Posted on May 26, 2015
Air Force General who spoke of God should be court-martialed, group says. What are your thoughts?
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From Fox News.
An Air Force general who recently spoke about how God has guided his career should be court-martialed, a civil liberties group is saying.
In a speech at a National Day of Prayer Task Force event on May 7, Maj. Gen. Craig Olson credits God for his accomplishments in the military, and refers to himself as a “redeemed believer in Christ.”
The Air Force Times reports that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation has taken issue with Olson’s remarks, is calling for the two-star general to be court-martialed and "aggressively and very visibly brought to justice for his unforgivable crimes and transgressions."
Air Force Maj. Gen. Craig Olson (US Air Force photo)
The group authored a letter to Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Walsh, arguing that Olson’s speech violates rules within the Air Force, which prohibits airmen from endorsing a particular faith or belief.
The letter, posted on the group’s website, begins, “This demand letter is sent to you on behalf of countless members of the United States Air Force who are utterly disgusted and shocked by the brazenly illicit and wholly unconstitutional, fundamentalist Christian proselytizing recently perpetrated, on international television (“GOD TV”), and streaming all over the Internet and in full military uniform, by USAF Major General Craig S. Olson on Thursday, May 7, 2015 during a VERY public speech for a private Christian organization (The “National Day of Prayer Task Force”: NDPTF) headed up by Focus on the Family founder, Dr. James Dobson’s, wife Shirley Dobson. “
". . . disgusted and shocked by the brazenly illicit and wholly unconstitutional, fundamentalist Christian proselytizing . . ."
- letter from Military Religious Freedom Foundation
The group, which believes that the American flag and the U.S. Constitution are the only religious symbol and scripture, respectively, for those who serve in the military, also wants other service members who helped Olson to be investigated and punished "to the full extent of military law."
During Olson’s 23-minute talk, the Air Force Times reports, Olson spoke of "flying complex aircraft; doing complex nuclear missions — I have no ability to do that. God enabled me to do that."
"He put me in charge of failing programs worth billions of dollars,” Olson said. “I have no ability to do that, no training to do that. God did that. He sent me to Iraq to negotiate foreign military sales deals through an Arabic interpreter. I have no ability to do that. I was not trained to do that. God did all of that."
At the end of his speech, Olson asked those in attendance to pray for Defense Department leaders and troops preparing to be deployed.
Olson is the program executive officer at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, where he is responsible for more than 2,200 personnel, according to the U.S. Air Force website. He was commissioned in 1982 following graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy and has extensive operational, flight test and acquisition experience.
An Air Force general who recently spoke about how God has guided his career should be court-martialed, a civil liberties group is saying.
In a speech at a National Day of Prayer Task Force event on May 7, Maj. Gen. Craig Olson credits God for his accomplishments in the military, and refers to himself as a “redeemed believer in Christ.”
The Air Force Times reports that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation has taken issue with Olson’s remarks, is calling for the two-star general to be court-martialed and "aggressively and very visibly brought to justice for his unforgivable crimes and transgressions."
Air Force Maj. Gen. Craig Olson (US Air Force photo)
The group authored a letter to Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Walsh, arguing that Olson’s speech violates rules within the Air Force, which prohibits airmen from endorsing a particular faith or belief.
The letter, posted on the group’s website, begins, “This demand letter is sent to you on behalf of countless members of the United States Air Force who are utterly disgusted and shocked by the brazenly illicit and wholly unconstitutional, fundamentalist Christian proselytizing recently perpetrated, on international television (“GOD TV”), and streaming all over the Internet and in full military uniform, by USAF Major General Craig S. Olson on Thursday, May 7, 2015 during a VERY public speech for a private Christian organization (The “National Day of Prayer Task Force”: NDPTF) headed up by Focus on the Family founder, Dr. James Dobson’s, wife Shirley Dobson. “
". . . disgusted and shocked by the brazenly illicit and wholly unconstitutional, fundamentalist Christian proselytizing . . ."
- letter from Military Religious Freedom Foundation
The group, which believes that the American flag and the U.S. Constitution are the only religious symbol and scripture, respectively, for those who serve in the military, also wants other service members who helped Olson to be investigated and punished "to the full extent of military law."
