The Briefing Room
General Category => National/Breaking News => Topic started by: happyg on December 24, 2013, 04:25:15 pm
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Are you f*cking kidding me?
Via Fox DFW:
They thought it was a kind holiday gesture, but dozens of Prosper students didn’t get to deliver the Christmas cards they made for local veterans because of a VA policy against specific religious cards and phrasing.
The cards are still in North Texas, and the writers are disappointed their thank you’s won’t be seen by the people they were intended for.
“I’m hoping that it might make their day because their family might live far away, and they might not have somebody to celebrate Christmas with and I’d like them to know they’ve not been forgotten and somebody wanted to say thank you,” said fourth grader Gracie Brown.
Gracie and her brother, Luke, put a lot of thought and effort into their Christmas cards.
“It includes ‘Merry Christmas,’ and when you open it up, it says ‘Thank you for your service’ and the American flag,” said Luke.
Fifty-two students at Grace Academy in Prosper spent Friday making the cards they planned to hand deliver to bedridden veterans at the VA hospital in Dallas Monday morning.
When Gracie and Luke’s mom, Andrea, found out they wouldn’t be able to, she was outraged.
“This wasn’t the country I grew up in, when you couldn’t say ‘Merry Christmas,’ you couldn’t say ‘God bless you’ or reference any scripture,” she said.
The cards were the idea of Susan Chapman, a math teacher at Grace Academy. She’s married to a veteran and volunteers with the American Legion and other veterans’ organizations.
“It really didn’t occur to me there would be a problem with distributing Christmas cards,” said Chapman.
http://weaselzippers.us/?p=165443 (http://weaselzippers.us/?p=165443)
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The pervasive Islamization of the U.S. Armed forced has been going on since Obama became CIC. Just like with general society at large, Obama has nurtured an atmosphere that Islamic radicals are victims. They are victims of White Christians and Western oppression. Nothing could demonstrate this attitude more than calling the shooting at Fort Hood workplace violence.
Look, straight up plain talk, Obama loves Muslims. That is just what it is. I am tired of playing 'make believe'. He has exalted Islam at every opportunity and disparaged Christianity and Israel. What better way to push his mission than by doing it to a captive audience like military personnel.
If Obama had his way, we would be fighting along side Al Queda and the Muslim Brotherhood (like we did in Libya) instead of fighting against them.
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Welcome to the Radically Transformed States of America.
Happy Kwanzaa.
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They want to do away with Christmas, but without it, the country would go tank even faster, not to mention the Biblical beliefs.
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Happy Kwanzaa.
That's racist and I'm offended. Shouldn't be allowed on the internets
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Actions like this are on a par with sticking fingers in one's ears and saying, "La la la, I can't hear you."
The administration seems to believe if it prohibits people from saying "Merry Christmas," it has eliminated the religion behind the holiday, or something.
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It seems they are winning. Where is the huge outrage?
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Happy Kwanzaa.
That's racist and I'm offended. Shouldn't be allowed on the internets
I apologize. What I meant to say was: "Merry Mother******g Kwanzaa, fo' shizzle".
No offense.
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I apologize. What I meant to say was: "Merry Mother******g Kwanzaa, fo' shizzle".
No offense.
Point for you, sir! More often than I'm able to do so, I'd love to take down the filter that prevents my real thoughts from escaping. This is *exactly* what I'd say when the filter is turned off. The Force is strong with you.
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Next thing you know, kids won't be able to put an American flag on the get well cards they send to soldiers. I'm only half joking, actually.
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Point for you, sir! More often than I'm able to do so, I'd love to take down the filter that prevents my real thoughts from escaping. This is *exactly* what I'd say when the filter is turned off. The Force is strong with you.
When you get to be around my age, one's filtration system begins to develop some leaks. And then you begin to like it that way. :beer:
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I am confused (as always).
The kids took the time and effort to make the cards and planned to hand deliver them. What is stopping them doing so?
I assume, from context, that they were intended for patients in a hospital. Is blatant censorship such a common occurance?
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When you get to be around my age, one's filtration system begins to develop some leaks.
