The Salvation Army discriminates . . . it believes its allowed to do so . . .

[TaleWgnDg]

Did you know?

The Salvation Army discriminates. It is a religious institution. As such, it believes that our first amendment's "religious freedom" allows it to discriminate selectively against people. For example, it discriminates against homosexuals in its hiring, promotion, and firing policies as well as in its benefits to employees, employees’ families, sub-contractors, and other agencies. Also, it discriminates selectively against those it serves, i.e., the weak, the poor, and the destitute. It is arguable whether a religion may do this u/ our federal constitution’s first amendment “freedom of religion” if other areas of the federal constitution are weighed particularly if federal and/or state law does not allow such discrimination, religious or otherwise.

All that being said, discrimination reaches a higher bar when public (government) monies are granted to religious institutions such as to the Salvation Army. In the past few years, up to and including the present, federal taxpayer monies are granted to the Salvation Army under the guise of “faith-based initiatives.” These are public taxpayer (federal government) funds, not private funds. However, despite receiving public taxpayer money, the Salvation Army continues its selective discriminatory actions against (and prostelyzing its own religion upon) people as afore. And, it claims it can do so under the first amendment’s “freedom of religion.”

Yes, the Salvation Army continues to discriminate against homosexuals and others (and proselytizing its own religion upon people) using federal taxpayer monies! The Salvation Army expressly states that it can continue to do so due to the Salvation Army's religious status under our constitution and its religious tenets that mandate it to discriminate and proselytize as such whether using government money or private money.

In so doing, the Salvation Army inferentially indicates that there is no meaningful Separation of Church and State. In other words with that “wall of separation” gone, a church may meddle into state affairs (through its use of public taxpayer monies) and, in turn, the state may meddle into church affairs as to those public taxpayer monies. Keep in mind, too, that money is fungible. So how much "meddle” applies? Where does it stop? What a mess!

Tis no wonder that James Madison's first amendment declared that our government not be in the business of “establishment of religion” as well as no prohibition on “free exercise of religion,” and that Thomas Jefferson's "wall of separation" between church and state should remain its definition today -- thereby keeping government out of religion, and keeping religion out of government.



U.S. Constitution, First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[redqueen]

1. no, i did not know that

thanks for posting this... i'll be sure to announce loudly why i'm NOT donating the next time i pass a bell-ringer

[NYVet]

2. So when you need assistance...

Be sure to tell the Salvation Army to go piss up a rope if your house burns down and they offer you assisstance in getting temporary shelter.

[redqueen]

3. welcome to DU

enjoy your stay

[dmallind]

5. If it comes with proselytizing I will NT

jlj

[Tyo]

9. Essentially, yeah

They're not the only source of emergency assistance in town. They can take their "Christian charity" and their hypocrisy, find that rope and start unbuttoning.

[NMMNG]

18. I'm sure they wouldn't offer me any assistance

I'm far too gay and atheist for their delicate little sensibilities.

[TaleWgnDg]

4. Unreal, huh? Since its inception in London during the

mid-1800's its been a religion. Always has been. Does it say this in its mailings for its "charity" solicitations? No. No way.

I don't believe too many Americans realize that when they drop a coin in that famous "red kettle" or write that check out to "The Salvation Army" that they are donating to (1) a religion, and (2) a religion that discriminates blatantly against its employees, their families, and to those that receive their "charity."

For example, my father recently received a solicitation for a charitable contribution to The Salvation Army. I was shocked. Dad didn't know it was a religion. And he sure as hell didn't know that The Salvation Army was reportedly in on the initial stages of George W. Bush's push for "faith-based initiatives" giving our public federal taxpayer monies to The Salvation Army and many other religions! No wonder Bush loves The Salvation Army. It's reportedly in quid pro quo w/ him.

Well. Dad was ripped. And sent off a protest letter to "Major William H. Bode, Divisional Commander" of The Salvation Army in Boston, Massachusetts.

Good. I wish more ppl would do so.

[Tyo]

12. The Salvation Army is one of those organizations

that is pushes its religious aspect when it wants to discriminate against people and plays it down when it's appealing the the general population for money. The Boy Scouts in America have gotten this kind of thing down to a fine art.

[TaleWgnDg]

13. Oh, cripes . . . don't get me *started* on the BSA . . . !

Did you know that the United States congress granted a charter to the Boys Scouts of America (BSA), yet the U.S. Supreme Court declared that the BSA was a "private institution" thus could discriminate against gays and atheists? Had not the Supreme Court done so, that is, declared the BSA as a "public institution" then it could not discriminate u/ our federal constitution. Talk about misconstruing and misusing federal (constitutional) law!

Unreal . . . think about it. Congress grants a charter to a group who then discriminate against American citizens. Crazy times we live in.

As for both institutions, The Salvation Army and the Boys Scouts of America, they both discriminate and thereby teach discrimination to their members, young and old alike. The BSA is teaching discrimination. The Salvation Army is teaching discrimination. Systemic discrimination, deep and broad. Insidious. Unconscionable. All the harm both institutions cause.

Avoid both of them. And say why -- LOUDLY and CLEARLY.

[Tyo]

14. For me it's hard to call groups like this on their crap

Even otherwise rational people who are usually on "our side" get a bad case of the warm and fuzzies when it comes to the SA or the Scouts. You don't want to be seen as a flag hating, atheistic, puppy kicking fag who thinks mom makes lousy apple pie.

