Troops told to refrain from eating, drinking in front of Muslims

Quote: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.

Quote: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.”

The entire incident smells of political correctness, the Marine told me.

“Our veterans have sacrificed too much blood, sweat and tears to have their own rights and freedoms be sacrificed on the altar of progressive political correctness,” the Marine said.

I contacted USU about the email. I wanted to understand the brigade commander’s intent. I gave them 20 days to respond, but no one returned my calls or emails.

Another individual who studies at USU was concerned about the wording of the email.

“It could be construed as an order and one that violates the First Amendment freedom of everyone who received it,” my source said. “This is an appalling violation, especially coming on the heels of so many instances where those of conservative Christian faith in the military are vilified.”

Meanwhile, Navy officials have ordered personnel serving in Bahrain to dress more conservatively off base, according to a report in Stars and Stripes. Men were ordered to wear long-sleeved shirts and women were told to wear blouses that cover their elbows and skirts or pants that cover the knees.

Stars and Stripes reported that base cultural advisers had spent several weeks conducting Ramadan briefings to “educate Americans about the holy month.” Personnel were given briefings on Islam, the lunar calendar and Ramadan customs.

“It’s customary to say ‘Ramadan Kareem’ during Ramadan,” read a to-do list compiled by NSA Bahrain Public Affairs.

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.

So you might understand why Ron Crews, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, is a bit surprised by the Pentagon’s recent behavior.

“There is a good biblical word for this: hypocrisy,” Crews told me.

“Our troops are being told to respect the Muslim Ramadan and encouraged to say ‘Ramadan Kareem,’ while at the same time they cannot have a cross on chapels, display a manger scene or say ‘Merry Christmas’ for fear of offending,” Crews said. “There is something wrong with this picture.”

He has a good point.

Crews said he completely understands the need for cultural advisers to inform military personnel about Islam. He said similar briefings were held prior to Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

“We wanted our folks to know about customs and culture so as not to offend unnecessarily,” he told me. “Of course we want to respect the faith of others, but should we be encouraging our folks to participate in the Muslim faith in this way?”

Why not just treat all religions fairly?

“I think that if there were emails about other faith traditions, this email wouldn’t have been so offensive,” my source at USU said. “Islam appears to have a protected status while Christians are increasingly vilified.”

Religious liberty. Now there’s an interesting concept – one enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

The military might want to consider that the next time it tells an officer to remove a Bible from his desk or tells a cadet to remove a Bible verse from his whiteboard or hide a cross inside a VA hospital chapel or tells chaplains they can’t pray in the name of Jesus.

It's official... the military has been thoroughly corrupted.

I played the part while in Bahrain. I didn't have a problem with it because they are the host country. But to be voluntold to do something like this here in the states is just preposterous and unsat.

Stick a fork in us, just don't eat us in front of the muzzies.

Our military is officially a social experiment.

Why are we trying so hard not to offend these idiots that we are protecting from themselves and their own kind. Rock throwing monkeys is all they are. And we are acting like we are a Rushing a Sorority.


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This is how is starts. First we extend a kind politically correct gesture. In a few years that gesture becomes an actual expectation. Then a few years after that this turns into a demand. Then after that, not doing it is reason for these animals to behead you.

WTF is up with them telling soldiers not to say Christmas?

They should all slap down a big plate full of ribs, bacon, and country ham in front of every Muslim they see. Eventually, the non-PC Americans are going to hit back------- and its not going to be pretty.

If i were a soldier stationed in a Muslim country i would try to avoid eating or drinking in front of them during this period, not out of respect for their religion, but just not to be a dick.
As far as the bull**** about no Christmas or crosses goes, that's just another level of stupidity.

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(07-29-2014 09:56 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  If i were a soldier stationed in a Muslim country i would try to avoid eating or drinking in front of them during this period, not out of respect for their religion, but just not to be a dick.

I would do that as well, whether they be Muslim or Bahai (I draw the line at water, which is also part of their fast). But as I understand from those that have worked in Saudi, you're pretty much forced to fast along with the Muslims unless you find a space in private. That kind of bothers me.

(07-29-2014 09:46 PM)MemphisTiger15 Wrote:  They should all slap down a big plate full of ribs, bacon, and country ham in front of every Muslim they see. Eventually, the non-PC Americans are going to hit back------- and its not going to be pretty.

The sooner the better

(07-29-2014 09:56 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  If i were a soldier stationed in a Muslim country i would try to avoid eating or drinking in front of them during this period, not out of respect for their religion, but just not to be a dick.
As far as the bull**** about no Christmas or crosses goes, that's just another level of stupidity.

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Id do it out of fear..not respect. You never know who the "peaceful" Muslims are. I have no respect for the faith...period. When the followers publicly condemn the violence that pours out of Islam?..then I might change my mind.