During Olson’s 23-minute talk, the Air Force Times reports, Olson spoke of "flying complex aircraft; doing complex nuclear missions — I have no ability to do that. God enabled me to do that."
"He put me in charge of failing programs worth billions of dollars,” Olson said. “I have no ability to do that, no training to do that. God did that. He sent me to Iraq to negotiate foreign military sales deals through an Arabic interpreter. I have no ability to do that. I was not trained to do that. God did all of that."
At the end of his speech, Olson asked those in attendance to pray for Defense Department leaders and troops preparing to be deployed.
Olson is the program executive officer at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, where he is responsible for more than 2,200 personnel, according to the U.S. Air Force website. He was commissioned in 1982 following graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy and has extensive operational, flight test and acquisition experience.
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Posted >1 y ago
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So a keynote speaker at a PRAYER BREAKFEST type of event spoke of GOD. WTF!?! It sure doesn't pass the smell test in my book. You don't have to be a believer to admit that that is probably THE place that it is still OK to do so. Over zealous BS if you ask me...
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Maj John Bell
SPC (Join to see) - You would have a valid point... IF this was a mandatory all hands on deck event. It was not. Or if there was some overt quid pro quo "I get to proselytize, you don't have duty on Friday," etc. There was not. There is not a single court decision requiring military officials to put their religion in a "shoe box" and hide it under the bed. There are multiple cases requiring officials to not use their authority to place undue pressure on subordinates to convert or listen to unwanted proselytizing.
"Consistent with the misconception that the Supreme Court always seeks to “separate” church and state, court analysts will sometimes describe the court’s strategy as giving “no aid” to religion. This also is a simplistic analysis, since it can clearly be shown that the court does not seek to “wall” off religion from government aid in all cases. Rather, the court tends to sanction state support of “secular” activities that arise in religion contexts while denying state aid to the “sacred” components of religious activity. “Equality” is a hallmark of American democracy. While the Founders did not earmark equality as a goal of the religion clauses, the concept has nevertheless emerged as a byproduct of deeper goals, namely sanctioning religious pluralism and providing equal access to government office. If separation of church and state were really the centerpiece of how religion and state activity interact in the United States, the Supreme Court would not sanction the involvement of religion in public debate and discourse, nor would it permit political candidates and officeholders to freely talk about religion in their personal lives and its role in American political life. But the court carefully crafts a jurisprudence that rarely intrudes on this kind of activity. In sum, looking at Supreme Court religion cases through a number of philosophical lenses is a fruitful guide to understanding court decisions that are otherwise often highly complex and confusing." --Oxford Research Encyclopedia.
"Consistent with the misconception that the Supreme Court always seeks to “separate” church and state, court analysts will sometimes describe the court’s strategy as giving “no aid” to religion. This also is a simplistic analysis, since it can clearly be shown that the court does not seek to “wall” off religion from government aid in all cases. Rather, the court tends to sanction state support of “secular” activities that arise in religion contexts while denying state aid to the “sacred” components of religious activity. “Equality” is a hallmark of American democracy. While the Founders did not earmark equality as a goal of the religion clauses, the concept has nevertheless emerged as a byproduct of deeper goals, namely sanctioning religious pluralism and providing equal access to government office. If separation of church and state were really the centerpiece of how religion and state activity interact in the United States, the Supreme Court would not sanction the involvement of religion in public debate and discourse, nor would it permit political candidates and officeholders to freely talk about religion in their personal lives and its role in American political life. But the court carefully crafts a jurisprudence that rarely intrudes on this kind of activity. In sum, looking at Supreme Court religion cases through a number of philosophical lenses is a fruitful guide to understanding court decisions that are otherwise often highly complex and confusing." --Oxford Research Encyclopedia.
