Air Force Chaplain can’t quote President Eisenhower!

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I find it quite ironic, and mostly sad that the very ones who are appointed to protect this country, and the freedoms we hold dear—like the freedom of speech—are being told they cannot exercise them.

ReyesLt. Col. Kenneth Reyes, a Christian chaplain serving in the US Air Force on a base in Alaska, was likely not expecting the controversy he’s received over using a quote from President Dwight D. Eisenhower in one of his latest blog postings. (Photo: Lt. Col. Reyes/Daily Mail)

Reyes had written and posted a piece that used the well-known quote-turned-cliché in its title: “No Atheists in Foxholes: Chaplains Gave All in World War II.”

The saying, originally attributed to a WWII Catholic Priest, became famous after Eisenhower used it in a 1954 speech.

“I am delighted that our veterans are sponsoring a movement to increase our awareness of God in our daily lives. In battle, they learned a great truth that there are no atheists in the foxholes,” Eisenhower had said.

Pres EisenhowerYou may think there is nothing wrong with quoting a former president (and really, you’d be right according to the US Constitution), however, apparently this kind of speech is offensive and should not be allowed—at least that seems to be the opinion of the newly implemented Pentagon advisor, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation’s Mikey Weinstein. (Photo: President Eisenhower)

Reyes’ base commander received a complaint from the MRFF about the essay title saying that by the chaplain’s “use of the bigoted, religious supremacist phrase, ‘no atheists in foxholes,’ he defiles the dignity of service members.”

Reyes’ “Chaplain’s Corner” blog posting was promptly removed, and the MRFF wants Reyes to be “punished” for his essay.

Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins notes that Reyes wasn’t beating anyone over the head with “faith” in his posting, and that he even ended it by pointing out that there are many different kinds of faith.

“Everyone expresses some form of faith every day, whether it is religious or secular,” wrote Reyes. “Some express faith by believing when they get up in the morning they will arrive at work in one piece, thankful they have been given another opportunity to enjoy the majesty of the day, or express relief the doctor’s results were negative.”

I find it quite ironic, and mostly sad that the very ones who are appointed to protect this country, and the freedoms we hold dear—like the freedom of speech—are being told they cannot exercise them.

1 COMMENT

  1. If you read this article, you’ll see just how far this country has fallen. Not that long ago, such positions would have been laughed away and not reported or acted upon. We may still be the greatest country in the world (in natural ways), blessed of God (because of His longsuffering), but when repeating the comments of President Eisenhower is considered hateful and bigoted, all while our current administration falls all over itself to diminish Biblical positions on life, marriage and routinely pushes non-Christian faith(s) or points-of-view, then how long shall we expect God’s blessing to cover us?

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