This is no different than evangelicals in any workplace. The only questionable part of this video is that military personal appear in uniform supporting a private party...but the outcry is based solely on the fact that it's a faith based group. We have to remember that America was founded on a belief of 'Freedom of religion' not 'Freedom from religion' and when 80% of the population describe themselves as Christians this is going to happen.

Except my tax dollars don't fund your workplace, people don't guilt-trip me into nodding along with your workplace's mores because your colleagues are fighting to defend my freedom, and my children don't get recruited by your company for reconditioning before being ground up by the war machine.

Freedom of religion includes no religion: not that we're forced to taste the rainbow of fruit flavors depending on who's witnessing loudest.

Separation of church and state?

don't be a fuckin idiot dejer...

We have to remember that America was founded on a belief of 'Freedom of religion' not 'Freedom from religion' and when 80% of the population describe themselves as Christians this is going to happen.

Oh, so if we have freedom of religion, and 80% of America is Christian, then we just have to accept that this is a Christian nation. I get it.

I don't imply at all that you just have to accept a Christian inquisition. I personally dislike any organization like this, but if we censored the majority just because they get annoying then everyone in the minority would lose the exact same rights. Where I go to school there's a booth set up in the student union three times a week for the Campus Atheists and Secular Humanists, same thing goes with the Falun Gong type people, I think the Dance Dance Revolution group fits this mold too. Just because there's a group that is actively outspoken about there beliefs that aren't inline with your own doesn't mean that they should be shut down, it is their freedom of expression and this what what you just have to accept.

We live in a society where people take for granted freedoms that are so rare around the world. Instead of hypocritically whining about somebody's freedom of expression and religion set up your own damn booth and preach your own thoughts or lack thereof.

OK dejer, read this slowly:
A military watchdog group is asking the Defense Department to investigate whether seven Army and Air Force officers violated regulations by appearing in uniform in a promotional video for an evangelical Christian organization. In the video, much of which was filmed inside the Pentagon, four generals and three colonels praise the Christian Embassy, a group that evangelizes among military leaders, politicians and diplomats in Washington. Some of the officers describe their efforts to spread their faith within the military.

Then read what Vas said, go take a brisk walk to clear your mental palate, and read it again.

This isn't about freedom, it's about government employees pushing their brand of crazy whilst 'on the job', representing USA.

We live in a society where people take for granted freedoms that are so rare around the world.
LOL, I'd like to see some statistical analisys to back up your claim of 'so rare'.

Dejer: Instead of hypocritically whining about somebody's freedom of expression and religion set up your own damn booth and preach your own thoughts or lack thereof.

Instead of retardedly opining without having read and digested the fucking article at hand, read and digest the fucking article at hand. Note where it says 'Pentagon'. Note where it references 'Air Force Maj. Gen. Jack J. Catton Jr.' proselytizing in office.

Then go back in time and attach disclaimers to your posts that say 'Oops, wrong thread, I was looking for the excessively-relative-worldview one'.

Reuters has a much clearer description of the problem with what's going on in D.C. It describes the disgusting part of this: how the military leaders are stalling the careers of those who aren't adopting their beliefs. I completely agree with everyone that this is horrible. I repeat: this is horrible. But to continually deny anyone in the government their belief system (Christian, Muslim, Athiest, etc) is expecting them to be inhuman. Pretty soon we'll turn into China.

Here in Minnesota, Keith Ellison is the first elected Muslim congressman--I voted for him, he's a great guy. Despite the fact that he's an extremely intelligent politician, the only thing people are paying attention to is that he's Islamic and wanted to use the Qur'an to swear into office. The ignorant view that you can somehow pasteurize a democratically elected politician from their personal beliefs, especially when it is these beliefs that shape their political platform is my only point of contention.

Except my tax dollars don't fund your workplace

If this is the case then why isn't there more complaints about (for example) clinical research hospitals that use DoD research grants as a source of significant funding to support prayer rooms, Muslim /Christian /Buddhist /Mormon /etc services held on Govt. property, and religious brochures every day.

LOL, I'd like to see some statistical analisys to back up your claim of 'so rare'.
This may not be statistical, but pictures always make ideas easier
Map of freedoms around the world

In summary:
Air Force Maj. Gen. Jack J. Catton Jr = a creepy old guy who's illegally holding back subordinates in their careers = bad

Understanding that religion (or lack thereof) plays a part in everyone's personal life = good

damn, missed one italic markup.

I will now commit seppuku

dejer:
'But to continually deny anyone in the government their belief system (Christian, Muslim, Athiest, etc) is expecting them to be inhuman.'

Calling upon the premise of the 1st amendment--good form. Mind you, the statists in this crowd will not appreciate the maneuver.

dejer:
'The ignorant view that you can somehow pasteurize a democratically elected politician from their personal beliefs, especially when it is these beliefs that shape their political platform is my only point of contention.'

The ignorant is the view that a religion shaping a political platform does not make that platform a religious platform.

I don't object to religious belief shaping a person, and that person being in office. I object to your argumentative bait and switch. It's that pecise bait and switch that the theocrats use to assert they are merely 'expressing' their religion when they create policy, regulation, and law, based on the tenets of their religion.

dejer:
'In summary:
Air Force Maj. Gen. Jack J. Catton Jr = a creepy old guy who's illegally holding back subordinates in their careers = bad

Understanding that religion (or lack thereof) plays a part in everyone's personal life = good'

Point made and accepted, provided I don't have to accept someone else's religion playing a part in my personal life--particularly if that person possesses the power to excersize the government's coercive powers.

The ignorant is the view that a religion shaping a political platform does not make that platform a religious platform.

I object to your argumentative bait and switch.

LOki has the right of it. If these people want to be religious and hold government office, I won't complain. It's the use of that government office to spread their beliefs I object to.

To put it another way, taking the argument to extremes, it's fine with me if that dude wants to swear in using the Qur'an -- I don't care what god he uses a symbol for his own strength of character. It's when he starts trying to make others swear in using the Qur'an that I take issue.

Aww, now I think we all agree. Warm fuzzies

I don't think we ever didn't. You just brought an ice-cream cone to a jello fight.