Got feedback on the new design? We're Listening! Send us Feedback

Marine removed from duty over Bible coin reports »

Posted by: monte-g 3 months, 1 week ago

88 Comments Report this Story

9.4

Scale of 1 to 10

Read: 67

Propped: 151

Comments: 88

Click Prop It to Raise Score
Prop it

A U.S. Marine in Iraq has been removed from duty amid complaints that he was handing out coins with Bible verses at an American checkpoint, the military said Thursday.

Read Full Story at cnn.com

Join the Discussion

+ Add Comment
Comments So Far: 88
  • 0%
    reviewer3 months, 1 week ago

    Don't the marines believe in duty,honor, God, and country...or is that just in the movies? I know it's not that simple. (sigh)

    Reply

    16 Replies

    • 0%
      PsychoHosebeast3 months, 1 week ago

      You left out freedom. Why's that?

      Reply
      • 0%
        TGrass30013 months, 1 week ago

        "...duty,honor, God, and country." maybe you are thinking about the boy scouts? But the Marines sure as ___ ain't no boy scouts! Which is as it should be. No offense to the boy scouts but we need the Marines to be Marines not boy scouts. The Marines are THE BEST at what they do! Why muck it up with this behavior while ON DUTY?

        I for one would be willing to support a Marine talking to a civilian about religion, politics, the weather, local eateries or whatever when OFF DUTY and NOT in uniform representing the U. S.. But DUDE, ON DUTY? That's just NOT acceptable behavior for a Marine, and a Marine should know that.

        Reply
        • 0%
          Dionys3 months, 1 week ago

          "Don't the marines believe in duty,honor, God, and country...or is that just in the movies?"

          Which God?

          Don't the Marines' supporters believe in the Constitution of the United States and the anti-establishment clause?

          Reply

          9 Replies

        • 0%
          libsRfunny3 months, 1 week ago

          They do, but handing out Bible coins in a Muslim nation likely isn't a good idea

          Reply

          1 Reply

      • 0%
        Charlson3 months, 1 week ago

        Sounds like isolated incidents and not a concerted effort to proselytize or deface their Quran. Discipline the troops involved, apologize and then move on. It still might not disquiet some but at least we should address their concerns and put an end to these type of incidences that does not help the situation for the rest of our troops in Iraq. When we insult the people who are supporting us at this time, it promotes opposition and strife rather than friendship and peace.

        Reply

        10 Replies

        • 0%
          Dionys3 months, 1 week ago

          "Sounds like isolated incidents and not a concerted effort to proselytize or deface their Quran. "

          Someone handing out coins with Bible quotes at a required checkpoint while in military uniform sounds like a concerted effort to take advantage of a position of power that should be respected and not used to proselytize.

          Reply

          1 Reply

      • 0%
        Natalie11833 months, 1 week ago

        Bible coins??? WTF!!! That's all I can say.

        Reply
        • 0%
          TheRealizer3 months, 1 week ago

          Religious fervor is an indication of insanity!!!!

          Reply

          1 Reply

          • 0%
            IanFraigun3 months, 1 week ago

            or lack of ability to think independently

            Reply
          • 0%
            jordan113 months, 1 week ago

            The far right dominionists have been plotting a takeover of our secular government for years. I know, I know. 'Tin foil hat'. But the facts ARE the facts. And one segment they're working on is our military, with the blessings of this administration. Matter of fact, Ashcroft is one of them. Even took a job at Regents University after he left. Regents was started by Pat Robertson, and ranks 136th in Universities. The bush administration appointed 150 of their 'graduates' to the Dept. of Justice. Regents is training their 'lawyers' to take over by use of the judiciary, using their flawed interpretations of our Constitution. Those interpretations include that we are a 'christian nation.'

            A google search of dominionists infiltrating the military will lead to hours of reading. Domionists believe they are quite literally leading a holy war, and of course that requires an 'army.'

            This is not an isolated incident.

            Reply

            22 Replies

            • 0%
              Dionys3 months, 1 week ago

              It's not "tin foil hat." There's plenty of mainstream proof and examples to back up the fact that extreme right-wing "evangelical" dominionists are taking up high positions within the military and using those positions to recruit new soldiers for their twisted vision of Christianity.

              Reply

              21 Replies

          • 0%
            Helixbuilder3 months, 1 week ago

            When you enlist you swear to uphold the constitution. Part of which that is the bill of rights, implicit in the first amendment is the concept of freedom to worship without interference from others. Clearly this man doesn't care about anything other than his own self aggrandizing agenda.

            Reply

            6 Replies

            • 0%
              joey-evans3 months, 1 week ago

              "When you enlist you swear to uphold the constitution."

              Well said Helix!

