffee on yourself! Dumbass!
July 9th, 2008 at 10:56 am
I used to go to mass on base every day (when I was actually on the base). There were plenty of sinners like me seeking shelter from the Lord (not to mention the fact that when you think “today might be the day” you tend to get real cozy with the baby Jesus). I have since returned to attending the church of my choice twice a year (and for funerals/weddings).
This kid is a tool. Atheist Activism is for tools. If you don’t believe then don’t believe. But making a “stand” for religious freedom under the First Amendment based upon your peers giving you a hard time is silly based upon this kid’s profession. And why sue the Sec Def? Like he gives two shits about whether or not you say amen and sit in a circle and pray once a week? Please.
Yes Dorothy, the other boys in your unit may give you a hard time on occasion. They may also stack you every time you hump the pooch. It’s why I miss the military life so dearly. Really cool weapons, marginal food, lots of exercise, and the frequent ability to stack those who hose the pooch.
JS
July 9th, 2008 at 11:42 am
“You know, if I sue, I get to come home for the trial … “
July 9th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Randal Graves and Doghouse hit the nails on their heads.
BZ
July 10th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Really, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if everything this kid reported was accurate- but he must have been pretty f’ing vocal about his “unbeliever beliefs” to get that attention. Be quietly respectful and lower your head while your buddies say grace, or sit somewhere else. Don’t get all lawsuit-y about it. Do it right. If your command won’t listen, you have channels.
I think the Army is perhaps not a “Christian organization”, but it certainly has got a hell of a slant in that direction. I found it uncomfortable at times (being a non-Christian) but not threatening. For the record, I was one of the regular attendees of the chaplain’s service in basic, along with a lovely Wiccan couple. But basic is NOT the Army by a longshot, and everyone was on the watch for perceived discrimination there I think- once you are in a unit, life changes.
Now, I think the refusal by the VA to put Wiccan/Pagan symbols on headstones- that was worth a lawsuit. Anyone who dies in service to the country deserves to have their grave marker inscribed with the symbol of their beliefs. Regardless of the ignoramuses (ignoramii?) who think it’s a “devil symbol”. I’d want a picture of myself giving the world the finger put on mine. ^_^
July 10th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I’m just hoping this thing gets thrown out, as I’m thinking the same as Dorkelina. He was too vocal about his new found beliefs for his own good. I mean, converts can be the very worst kinds of people since they get so pent up for their new found whatever that they try to convert everyone in sight, without thinking that they are doing both themselves and their new whatever a real disservice by being so vocal and pissing other people off at the same time.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
I have to agree with most everyone else. This kid probably shoved his views down his fellow soldiers’ throats and they’d had a belly full. So, they in turn gave him a hard time. I guarantee if asked, he’d admit he was aggravated/given a hard time about other issues too.
Husband just retired (well, had his final out and is on terminal leave) and has had too many non-believers of any faith to count throughout his long career – not to mention every religion from Wiccan to Muslim work for or with him…the Army is just a cross-section of America….the heroes, the good, the bad and unfortunately, even the ugly. And, the sue happy are among them apparently.