Maybe this is a partial answer to Raven's concern that he's sounding paranoid.
Without denying that a base commander has the right to control his installation, and recognizing that the USAF in particular has had issues with aggressive proselytizing, I still don't understand how this happened. This was a retirement ceremony, so even if he was the most annoying Jehovah's Witness in your command you'd think you'd let him have his party and then just go away forever.
I'm also not sure why the base commander would forbid the use of the word "God" in a retirement ceremony anyway, any more than at a wedding ceremony conducted on base.
Besides, the speech is nondenominational, just the ordinary linking of religion to boilerplate patriotism. "God bless our flag, God bless our troops, God bless America" is not exactly a call to join some particular church.
It'll be interesting to see how the Air Force explains just what happened here.
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I stopped thinking I was paranoid about two years into the Obama administration. If you had told me in 2006 twenty things the next presidency would see happen in this country that have actually happened, I'd have thought you were nuts. And yet, here we are.
I would be highly qualified based on my skills and years of experience to determine what is or is not paranoid. But I suspect my level of capability won't be so rare given current training events.
Apparently the speech he gave used to be the official Air Force flag-folding speech, but a new version scrubbed of religious references was adopted in 2006. However, a USAF spokesman says that the speech is still permitted at retirement ceremonies:
A spokesman from the reserve said that the confrontation stemmed from “an unplanned participation” at the event.
"Rodriguez ignored numerous requests to respect the Air Force prescribed ceremony and unfortunately was forcibly removed," a Travis official said in a statement to FoxNews.com.
According to an official with the United States Air Force, flag-folding scripts that are religious in nature can be used for retirement ceremonies.
"I can't speak to the specific incident," Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokeswoman, told Fox News. "[But] Air Force personnel may use a flag folding ceremony script that is religious for retirement ceremonies."
"Since retirement ceremonies are personal in nature, the script preference for a flag folding ceremony is at the discretion of the individual being honored and represents the member's views, not those of the Air Force."
Rodriguez was using an old version of the "Flag Folding Ceremony Air Force Script," which was scrubbed in 2006 because of religious references. That is what supposedly prompted his ouster. (But as the AF spokeswoman said, the older version was still permitted during retirement ceremonies.)
The problem was never a Tyrant on the Presidential throne. Even the Left called Bush II, Hitler. So they were aware it could happen.
The problem was when 100+ million Americans supported a tyrant on the throne. Then you have a bigger problem than just one person.
It is also why the Senate destroyed the Roman Republic, by assassinating Caesar. Caesar wasn't the source of Rome's problems back then. The Senate had half the responsibility for corruption and slavery, at least.
Rodriguez was using an old version of the "Flag Folding Ceremony Air Force Script," which was scrubbed in 2006 because of religious references. That is what supposedly prompted his ouster. (But as the AF spokeswoman said, the older version was still permitted during retirement ceremonies.)
The State will determine whether you are permitted to breathe or not, and how much you get to pay for the privilege. The same for being allowed to live, work, etc.
That isn't necessarily The System, but it is a system far beyond the capabilities of mortal humans to deal with if they were just gunning for the removal of one tyrant or political foe.
More like the CYA-thinking officer in charge over reacted. Or, maybe he was just ornery.
I saw a couple of retirement ceremonies go awry in the Army--always an awkward thing.
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