Were Troops Punished For Refusing to Attend Show?

Were Troops Punished For Refusing to Attend Show?

Army officials are investigating claims by a group of nearly 80 soldiers that they were required to attend a concert featuring a Christian rock band, and then punished when they refused to go.

The claims stem from back in May, at Fort Eustis in Virginia. After a day of training, personnel were ordered to march in formation to the Commanding General's Spiritual Fitness Concert, held on base, and featuring a number of Christian performers. Pvt. Anthony Smith and about eighty other soldiers chose not to attend, in spite of pressure to do so -- so they were sent back to their barracks and put on lockdown. This, says Pvt. Smith, is a punishment that includes taking away the simplest of personal freedoms.

The concert was part of a series of "spiritual fitness" events being run by born-again Christian Gen. James E. Chambers. Pvt. Smith says, "They call them 'spiritual' events, but the vast majority of spiritual events are Christian-based." Events typically include evangelizing and Bible readings.
The group Barlow Girl, which headlined the May 13 concert, is billed as a "band of tender-hearted, beautiful young women who aren't afraid to take an aggressive, almost warrior-like stance when it comes to spreading the gospel and serving God."

More at the link.

Sounds bloody awful, I dont blame them for not attending.

Not surprised that they were punished, it sounds horribly fundamental sick

Of course they were punished.

Look at the history of Christianity...do the Crusades come to mind for anyone?

"Convert or die," and things aren't much different now.

Christians have always pissed people off with their bible banging and their, "We're right and you're wrong and you're going to Hell if you don't think like us" attitudes.

I know...I grew up with that crap shoved down my throat. I speak from experience...which is why I loathe church and religion now.

I hope this general is severely punished.

What?! That general needs to be reprimanded. I really hope the soldiers are able to take this to court (or whatever they do in the military) and win. This is absurd!

Even Christians hate Christian music.

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