Sight Fight: U.S. Military Must See Problem With Bible Engravings
Rob Boston printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Wed Jan 20, 2010 at 11:36:59 AM EST
Yesterday I wrote on AU's blog about a controversy that has erupted over the revelation that a Michigan-based company has engraved references to biblical passages on rifle scopes that were ordered by the U.S. military.

A reporter with the Detroit News saw that post and called me near the end of the day to get some of my thoughts about the matter.  
I told him, "We have to remember that our struggle in the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan isn't just against terrorism. It's for the hearts and minds of the average people. If the average people in these countries get the impression that the United States is launching some type of new Crusade with the aim of converting population to Christianity, we're going to lose the hearts and minds."

Pretty straightforward, right?

I was shocked, however, to read the military's response to the matter. Air Force Maj. John Redfield, the spokesman for the U.S. Central Command, told the News, "This situation is not unlike the situation with U.S. currency. Are we going to stop using money because the bills have `In God We Trust' on them? As long as the sights meet the combat needs of troops, they'll continue to be used."

Let's be clear: This situation is not like "In God We Trust" on the money. That "civil religion" affirmation - problematic as it may be from a church-state perspective -- is not the same as a symbolic military embrace of one particular faith. When U.S. troops use weapons inscribed with passages from the New Testament, it's an endorsement of Christianity, and it sends the false message to the world that the United States is a Christian country.

Thankfully, some military officials seem to understand that there is a problem. Capt. Geraldine Carey, a Marine Corps spokeswoman, told the Associated Press, "We are aware of the issue and are concerned with how this may be perceived." Carey said Marine Corps officials will meet with Trijicon to discuss the matter.

It's time for all branches of the military to get on the same page. As I told the News, the image of a "Christian" army armed with "Christian" weapons evokes a new Crusade. It is totally counterproductive to what we are trying to achieve in the Middle East, and it would be a mistake to dismiss this as a trifling matter.

Trijicon has violated the terms of its contract and must be held accountable for that. The sooner that is made clear to the company the better.



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Sight Fight: U.S. Military Must See Problem With Bible Engravings | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)
It's a Big problem (none / 0)
Thank you, Rob, for bringing this to T2A's readers.  In light of the increasing "Christianization" of the US Military it does not surprise me.  I first learned about how deeply imbedded Christian religion has become in our military when I went searching for the Home School Diploma military recruiters are requesting.  In that homeschooling is a parent teaching their own child, the only diploma their child gets is one they print up themselves.  However, the Home School Legal Defense Association has managed to get the requirement for a home school diploma written into recruitment manuals.  But as I researched that silliness I found out how deeply the Christian right has deg themselves into our military.  It frightens me greatly that some of the military leaders of our county no longer feel any obligation to defend the Constitution or obey the orders of an elected President, but rather whatever their perceived version of theology is and whatever their Christian leaders tell them God wants them to do.  Along with some other homeschool leaders we wrote an open letter to our homeschooling community.  http://homeschoolcommunity.blogspot.com/
It was researching those diplomas that I learned about Mikey Weinstein and his book, With God on Our Side, which is a must read, as well as signing up for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation's newsletter  http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/  He seems to work tirelessly to inform Americans what is going on in their own military, something out government seems more interested in hiding that admitting.
This etching of Bible verses onto the weapons of our military personnel is a huge step deeper into the conversion of our military to God's Army, and needs to be stopped.  If this weapons manufacturer was truly interested in being a good American, they would be etching the Bill of Rights onto those same weapons.  


by Brainbelle on Wed Jan 20, 2010 at 05:09:32 PM EST

Starting to get international attention (none / 0)
This story is starting to make waves, as it should.
There is an article in Le Monde today here
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/depeches/0,14-0,39-41459309@7-60,0.html

entitled:
Biblical References on Weapons Anger Muslims

Nothing in Al Jazeera (english) as yet.

by marktypos on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 12:57:44 AM EST

indeed (none / 0)
for those of you who can read Swedish:

http://www.dn.se/nyheter/varlden/bibelord-pa-vapen-uppror-i-usa-1 .1030861

by numberlab on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 10:39:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]


Fox news (none / 0)
also picked up the story in their foxnews way.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/foxs_doocy_on_b ible_rifle_scopes_the_terrorists_ma.php?ref=fpb

and the video from Fox is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU6_s9txcCE&feature=player_emb edded

Interestingly, a commenter on Talking Points Memo compared this issue with the Sepoy mutiny of 1857:

"Is that what the British said about the Sepoy Mutiny? (When a rebellion of the Indian population and native soldiers against their British colonial rulers was triggered by rumors that a new type of rifle cartridge was greased with pig fat and/or beef fat - deeply offending Hindus and Muslims?"

by marktypos on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 12:28:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]


al jazeera has the story now (none / 0)
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/01/20101211239216 652.html

the aljazeera correspondant says "It is a rallying cry for the Taliban. It gives them a propaganda tool."

And, significantly, they make the point that Afghan soldiers (i.e. Muslims) have been using these scopes.

by marktypos on Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 03:16:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]



Sight Fight: U.S. Military Must See Problem With Bible Engravings | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)

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