ICC Note: Despite the current crackdown on expressions of religion, especially Christian ones, the US military is now encouraging and enforcing greater acceptance of Islamic expressions of faith. Active duty troops of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences were told that they should refrain from eating or drinking in front of Muslims during Ramadan and encouraged to learn more about Islam. Though similar provisions do not exist for other religious periods as Passover or Lent, the restriction stands. The desire for political correctness in order to appease the minority has warranted many negative responses from those affected by the new policy.
By Todd Starnes
07/29/2014 United States (FoxNews) – Do not eat or drink in front of Muslims, and learn more about their religion.
That’s the directive that has gone out to active duty military personnel at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a Department of Defense medical and graduate school in Bethesda, Md.
The brigade commander sent an email to military personnel at the facility last month – just before the start of Ramadan – advising them to show respect to Muslim colleagues.
“This is a period of great personal restraint and commitment in addition to renewed focus on worship,” Brigade Commander Col. Kevin Glasz wrote. “I’d like to encourage you to learn just a little more about this religion, but more importantly, I’m asking you to be considerate and do not consume food or drink in front of our Muslim colleagues; it is a simple, yet respectful action.”
During the month-long period known as Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours.
The brigade commander also provided a link to a website about Islam, and specifically Ramadan.
Now that raised the ire of some of the officers and doctors training at the USU, and several of them reached out to me with their concerns – provided I not disclose their names.
“I respect the intention behind this email, but note that there is no similar call honoring other faiths,” one Marine told me. “There is no similar invitation for non-Jewish colleagues to refrain from eating leavened products during Passover, or non-Christian colleagues to refrain from eating meat during Lent.”
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The military’s quest to be culturally sensitive to celebrants of the Islamic faith stands in stark contrast to its recent crackdown on public expressions of the Christian faith.
Last Christmas, soldiers at Camp Shelby in Mississippi were told during a diversity briefing that they could not use the word “Christmas.” A VA hospital in Texas refused to accept holiday cards from boys and girls because the cards mentioned “Christmas” or “God bless you.” And a Nativity scene near a lake on Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina was removed after someone complained.
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