The good folks at Rock Beyond Belief have been given the final word: no, absolutely positively no atheists will be allowed to feed homeless vets in connection with their secular, godless concert.
This means that the evangelicals surely had to follow this law too, right? Of course not.
They were permitted to raise funds (in the form of cash!) for months on post. They raised $54,000 in tithing at every chapel on post – there are several. That is a colossal fundraising effort, repeatedly violating the regulation – at multiple locations on post.
But atheists won’t be allowed to collect a few canned goods to help out their fellow soldiers. Because really, what’s the well-being of a bunch of starving, homeless heroes (who have sacrificed so much for the rest of us) compared to the awful and terrifying prospect of having the public realize that atheists are—gasp!—nice people?
Good to see the leadership at Ft. Bragg making such a plain and forthright statement of their priorities.
Because we KNOW godlessness poisons the food…
I can smell a lawsuit here….
After boot camp, forty+ years ago, I do not remember anything of a particularly religious nature imposed on anyone on any base or ship.
Speaking of impositions, as an aside bugging me, if the conservative supremes are so against imposing an unwanted financial obligation on certain people, to the extent of probably voting that it unconstitutional, how the hell was I and certain others of my generation obliged to submit to involutary sevitude in the military.
Bahrfeldt,
That was different.
No, really.
Perhaps one of us evil atheists could do some research and identify a worthwhile group to receive donations. I’m not even GOING to RBB, but I’d donate just to protest this ridiculous policy.
Cross posted from RBB – I will make a donation to National Coalition for Homeless Veterans in honor of foxhole atheists.
I’m not military (or a vet), and no one in the military suggested that I donate, to NCHV or any other group. But the military leadership’s treatment of non-believers has been appalling – from the original Rock the Fort events, to the cancellation last year of Rock Beyond Belief to this no-donations-for-homeless-vets nonsense to the refusal to allow atheist groups to meet on bases. So I’ll donate, and do so as an atheist.
The link is broken. It should be: http://www.nchv.org
Well, you should advertise for everyone to not bring a canned good to the concert because you will be forced to confiscate the can at the gate due to the policy of the base. Emphasize do NOT bring a canned good or we will ask you to leave it in a specially marked box at the gate. “Pleeease do not bring any canned good to help out hungry vets It WILL be confiscated at the gate in accordance with the wishes of the post command. Thank you for not bringing a canned good that will be taken from you at the gate.” Then you can take the confiscated cans and dispose of them properly. There’s probably a shelter that would handle that task for you.