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PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM
The Socialist based Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which is actually the Military Freedom From All Religious Foundation, and if you do your research you will see that it is just another George Soros funded organization, is just another way for Soros to attempt to destroy the foundation of the United States and weaken its resolve from the inside out. He still dreams of Khrushchev banging his shoe on the podium screaming that "We will bury you!" One thing for sure, IF the Air Force, Navy, Army or Any Service has a rule that "prohibits airmen from endorsing a particular faith or belief", whomever wrote it up needs to be kicked in the ass! Endorsing is one thing, Forcing is another. I can endorse a new Fishing rod or Camera because of the way I feel they operate but as long as I do not force those under my command to purchase and utilize them no rules have been broken. America operates on endorsements. Someone endorses a car, a steak house, a credit union and yes even a Church, Temple or Synagogue. WHY is this wrong? I guarantee you that the members of the MRFF are not so Militant against GOD that they refuse to accept or use any US currency that had GOD's name on it. They should only utilize Chinese Yuan or Russian Ruble, maybe an Euro here and there.
Like it or not, Religion is the foundation of the United States. The Right to believe any way you so choose, whether it is Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Wiccan or any other organized groups. I may not agree with all of them but I fought for their right to be wrong! If more people still BELIEVED in something greater than themselves, just maybe we would not have had the situation in Florida on Valentines Day, and the ones prior and then the Children reading prepared texts from the Soros groups and the DNC on the 14th of March. Do not forget the attack at Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston. It was disguised as a white supremacist killing Blacks but it was an attack against GOD.
Like it or not, Religion is the foundation of the United States. The Right to believe any way you so choose, whether it is Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Wiccan or any other organized groups. I may not agree with all of them but I fought for their right to be wrong! If more people still BELIEVED in something greater than themselves, just maybe we would not have had the situation in Florida on Valentines Day, and the ones prior and then the Children reading prepared texts from the Soros groups and the DNC on the 14th of March. Do not forget the attack at Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston. It was disguised as a white supremacist killing Blacks but it was an attack against GOD.
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SGT (Join to see)
CPT (Verify To See) - Uh no. Regardless of faith, he should keep it to himself. Not everyone in uniform is religious. Keep it to yourself, don't want to listen to bible thumpers, but he should definitely not be court martialed. That's a bit extreme.
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If a Marine said he survived the horrible battle by the grace of God, should we Court Martial him?
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SSG (Join to see)
This country was not found on religion, but religious beliefs, freedoms were the permis of this nation. To flee tyranny and start anew that include your religious beliefs. So, this group that want to prosecute the MG for thanking the Lord and Jesus should go suck an egg! This another way to take your freedom that God bless you and I with. That is why we have to stay vigilante and keep fighting for good. And that is all of us! Even the jellyfish folks.
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SGT (Join to see)
Nope, you can keep all that bible thumping to yourselves. As I stated before, there are many good folks who aren't practicing Christians or any other faith and they serve this country with honor. Faith has and had nothing to do with it. If you believe in the Lord, good for you, but some of us don't want to hear it.
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It was an event for National Day of Prayer, he was speaking of his OWN personal faith, and he was not trying to tell any non-Christians what they should believe.
I think they're just sniping him because he's got stars on his collar.
I think they're just sniping him because he's got stars on his collar.
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SGT Darryl Allen
Maybe the problem here is the fact that the military is participating in a National Day of Prayer? I'm not advocating that people in the military should be restricted in their ability to practice their religious freedoms. What I do think is that by participating in a day of prayer endorses the idea that religion plays a part in the military establishment, which it should not. Until the time comes when all religions are treated equally by all members of the military and not ostracized for not being Christian, I see the inclusion of any religion in an official capacity is simply a recipe for PC disaster.
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TSgt (Join to see)
I'd hazard to say it's as easy as take off the uniform while attending these events. You can be a colonel, a general, or w/e rank; when you wear the uniform and attend an event such as this you give the impression that is is specifically sanctioned by the military and that specifically prohibited. It's no different than if an officer campaigned for a politician in uniform.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
LTC Bink Romanick - I used to be 100% with you and to this day none of my soldiers know my religion and my only patients that do are of the same faith however this more and more seems like an attack on Christianity. We are all military and volunteered to stand up for our country, it is a bit much not to expect the same people to eventually stand up for what they believe in when attacked
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Maj John Bell
SGT Darryl Allen - The military was not participating in a National Day of prayer, a General was. If he was asked to speak to people attending a voluntary event, and the context of his speech was how faith impacted on his service, what he said and wore was entirely appropriate.
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