http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2013/06/u-s-army-says-dont-ask-dont-read-sean-hannity.php
The refrain of "Orwellian" is now standard fare.
"LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Master Sgt. Nathan Sommers, a 25 year Army veteran who has also described himself as a conservative Christian, faces military discipline for reading conservative books, posting anti-Obama bumper stickers on his car, and hosting a party where Chick-fil-A was served.
Sgt. Sommers believes he is being singled out because of his conservative Christian beliefs. Sommers is a member of the Army band.
In an interview with Fox News Sommers said, "it seems like with the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell - that the Christians have been the ones who've had to go underground and in the closet - for fear of retaliation and reprisals. Christians feel like they can't be forthright with their faith. They have to hide."
Retired Navy Cmdr. John Bennett Wells is representing Sommers and has said the U.S. military is discriminating against Christians and his client. "There's no question about it," he told Fox News. "Because he is religious, because he feels that homosexual conduct is wrong for religious reasons, he is basically being persecuted."
The Army has refused to comment on the case, but told Fox that Sommers' actions bordered on disrespect to President Obama. According to an Army spokesman, the "slightest inference of disrespect towards superiors can have a demoralizing effect on the unit.
The bumper stickers on Sommers car read "Political dissent is NOT racism," "NOBAMA," and "NOPE2012."........."
The bumper stickers on Sommers car read "Political dissent is NOT racism," "NOBAMA," and "NOPE2012."........."
The environment in out military continues to become more and more hostile to those who do not keep traditional Christian and Conservative values a secret.
The way that is works today is that, if you are gay, anti-US, anti-White, or adhere to any of the other currently protected positions, you are allowed to say whatever you want and display whatever related symbol that you desire. If, however, you affirm the truth publicly, you will be silenced.
Gay service members do not get punished (As far as I was aware) for marching in inform in Gay pride parades, but MSGT Sommers is not allowed to read books of his choice while in uniform.
I saw bits and pieces of this coming as far back as the mid 80's. Certain individuals could get away with making the most outrageous and hate-filled racist statements towards other Marines, and the most that would happen (If anything happened at all as a result) was that the entire platoon would get a talking-to. The one that actually made the statement was never addressed separately. Ronald Reagan could be referred to as a "God damned actor", but woe to the Marine that noted that Jesse Jackson (Then seeking the Democratic nomination), did not have any real political experience. The fact that, after his acting career, Reagan (Who was finishing his second term at the time of the outburst) had been a two-term governor of California, apparently did not have any bearing on the assessment of the Reverends' supporters.
Master Sergeant Sommers has been found guilty of Thought Crime. The protections given to some allow them not only to say anything that they want, but also to affect to be offended by any literature, action, or speech that does not meet the criteria established by radical liberals.
This version of totalitarianism is designed to silence people by fear. The public demonstration of beliefs that run contrary to what is allowed by those who define what is righteous will warrant punishment, so you had better be quiet. Even thinking about such things is enough to make one at fault.
We are reminded of the USSR and wartime Japan. In the former, dissent earned you a commitment at a psychiatric facility and long periods of forced dosages of drugs. In the latter, the act of being opposed to the war was illegal.
Today, the very act of (Without doing so in hiding) reading a book by Mark Levin, Sean Hannity, having a bumper sticker that is less than complementary about Obama, or supporting the institution of marriage will leave you without protection, told by your superiors that you are creating a hostile work environment, and open to charges. Since none of the acts of MSGT Sommers are illegal in and of themselves and not in direct violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, what charges are filed will likely be the products of fishing expeditions. The rest of the quoted article notes that the Army considers the bumper stickers to be in violation of the requirement that all members of the chain of command (the President being Commander-in-Chief) be respected. This presents a dangerous precedent; military members are effectively being told that their obligation to obey orders means that they must keep their traps shut, even if they are concerned this particular Commander is running the place into the ground.
I heard someone (I did not get his name) speaking on Sean Hannity's radio show today. This individual stated that he had been in contact with MSGT. Sommer's attorney and that the latter noted that the MSGT is facing an Article 15 proceeding, which is a non-judicial punishment procedure handled by a Company or Battalion commander. I hope that MSGT Sommers strongly considers refusing the Article 15 and demand a Court Marshall (Which is his right under the UCMJ). Instead of a commander just saying that MSGT Sommers was wrong and fining him, make the Army present its case in a real trial of a military court of law.
MSGT Sommers has made in to this point, so my take is-
In for a penny, in for a pound.
If you have enough evidence against me, then take me to court.
Being unable to get any support for his proposed Civilian National Security Force, Obama has taken to transforming the culture of the entire military of the US in order to prepare them to either participate in - or stand idly by while they occur, any future repressive moves against the people.
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