Military Blocks Atheists' Efforts to Feed Homeless

[rug]

Fort Bragg Stops ‘Rock Beyond Belief’ Festival’s Attempt to Feed Hungry Veterans

(Editor's Note: the following is a press release from American Atheists)

By Ryan Smith
March 29, 2012

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Commanders at the military base have decided not to allow atheists to collect food for local homeless veterans. The organizers of the upcoming ‘Rock Beyond Belief’ atheist festival expressed their desires to Fort Bragg, but lawyers cited regulations in their denial. Months of appeals and discussion ultimately went nowhere, but organizers believe they have a work-around solution.

The military’s atheist community is making waves this year, cresting with the on-post festival at Fort Bragg. Richard Dawkins and several prominent speakers and musicians will appear on the main post parade field this Saturday, March 31st. Fort Bragg estimates that 5,000 people will show up for the festival.

Lead organizer and American Atheists Military Director Justin Griffith said, “It’s a shame that policy seems to be creatively interpreted at the expense of our nation’s heroes. The Christian event that spawned ours was allowed to fundraise on post at a dozen locations every Sunday for several months. We’re telling everyone to bring canned food to the official off-post after party at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux.”

Griffith was referring to the 2010 ‘Rock the Fort’ festival that was co-sponsored by Fort Bragg’s Religious Support Office and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Documents obtained by Griffith’s legal team show that the same policy that is blocking the atheists from feeding the homeless was included in paperwork filed by the earlier Christian event. The same documents show that despite being unable to raise funds, the Christians raised significant amounts of cash for their own event.

http://fortstewart.patch.com/articles/military-blocks-atheists-efforts-to-feed-homeless-6f542e5d

[appleannie1]

1. Funny how people that like to call themselves Christian don't follow the teaching of Christ. Jesus

said that if we have a loaf of bread and we someone that has none, we are to break our loaf in half and share it. He does not say, only people that like to pat themselves on the back and shout their own goodness are allowed to do this.

[deacon_sephiroth]

2. Not real christians!!! damn, someone beat me to it.

Take it away Steve...

With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. -- Steven Weinberg