Regarding the proselytization of the US Army

To Whom it May Concern;

My name is (name withheld), I am a SPC/E4 with the US Army entering into my 6th year in the military in Feb of next year.

In my time in the military I have been witness to several cases of outright discrimination against non-christian, non-fundamentalist service members. This includes but is not limited to Muslim, Jewish, Pagan, Atheist, Hindu, Voudoun, Secular Humanists, Buddhists, Catholics, and many other faiths. I have discovered a pervasive movement among Chaplins, leadership, and even governmental heads of state toward the majority held religious Fundamentalist Right. I speak specifically of Baptist Fundamentalist, Southern Baptist, and the Protestant faith. I have stood in formation after formation before a Command Chaplin of at least Captain rank making prayer after prayer. My former command had a policy of the Chaplin giving a prayer at the morning Monday formation each week. This prayer was rarely of any faith other then Protestant/Baptist motivation, and was only changed to the occasional verbiage of a more tolerant kind when multiple complaints were filed via the Army EO policy against various members of the Command.

I have seen soldiers who regularly shirk work called “Good Soldiers” before a mandatory end of day formation due to they’re newly found attendance of Protestant services at the chapel by they’re platoon SGT. I have seen a Jewish soldier REGULARLY have to remind his command of his religious commitments during the week, and the fact that he had to travel over 45 minutes via train to receive religious service in our area, and even then it was from a Civilian service.

I have been told BY a Chaplin that my marriage could never succeed because we did not have Christ in our hearts.

I have been told use of the Chapel, and Chapel grounds was restricted from my religeon because it was “hallowed ground” and would upset the majority. I was also told in that meeting that without a Distinctive Faith Group Leader, I was not allowed to practice my religion on a US Military post. I was given the process for DFGL status, but it’s restrictions call for an organized, hierarchical structure to be recognized as a DFGL, something that even the Military Chaplain’s Handbook recognizes my religion does not suffer from.

I have had bible verses, specifically “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” (Exodus 22:18), shoved under the door of my housing.

I have seen Non-christian members of a unit be singled out for duty in more hazardous conditions on deployment to Iraq. (This was redacted by command and called a coincidence after an Equal Opportunity complaint was filed).

I have seen subjects of an EO complaint remain in command of, and regain command of in some cases, soldiers who publicly filed they’re complaint. Said soldiers were often subject to retribution for the EO complaint, in direct violation of current army Whistle Blower policies.

This is a pervasive, and systematic infiltration of an organized religion into the largest military industrial complex in the world. I believe that it is a prelude to and currently stands as a religious War against non-believers. This is currently most noticeable for Muslim service members, who are viewed with various levels of suspicion and hostility by nearly all Service Members. This is a pervasive attitude subtly encouraged by both evangelical service members, and ComSec policies and briefings. We are taught to be suspicious of anyone with a foreign, middle eastern, accent, or appearance. Advised to avoid Indian, and Middle Eastern restaurants and cultural center, as well as cautioned of true ComSec issues and policies.

Caricatures of muslim, or “insurgent” members of enemy forces is common artwork in deployed areas. The belief that President Barrack Obama is a member of the Muslim faith, a fact that has been repeatedly repudiated, is publicly discussed in military environments. Former Governor of Alaska, former Vice presidential Candidate, Sarah Palin, publicly endorsed a religious leader who’s impassioned speeches in South Africa lead to the stoning and death of at least three individuals for “Witchcraft.”

We have at my new post, a regular weekly meeting of my particular religious group, thanks in no small part to the Sacred Well Congregation’s organizational skill at getting individuals a DFGL status with the Chaplaincy. I am grateful for this, as it is the first time since Iraq that I have seen a regular meeting of Pagan soldiers in the military.

A few statistics for you gathered by a military Pagan:
· Roughly half of the military members who claim Pagan or Wicca as religion have decided to remain “in the Broom Closet” as a response to perceived religious intolerance. This is recognized by the Military Chaplain Handbook in the line, “Concealment is a traditional Wiccan defense against persecution, so non-denominational dogtags should not contravene a member’s request for religious services.”
· Military Pagans/Wiccans have NO CHAPLAIN representation. This is in spite of an unknown number of Wiccan, and Pagan soldiers in the military. This is in spite of the 13% of our population KNOWN to have military records stating our religious affiliation. Keeping in mind the tendency of Pagan and Wiccan soldiers to Conceal they’re faith, the numbers should be increased possibly as much as 12%. Compare this to the 1500 self recognized Jewish soldiers in the military, a religious group I mention due to they’re numbers, and the fact that they have Chaplain representation.
· The number of Pagan and Wiccan peoples in the US is growing exponentially. Estimated at a population of 768000 in 2000, with approximately 51% registered to vote.
· The average Pagan or Wiccan in America today can lose they’re children, or they’re job due to a discriminating judge, or boss. Rarely is anything done to prevent such abuses of power. Such societal impacts are often magnified in the military and require redress. Policy requires days off during the month of December for all students in a TRADOC posting. This is referred to as “Christmas Exodus.” However Pagan/Wiccan students in that same TRADOC environment are often simply out of luck on receiving time off for they’re religious holidays and observances unless they happen to fall in a similar time frame to a Christian celebration.
· Current Supreme Court policy is described in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972), the Court ruled that a law that “unduly burdens the practice of religion” without a compelling interest, even though it might be “neutral on its face,” would be unconstitutional. With this in mind I point out the lack of effort put forth by the military, and even effort contrary to, the establishment of Pagan/Wiccan Chaplains, the seemingly intentional disinterest of current Chaplaincy, and outright proselytizing of the Chaplaincy seems to be in direct contradiction to this policy, and the well being of soldiers within the purview and responsibility of those Chaplains.

In closing I would like to say your organization is doing a fine job in defending the rights of soldiers, airmen, marines, and navy service members, however I feel that a more persuasive, and public attitude must be taken. Our Founding Fathers created this country with a specific idea in mind, that is obvious from they’re inclusion of the this line from the Constitution of the United States of America, “”Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ….” This has often been translated correctly into a policy of a Separation of Church and State. Current statutes and policies within today’s military violate that Separation, and damage the morale, and well being of Non-Christian soldiers.

The spread of pervasive Christian thought within the military must be brought to a stop before it comes home to roost in our own backyard. Historical context tells us that if a military force becomes pervasively cognizant to a single thought or idea, that thought or idea will be eventually forced on the populace of the country, either via physical conflict, or through the use of patriotic fervor. We cannot allow the attitudes of the majority, outweigh the rights of the minority… Thank you for doing all that you have done, do not give up, and please help support our bid to receive guidance from our own Pagan/Wiccan Chaplain.

Sincerely,
(name withheld)
Nov 6, 2010