Atheist soldier claims harassment

JUNCTION CITY, Kansas (AP) -- Like hundreds of young men joining the Army in recent years, Jeremy Hall professes a desire to serve his country while it fights terrorism.

But the short and soft-spoken specialist is at the center of a legal controversy. He has filed a lawsuit alleging that he's been harassed and his constitutional rights have been violated because he doesn't believe in God. The suit names Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

"I'm not in it for cash," Hall said. "I want no one else to go what I went through."

Known as "the atheist guy," Hall has been called immoral, a devil worshipper and -- just as severe to some soldiers -- gay, none of which, he says, is true. Hall even drove fellow soldiers to church in Iraq and paused while they prayed before meals.

The issue came to a head when, according to Hall, a superior officer, Maj. Freddy J. Welborn, threatened to bring charges against him for trying to hold a meeting of atheists in Iraq. Welborn has denied Hall's allegations.

Hall was in Qatar when the lawsuit was filed September 18 in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas. Other soldiers learned of it, and he feared for his own safety. Once, Hall said, a group of soldiers followed him, harassing him, but no one did anything to make it stop.

The Army told him it couldn't protect him and sent him back to Fort Riley. No one with Fort Riley, the Army or that Defense Department would comment about Hall or the lawsuit.

Hall said he enjoys being a team leader but has been told that having faith would make him a better leader.

"I will take care of my soldiers. Nowhere does it say I have to pray with my soldiers, but I do have to make sure my soldiers' religious needs are met," he said.

"Religion brings comfort to a lot of people," he said. "Personally, I don't want it or need it. But I'm not going to get down on anybody else for it."

."I hope this doesn't define me," Hall said of his lawsuit. "It's just about time somebody said something."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/26/atheist.soldier.ap/index.html

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{ As we often hear " The military is not a democracy" and you do what your told. However you are also told to be honorable, brave and moral. I think Hall is being all three. He is taking a stand against what is basically bullying by the establishment to conform to something he does not believe in. He wants to serve his country and his position on this issue show great courage. The military is not a religious institution however it is a branch of the government and as such is bound by the principle of separation of church and state.

This case will have "legs" as they say and could even end up in the SCOTUS. Once again the overly religious are attempting to create "The United Christian States of America" and one brave young man is standing up against them. Good for him as the military can always use men of principle and courage.

Don't you think?}

Rose