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**isopsmypovA** · 10-27-2011, 06:37 PM

That's what having rights means: One person can stop everyone else from doing something that infringes on the rights of that one person.

"Separation of church and state" is not in the Constitution? Tell the Supreme Court that. That congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion means nothing if one is unable to stop the government from subjecting you to a religious exercise.

So the Army forces you to listen to prayers. You have every right to raise the issue with your chain of command, though I understand there are practical concerns that strongly dissuade soldiers from doing so (especially if you're in the USAF). A responsible, conscientious senior NCO or officer should take immediate corrective action to make sure your rights are respected.

I'm not going to infringe on the rights of everyone else in that group because I don't care for religion. It does not hurt me to stand there and listen to a prayer. That gives me a few minutes to space off and think about something else or in my old unit I had the job of taking pictures. But does it hurt me to hear a prayer? In any religion? No it doesn't. I am actually interested in reading about the different religions throughout time -I just don't agree with them. But I'm not going to take away prayer from people if that helps them. It doesn't kill me to listen and in my opinion - it is not violating my rights because no one is forcing me to pray. It's this little thing called respect that some people have forgotten.

Technically there is nothing called separation of church and state in the Constitution. That comes from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote. I think some people use that and it's gotten so misconstrued they don't want to back off it. But no one on the Supreme Court is perfect. They are human beings as well and have made mistakes...

10-27-2011, 06:37 PM	#3
isopsmypovA Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 493 Senior Member	That's what having rights means: One person can stop everyone else from doing something that infringes on the rights of that one person. "Separation of church and state" is not in the Constitution? Tell the Supreme Court that. That congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion means nothing if one is unable to stop the government from subjecting you to a religious exercise. So the Army forces you to listen to prayers. You have every right to raise the issue with your chain of command, though I understand there are practical concerns that strongly dissuade soldiers from doing so (especially if you're in the USAF). A responsible, conscientious senior NCO or officer should take immediate corrective action to make sure your rights are respected. I'm not going to infringe on the rights of everyone else in that group because I don't care for religion. It does not hurt me to stand there and listen to a prayer. That gives me a few minutes to space off and think about something else or in my old unit I had the job of taking pictures. But does it hurt me to hear a prayer? In any religion? No it doesn't. I am actually interested in reading about the different religions throughout time -I just don't agree with them. But I'm not going to take away prayer from people if that helps them. It doesn't kill me to listen and in my opinion - it is not violating my rights because no one is forcing me to pray. It's this little thing called respect that some people have forgotten. Technically there is nothing called separation of church and state in the Constitution. That comes from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote. I think some people use that and it's gotten so misconstrued they don't want to back off it. But no one on the Supreme Court is perfect. They are human beings as well and have made mistakes...
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