[TaleWgnDg]

16. Yup, I hear you . . . and both institutions do an excellent job of

selling their "warm and fuzzy" personification to the public. And they've done so for years. That's because they wrap themselves in a blanket of ignorance. True.

They sell ignorance. That is, they attempt -- successfully too -- to keep the public ignorant (uninformed) about their discrimination and/or white-wash it. All the while The Salvation Army employees and their families and those that are supposed to receive their charitable largess are discriminated against and proselytized. As well The Salvation Army keeps quiet about it being a religion while solicitating for donations. And, as for the Boy Scouts of America, they had The Great Oz's curtain pulled back fully exposing their discrimination. But they, too, are attempting to wait it out, white-wash it, and hope that the knowledge of their blatant discrimination against gays and atheists will go away. The BSA behavior will remain discriminatory but the knowledge of it (they hope) will fade. Don't let it.

Don't bite into this. Remember that pulling back the curtain of ignorance falls upon us all.

For example, when the BSA rings your doorbell (typically there's an adult w/ the young boys) asking for donations or selling something, talk politely to the adult and inform the adult "no, I will not contribute to any organization that discriminates against other youngsters, and teaches discrimination to our young. The Boy Scouts of America should include all boys, gays and atheists, into its organization, both as Scouts and as Leaders." Typically, I say it loud enough so that the Boy Scouts with the adult can hear me as well. You could also write a letter to the local or regional newspaper's editor. Speak to others about it as well. Don't be defensive, be positive. Hey, it is they who are in the wrong, not you!

As for The Salvation Army, tell the red kettle bell ringer why you are not contributing to their religion. Some really don't know about it too. And, if you receive a written solicitation, write back to them and tell them why you will not contribute to their discriminatory behavior. Inform others about SA's discrimination. Keep them exposed. Pull back the curtain exposing "the Great Oz" . . . again, it is they who are wrong, not you!

.

[Tyo]

20. Oh don't worry

I don't buy into their crap, but so many people do, people who should know better.

[Bitwit1234]

6. Nothing you can do about it...remember

the supreme court ruled we have no say over who bush gives our tax money to. If he wants to give it to religious organizations that discriminate ,,,,tough luck...

Remember the lawsuit where someone in Wisconsin sued because a religious organization was discriminating in caring for someone or hiring someone, I can't remember which and they took it to the supreme court. Well the court ruled in bush's administration favor and said he could appropriate our money anyway he wanted to - faith based organizations.

So no use us complaining it won't do any good bush's supreme court is doing what he appointed them to do.

[prairierose]

7. Yes, I knew this and...

I have not donated or shopped at Salvation Army since this took effect in , either 2000 or 2001.

I will not donate or shop there until this policy changes.

I have since confined my donations etc to local charities that do not discriminate.

[dbackjon]

8. I do not donate either

And I let the bell ringers know why.

[qb]

10. Surely they don't want GAY money.

I donate to HRC, and I'll be sure to tell the bellringers that.

[mitchtv]

11. Does anyone remember when in early 2001 (I think)

They got caught in a quid pro quo with Rove to give so much in Ads(money) in exchange for the fed waiving local anti discrimination laws? If it were dems there would've been prosecutions but a gay issue? forgetabout it

[bliss_eternal]

15. Yes, I knew.

Because of their discrimination policies, they haven't had a donation from this household in years. I walk right past their bell ringers at Christmas time, and will do so again this year.

I stopped donating my gently used clothing and home items, too.

Salvation Army can suck on it.

[NMMNG]

17. Precisely why I don't approve of the "Faith Based Initiative"

Religious charities that discriminate and/or proselytize (and they all do) should not get one dime of taxpayer money.

[TaleWgnDg]

19. I've posted b4 on DU about this . . .

on Thu Feb-02-06 by TaleWgnDg

.
How many DUers believe that The Salvation Army is a religious organization just like any other religious institution? Seriously. Not too many Americans understand that the charity who receives more money than any other charity in America is a religious institution, namely, The Salvation Army.

In addition, how many DUers and others understand that The Salvation Army discriminates against gays, yet receives federal taxpayers monies in grants (freebie gifts of money) for its programs, all of which discriminate against gays? How is this possible?

Generally, for three reasons:

1.) There's no express federal constitution anti-discrimination protection for gays;

2.) Congress lacks the spine to include GLBTs into civil rights legislation; and

3.) George Walker Bush allows anti-gay discrimination and it's so stated in several Executive Orders signed by George Walker Bush.

So, The Salvation Army and other religious institutions (and there are many), who discriminate against gays, are allowed to continue that discriminatory practice as well as continue to receive federal taxpayer monies much of which has been paid by GLBTs and their families and friends and those who support GLBTs legal rights.

Money is fungible. So it may well be reasoned that GLBTs taxpayer monies also fund their own discrimination not only in the actual federal grant funded programs but in other areas of religious programming such as programs directly geared to stop gay rights, stop gay marriage, stop adoption by gays, stop gay foster parenting, stop child custody by gays, stop child visitation by gays, etc.

Other than all of that . . . "faith-based" pay-offs are merely kick-backs, hush money, bribes, if you will, paid to rightwing churches who deliver votes and champion rightwing causes, P E R I O D. In turn, George Walker Bush and the rest of the neo-con cabal allows those very churches to discriminate in accordance with their "religious beliefs." This scenario works particularly well in the realm of black churches, unfortunately. Just when the gay community *needs* Coretta Scott King the most, she is aged, ill, then dies.
.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...
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