(07-29-2014 09:36 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  WTF is up with them telling soldiers not to say Christmas?

That's a stretch from what actually happened. Someone from the DEOMI just told troops at one base to call their Christmas football tournament a holiday football tournament.

That was pretty much the extent of it.

(07-29-2014 08:47 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  This is how is starts. First we extend a kind politically correct gesture. In a few years that gesture becomes an actual expectation. Then a few years after that this turns into a demand. Then after that, not doing it is reason for these animals to behead you.

I'm afraid it started long before this.

To all the deniers who say this represents nothing, I'd ask the following question, just what would colonization by a foreign power look like?

Quote: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

Seems respectful to me, no conspiracy here.

Whether military or business, every organization with which I have travelled to the Middle East has always urged compliance with Ramadan. I don't really see much here but common sense.

A good friend of mine who is English was offered a job in Dubai some years ago. He had travelled there often, but wife and kids had never been. So he decided to take them out for a visit. Unfortunately, they screwed up and went during Ramadan. They are at the hotel swimming pool at midday and had stuffed a couple of water bottles into backpacks and the kids are hiding behind the deck chairs to take a drink. This Arab in full regalia comes in and sits at the cabana next to them. Uh oh, they tell the kids not to be sneaking drinks while he's there. Then they bring this guy his Scotch and water and a steak, and he proceeds to eat lunch. Okay, kids, no worries, coast is clear. He took the job, they've been in Dubai for years, and love it.

That's pretty much how Dubai does Ramadan. But other places are different.

(07-30-2014 08:19 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Whether military or business, every organization with which I have travelled to the Middle East has always urged compliance with Ramadan. I don't really see much here but common sense.

A good friend of mine who is English was offered a job in Dubai some years ago. He had travelled there often, but wife and kids had never been. So he decided to take them out for a visit. Unfortunately, they screwed up and went during Ramadan. They are at the hotel swimming pool at midday and had stuffed a couple of water bottles into backpacks and the kids are hiding behind the deck chairs to take a drink. This Arab in full regalia comes in and sits at the cabana next to them. Uh oh, they tell the kids not to be sneaking drinks while he's there. Then they bring this guy his Scotch and water and a steak, and he proceeds to eat lunch. Okay, kids, no worries, coast is clear. He took the job, they've been in Dubai for years, and love it.

That's pretty much how Dubai does Ramadan. But other places are different.

So what is your point regarding the story?

(07-30-2014 08:28 AM)oklalittledixie Wrote:  

(07-30-2014 08:19 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Whether military or business, every organization with which I have travelled to the Middle East has always urged compliance with Ramadan. I don't really see much here but common sense.

A good friend of mine who is English was offered a job in Dubai some years ago. He had travelled there often, but wife and kids had never been. So he decided to take them out for a visit. Unfortunately, they screwed up and went during Ramadan. They are at the hotel swimming pool at midday and had stuffed a couple of water bottles into backpacks and the kids are hiding behind the deck chairs to take a drink. This Arab in full regalia comes in and sits at the cabana next to them. Uh oh, they tell the kids not to be sneaking drinks while he's there. Then they bring this guy his Scotch and water and a steak, and he proceeds to eat lunch. Okay, kids, no worries, coast is clear. He took the job, they've been in Dubai for years, and love it.

That's pretty much how Dubai does Ramadan. But other places are different.

So what is your point regarding the story?

The point is you can't stereotype all muslims, just like you can't stereotype everyone else.

(07-30-2014 05:44 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(07-29-2014 09:56 PM)200yrs2late Wrote:  If i were a soldier stationed in a Muslim country i would try to avoid eating or drinking in front of them during this period, not out of respect for their religion, but just not to be a dick.
As far as the bull**** about no Christmas or crosses goes, that's just another level of stupidity.

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Id do it out of fear..not respect. You never know who the "peaceful" Muslims are. I have no respect for the faith...period. When the followers publicly condemn the violence that pours out of Islam?..then I might change my mind.

I have no respect for the religion either. I would do it out of respect for the people that I was around. Unless those individuals have given me reason to not respect their choices, I'd have no reason to not show them that respect.

(07-30-2014 07:44 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

Quote: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

Seems respectful to me, no conspiracy here.

Yah I dont see this anymore different the showing respect to people during Lent. I went vegan a couple years ago, and friends and coworkers at the time did their best not to eat meat in front of me. They didnt have to do that, but they wanted to be understanding.

Of course the miitary couldnt really issue a similar statement for Catholic Lent as each individual fast in their own way.

I find it humorous people here claiming the military is offically a social experiment, etc. when I bet none of those people know the day to day routine that comes with being in the military