http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/24/1373020/-House-Republican-introduces-bill-to-require-religious-pledge-of-military-cadets?detail=email
I would like to know where this trope came from, the one that says America's famous theoretical protections of religious freedom do not prohibit government from requiring that their citizens recite religious oaths anyway.
A Republican congressman has introduced legislation that would force cadets at the Air Force’s Academy to say “so help me God” during their oaths every school year. He said the legislation is necessary because Americans don’t have “freedom from religion.”
Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) said the bill, called the Preserve and Protect God in Military Oaths Act of 2015, would protect the religious freedom of American troops.
Texas. Of course he is a Republican from Texas. It seems there is no manifestly stupid or shitty idea in Republicanism that does not sport an ultra-conservative Texas Republican sponsor or cosponsor. I do not know what has happened to Texas Republicans, or why the entire Texas Republican caucus acts as if they are the victims of long-term toxic gas exposure; we just take it for granted now that the words Texas Republican will trail the vast majority of stupid utterances and Constitution-shredding ideas.
Johnson said the Air Force’s Academy only made the end of the oath optional “because of one radical atheist group’s demands!”
“Let me be clear: Americans have the freedom of religion – but not freedom from religion. That’s why I am introducing legislation that requires Congressional approval before any change would be made to military oaths,” he continued.
Again, the premise here is that American citizens may be compelled by their government to assert particular religious phrases in order to serve in the military or, presumably, in whatever other government capacity Sam Johnson believes should be limited to god-botherers.
“The moral foundation of our country is in serious danger if we allow radical groups to dictate whether or not we can freely express our religious beliefs! It’s time to take a stand.”
But the point is not whether you can freely express your religious beliefs. The point is whether you can require others to express your religious beliefs. This is such a fundamental concept that I cannot believe Rep. Sam Johnson can get himself so tangled on it—all evidence suggests he can blink and breathe, and this is not a much higher bar.
okay republican right wing evangelicals are on the war path now for years saying Pres. is trying to deny them the right to religious beliefs, so what happened have they decided if you can't beat them join them? republican laws forbid you to infringe on their right to worship but it's a-okay if they trample on your right to worship or not and distinctly use their words while your rigt is being usurped.
two faced hypocrisy do as i say not as i do. if you still have questions remember the premise of this bill says it all. they want their freedom to have it and your freedom to be forced to do it, like they say, "rammed down your throat"
He said the legislation is necessary because Americans don’t have “freedom from religion.”