I don't know why I saw "flirtation," not filtration. :silly:
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I don't know why I saw "flirtation," not filtration. :silly:
My flirtation system is thankfully intact. Though my wife might not agree. :whistle:
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I am confused (as always).
The kids took the time and effort to make the cards and planned to hand deliver them. What is stopping them doing so?
I assume, from context, that they were intended for patients in a hospital. Is blatant censorship such a common occurance?
Yes, they wanted to cheer up veterans in the VA hospital:Fifty-two students at Grace Academy in Prosper spent Friday making the cards they planned to hand deliver to bedridden veterans at the VA hospital in Dallas Monday morning.
However, the Obama Adminstration had other ideas:... She didn't find out about the VA's holiday card policy until she called Monday morning to arrange details for the cards' delivery.
"I told him my students made cards, we'd like to bring them down for the veterans," said Chapman. "And he said, 'That's great. We're thrilled to have them, except the only thing is, we can't accept anything that says ‘Merry Christmas' or ‘God bless you' or any scriptural references because of all the red tape.'"
An official with the VA later clarified the policy, which is in the Veterans Health Administration handbook, by stating the following:
"In order to be respectful of our Veterans religious beliefs, all donated holiday cards are reviewed by a multi-disciplinary team of staff led by Chaplaincy services and determined if they are appropriate (non-religious) to freely distribute to patients. After the review is complete, the holiday cards that reference religious and/or secular tones are then distributed by Chaplaincy Service on a one-on-one basis if the patient agrees to the religious reference in the holiday card donation. The holiday cards that do not contain religious and/or secular tones are distributed freely to patients across the Health Care System. We regret this process was not fully explained to this group and apologize for any misunderstanding."
KDFW, Dallas (http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/24293539/students-parents-upset-that-religious-christmas-cards-wont-go-to-north-texas-veterans#ixzz2oQVbn0px)
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Seriously?
"In order to be respectful of our Veterans religious beliefs, all donated holiday cards are reviewed by a multi-disciplinary team of staff led by Chaplaincy services and determined if they are appropriate (non-religious) to freely distribute to patients. After the review is complete, the holiday cards that reference religious and/or secular tones are then distributed by Chaplaincy Service on a one-on-one basis if the patient agrees to the religious reference in the holiday card donation. The holiday cards that do not contain religious and/or secular tones are distributed freely to patients across the Health Care System. We regret this process was not fully explained to this group and apologize for any misunderstanding."
And I regret you buttheads are such buttheads. Merry Christmas, you jerks.
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Just dropped Grace Academy a line. Figured why not. Teaching kids the important things in life should always be encouraged.
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Next thing you know, kids won't be able to put an American flag on the get well cards they send to soldiers. I'm only half joking, actually.
Oh yes that would offend me also. I also find the word exceptionalism highly offensive also....and racist
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When you get to be around my age, one's filtration system begins to develop some leaks. And then you begin to like it that way. :beer:
I find the same thing happening to me but I think my enjoyment is dampened a little by my wife keeping a tighter leash on me to avoid too many scenes. Oh well, off to more mischief......
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What the hell has happened to the US miliatry under Obama? Hate to say it, but it's degenerated to the point now where I think these kids were casting pearls before swine - next time, save it for some group that appreciates it.
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We don't need to beat around the bush here. This is not about diversity. This is not about sensitivity. This, as with so many other things, is about the supremacy of Islam over all other religions. It is always about Islam's dominance over Christians and American/Western culture. This is coming directly from Hussien and his Muslim brothers.
Would these same so called Chaplains have stopped a single 'Allah Akbar' card being delivered on Ramadan? Let's not pretend, we know they would not have done a single thing. They would do nothing about Islam and may have actually delivered the cards by hand themselves for a photo op.
With the Left and the 'politically correct', it is not about "religion" being bad, it is specifically about Christianity being bad, and only Christianity.
