Striking pagan soldier sentenced to seven months for disobeying orders

[joefree1]

Striking pagan soldier sentenced to seven months for disobeying orders
By Jessica Inigo, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Tuesday, March 29, 2005

DARMSTADT, Germany — A 3rd Corps Support Command soldier was sentenced Monday to seven months’ confinement for willfully disobeying orders after being found guilty at a court-martial at Cambrai-Fritsch Casern.

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He explained that while deployed to Iraq from May 2003 to May 2004, he realized he did not like working with U.S. Army troops. He claimed that racism is widespread in the military, with troops encouraged by command to treat civilian Arabs poorly. He also described several accounts of animal cruelty and derogatory name-calling.

A pagan priest, the Louisiana native said, “I realized the sermons I gave were in direct conflict with what the United States military practices.”

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“If we were any other mainstream religion, the Army would not be doing this. They wouldn’t do this to a Jew or Christian,” she said. “It’s a vendetta against pagans. They can’t burn us, so they shut us up.
more ...
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=28051

Soldier was sentenced to "one month longer than the prosecution recommended."


Pagan DUers meet other Pagan DUers at:
Ancient Wisdom and Pagan Spirituality Group
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=262

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. It figures

wonder if the soldier was ever harrassed for his faith? The extra punishment should be examined with this in mind.

[joefree1]

3. The tone of the article is slanted against the soldier

I'd like to hear more from him about why he went on strike. But then this is from Stars and Stripes.

[davidinalameda]

2. not surprising

no one's gonna get out this army except in a body bag

[joefree1]

4. From recent press conference

From the press conference invitation:

LeMoine has for some time been trying to get a discharge from the U.S. Army, but he has so far been unsuccessful. He has applied for “Conscientious Objector” status, because the U.S. military invasion and occupation of Iraq are against his religious beliefs; this application is still pending. Rather than release LeMoine, on March 4, 2005, the U.S. Army charged him with refusal to obey orders.

Statment of U.S. Army Specialist Blake Lemoine:

I have been hearing far too much about the American All Volunteer Army lately. It is true that the draft is not in effect. No one is forced to join the American Military, but it is very much like a roach motel. People check in but they can't check out. The enlistment contract is a slave contract and unfortunately I found this out far too late. The Thirteenth Amendment guarantees that no citizen of the United States will have to endure slavery or enforced servitude. I was speaking to a congressman's aide about this and was directly told that the UCMJ* (Uniform Code of Military Justice) overrides that amendment. It does not apply to soldiers. There are many men and women who would tender their two-weeks notice if they could. The consequence for quitting is several years in jail. The military claims that this is just them holding you to your contract. I can understand that the US military's contract must be different than civilian contracts. The difference is the fact that if one party wishes to terminate their contract the other party will use guns (i.e. the military police) to ensure otherwise. If someone can answer a question for me I will be greatly appreciative. If I am a volunteer, why do they need to hold a gun in my face to make me work?
More ...
http://www.notinourname.net/troops/lemoine-28mar05.htm