Comments on: Small Victories for a Military Atheist

By: Sad Vet

Sad Vet — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:16:05 +0000

I think that it is really sad that with post like these, the whole military gets a bad rep.

It is easy to buy into a few news reports and project that onto the whole of the military. How about we use some of that critical thinking.

One branch of the military will be very distinctive from the next, and sometimes seem very forign. Same applies for different commands within the same branch(ask any East coast sailor that ends up on the West coast). Within the command there is even different ways things work from unit to unit. Now, just because one small unit, or a few induviduals, does something, should not taint the whole of the military.

I get tired of hearing how the military is trying to force Christianity. Its like hearing about all Atheists hating god, simply untrue.

BTW, the DADT issue should not be confused with the military, it is the lawmakers doing, it just happens to apply to the military.

By: Wells

Wells — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:51:49 +0000

I was reading this really closely and this Bob sounds like somebody I’m actually friends with, since he/she told me the same story about the grace. So this is kind of weird and kind of cool. I think I’ll say thanks to him/her in real life, since we are in the same battalion. There HAVE been lots of changes since he/she came. I’m pretty happy about that because my parents are both really Christian so I’ve never really been able to do anything without getting in trouble.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:10:31 +0000

Bravo to that young cadet!

By: David D.G.

David D.G. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:50:10 +0000

Thanks be to “Bob”! ;^D

Seriously, thank you for your courage in confronting the “Powers That Be” to effect changes in treatment toward atheists and people of minority faiths. Though some of the changes may be only minor victories now, they are the kind on which greater victories will later be built. Your activism in the military takes guts, and I hope that your superiors appreciate that, even if they don’t share your religious views.

Thank you also, “Bob,” for your attitude of service! You sound like the sort of person I most want to have defending my country from its enemies (both foreign and, sadly, domestic).

~David D.G.

By: Thomas Zychowski

Thomas Zychowski — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:22:46 +0000

I find it surprising that in a country where there is not even an official religion the state took it upon itself to impose one in the military ranks. I guess when you die for nothing it gives you hope that you will live in heaven afterwords and creates unit cohesion.

I have to give the cadet a salute for bravery, although being bisexual will probably prevent him from perusing his/her goals with the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy.

By: Goliath

Goliath — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:35:55 +0000

Thank you for serving in the US Armed services, Bob.

If I may make a suggestion? Just concentrate on the Atheist aspect of things. This will make things hard enough. Try to tamp down anything to do with your private activities. Let the CiC take care of(I hope) the DADT.

By: mike

mike — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:36:32 +0000

Go “Bob”! Keep up the good work.

By: Spurs Fan

Spurs Fan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:42:43 +0000

I would like to add my voice to the chorus of folks here who salute you “Bob”. You are the epitome of American courage and at such a young age, no less. Bravo!

By: "Bob"

"Bob" — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:15:04 +0000

Thank you, Mr. Mehta, for sharing; it means a lot to me and my fellow atheist cadets (I’ve never seen them quite so giddy). :]

I like my fake name too!

I think it probably makes an enormous difference if you have two atheists arguing for fair treatment in these situations instead of just one. You don’t need ten or twenty, necessarily. Just enough to remind people that you’re not alone – there are more. Two makes a huge statement that’s hard to achieve alone.

This is very true. Originally, I was unaware that one of my cadets was trying to get the prayer at Military Ball nixed, but once I helped him out, there was nearly no problem in changing the situation. None of our instructors took him seriously until I joined him – they believed him to be a minority of one, I suppose, and making a trivial complaint.

By: Reginald Selkirk

Reginald Selkirk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:19:23 +0000

My non-JROTC friends and I managed to get your blog and numerous other atheist sites unblocked for being “Tasteless.”

That’s ridiculous! Babies are very tasty.