              EXACTLY! All of it. Not just the parts you happen to agree with.

              JOEY EVANS

              Reply

              3 Replies

            • 0%
              seanymike3 months, 1 week ago

              When citizens of the United States are in another country, are they bound by our constitution or the constitution of that country? I know when anyone tounches US soil they are immediately covered by our constitution. If the solider falls under the Iraqi constitution, then has he broken any laws?

              Reply

              1 Reply

          • 0%
            nikkibabe3 months, 1 week ago

            Religiously fanatic Christian Red Neck Republicans in military uniform. That is the problem.

            Reply
            • 0%
              HMMace3 months, 1 week ago

              Remove that soldier, bring him back home, and promote him to general..

              Reply

              1 Reply

            • 0%
              chuck-the-canuck3 months, 1 week ago

              So many christians and so few lions (and or bears).

              Reply

              2 Replies

            • 0%
              unome23 months, 1 week ago

              I hope somebody bombs, invades and occupies this soldier's country and gives some cooky religious coins to him and his family.

              Reply

              8 Replies

              • 0%
                crghss3 months, 1 week ago

                Let em try.

                Reply

                7 Replies

            • 0%
              taurine3 months, 1 week ago

              What I dont understand, why is it that it is such a big deal for a soldier to push God in such a minor way as passing out coins with verses on them, and it is not a big deal to push any other ideas or even opposing ideas in a far greater way, such as the a belief in no God. Is it not a religion not to believe in a God and to believe in man as diety?

              Reply

              1 Reply

              • 0%
                Candida3 months, 1 week ago

                It is a big deal for two reasons: (1) he is in a role of authority, which he is exploiting, and (2) he is representing the United States Government, not his church.

                When people stop me on the street trying to convert me to Christianity, I dislike it because I consider it harassment, but I realize that they have a right to do it. When they come to my home, I resent it because they are invading my private life. If my boss ever tried to convert me to a religion, I would file a complaint, and if the government tried it, I would do everything within my power to try to stop it.

                Reply
              • 0%
                Cybnetic3 months, 1 week ago

                evangelism needs to be eradicated in all forms. religion is a poison to humanity.

                Reply
                • 0%
                  koranagirl3 months, 1 week ago

                  Well, if we are going to spread "free speech" and "freedom of religion" throughout the world, then this can't be much of a big deal. Service men and contractors in Afghan-Iraq are raping women and getting off left and right, so passing out a few bible coins should just be a warning not to do it again. And if he does it again, he should just be sent to cultural awareness training.

                  Prosletyzing and evangelization should always take place on the street corner with a megaphone and a few pamphlets, or on the internet.

                  Reply
                  • 0%
                    koranagirl3 months, 1 week ago

                    Well, except in the US we have freedom of religion and freedom to spread it to others in public forums and on the streets.

                    Because of this, there are soooo many religions and beliefs out there, it's impossible for the govt to control and for people to worry about it at all.

                    It seems to me that all this guy should have been told is to not do it in uniform and not on govt time. If he persisted, he should have been sent to cultural awareness training.

                    The US is supposed to be bringing freedoms to the Iraq/Afghanistan area and how does it look when we sharply discipline a soldier for a big act of nothing. People are free to take or toss the coins.

                    What's interesting is that the coins state the philosophy that Yeshua was a god or demi-god. Muslims often believe that Yeshua was a Messiah, but not god, like the early Christians. It wasn't until 325 AD that Yeshua was officially voted god by Constantine/Augustine.

                    Reply
                    • 0%
                      koranagirl3 months, 1 week ago

                      I guess the bigger question is would the guy have been allowed to do this on his own time not in uniform. And if he did, would he have been required to pass out a legal disclaimer such as "not an official view of the US government", or perhaps even a lengthier explanation regarding freedom of religion and it's importance in society.

                      And if the US is in Iraq/Afghanistan, why isn't it explaining and promoting freedom of religion and speech on the TV/news and in books there?

                      Interesting

                      Reply

                      1 Reply

                      • 0%
                        bluetexasvalley3 months, 1 week ago

                        Yes, the U.S. is in Iraq and Afghanistan, but they are still sovereign countries. We do not *own* them. According to Bush, they are now democracies. That means *they* get to decide what freedoms and/or religion(s) they want. Comprende?

                        Reply

                      You must be signed in to post a comment. Sign in »

                      Submitted By:
                      monte-g

                      Hi.

                      I'm still unsure about this new format as I know a lot of you are, but the one thing that has kept me ...

                      Also submitted:

                      Related Articles:

                      Why not submit a story?

                      Also Propping This Article

                      view all »

                      Groups Watching This

                      No groups are watching this story. Why not share it with your group?

                      Advertisement