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I am in a friendly but disputatious mood. :laugh:
What is wrong with saying Allah Akbar? Is it somehow less acceptable than saying God is our Lord or elshadai ghadohl? They all mean exactly the same thing. Bound to happen - all our beliefs are from the same core book. So the Catholics remixed it, the Protestants changed the instruments and the Muslims did an extended dance mix. The tune is still the same, regardless.
Dang, hit post too soon.
You are not looking at what Muslims want here. You are looking at white liberal guilt. I am encouraged they can feel guilt - just wish they'd atone themselves, rather than forcing the rest of us to do so.
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What is wrong with saying Allah Akbar? Is it somehow less acceptable than saying God is our Lord or elshadai ghadohl? They all mean exactly the same thing.
"Allah" is not the same as the God of the Bible.
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"Allah" is not the same as the God of the Bible.
He certainly is not... and Christians don't shout Praise God" when they kill someone not of their faith.
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"Allah" is not the same as the God of the Bible.
Is God the same as YWH? There is a disconnect between the Old and New Testaments on that. The Old Testament God is, to be honest, a bit of a vindictive dick.
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Is God the same as YWH? There is a disconnect between the Old and New Testaments on that. The Old Testament God is, to be honest, a bit of a vindictive dick.
Merry Christmas
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Merry Christmas
And to you and yours. :beer:
May it be a time of peace, joy, and pleasure!
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Army: Don’t say Christmas
By Todd Starnes/
Published December 24, 2013/
FoxNews.com (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/12/24/army-dont-say-christmas/)
Don’t say Christmas.
That’s the message that was conveyed to a group of soldiers at Camp Shelby by an equal opportunity officer from the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, according to a soldier who attended a recent briefing.
“It’s unbelievable that the Army would ban ‘Christmas’ like it’s a bad word,” said Michael Berry, an attorney with the Liberty Institute, a legal firm representing the unidentified soldier.
Two weeks ago, a routine meeting was held at the Mississippi base with various leaders of the 158th Infantry Brigade. During the meeting, they discussed an upcoming Christmas football tournament. The equal opportunity officer immediately objected to the usage of the word “Christmas.”
“Our equal opportunity representative stopped the briefing and told us that we can’t say Christmas,” the soldier told me. “Almost the entire room blew up. Everybody was frustrated. The equal opportunity rep told our commander that not everyone celebrates Christmas and we couldn’t say Christmas celebration. It had to be holiday celebration.”
The soldier said there was a brief, but heated discussion about political correctness. At one point, the equal opportunity representative tried to deflect the criticism by pointing out it was the Army’s rules – not hers.
“She said an individual can say Christmas, but as an organization in the Army you can’t say Christmas,” the soldier told me.
So what does the Army have to say about the DEOMI officer’s edict?
“There is no policy at the 158th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East or First Army that forbids using the word ‘Christmas’,” Public Affairs Chief Amanda Glenn told me.
She confirmed that there was a discussion in the meeting about the football tournament. She said it was meant to be a team building event and it had no tie to a specific religious event or holiday celebration.
“The Equal Opportunity advisor simply stated that it would be more appropriate to call it a holiday football event,” she said.
But Attorney Berry tells me that it was made very clear to the soldiers in the room that the name change was not merely a suggestion.
“She stated that the word Christmas had to be replaced with the word holiday,” Berry said.
The soldier who contacted me said it was just another instance of the military trying to curtail public expressions of the Christian faith.
“Between the Air Force and the Army – it’s like they don’t like Christian values, they don’t like the word Christ or Christmas,” the soldier said. “They don’t like you talking about it.”
Berry said it’s a shame that the Army has implemented word police.
“Are they going to have the ‘Merry Christmas’ police going around issuing citations to an soldier who slips and says the word?” he wondered. “They’re treating Christmas like it’s pornography. As a matter of fact, the Army actually treats pornography better than it does Christmas.”
It’s not the first time Equal Opportunity officers have caused trouble at Camp Shelby. Earlier this year, I reported exclusively about a briefing at Camp Shelby that labeled the American Family Association as a domestic hate group.
After my story was published, the Secretary of the Army ordered military leaders to halt all briefings on extremist organizations that labeled Evangelical Christian ministries as domestic hate groups.