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I want it to be clear that I’m not against military members being able to worship or practice their particular religions or spiritualities.  I'm a very spiritual person and I'm even involved with spiritual issues on a military base, but I do have a problem with public prayer, especially at military functions.  There's a time and a place for public prayer; and the military isn't one of them.    

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I agree that all faiths should be able to practice freely and the Constitution allows us to do so, but things are different in the military.  We (yes I'm a military member) don’t always fall under the protection of the Constitution and when you put on the uniform, things change instantly.  Your duty is to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America", which many times means giving up some of the protections that comes along with it.  We are no longer protected like civilians are.

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For example; “Freedom of Speech” is something that we give up as military members.  We can disagree with our commander’s decisions or even the President’s decisions all day long, but we can't voice our opinions to our troops and/or co-workers without the possibility of facing some major consequences.

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We’re also not allowed to attend protest while wearing the uniform because it gives the impression that a particular branch of military service or the government is supporting whatever cause the protest may be about.  We become ambassadors of our particular service while in uniform.

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“Freedom of Speech” also gives people the right to display any kind of bumper sticker on their car; or wear clothing with obscene words, graphics, etc…; but not if you’re in the military.  Sure people do it, but we’re supposed to maintain a professional image at all times and conduct ourselves in a way that doesn’t bring discredit upon our branch of service and our Country.  

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“Freedom of Speech” also gives me the right to call someone the most horrible names you could ever think of, but does that mean it's right?  Absolutely not; and I believe the same should hold true for expression of one's spirituality in the military.

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The First Amendment of the Constitution protects us by ensuring that no law be made to prohibit the free exercise of religion, but you have to use some common sense when reading these becuase the next Amendment states that I have the right to bear arms, but I can't "bear arms" and bring my pistol to work every day, even though I have a Concealed Permit.  Why?  Because the military has rules that go beyond what the Constitution sets forth for civilians.  Many civilians can't bear arms due to where they work or for other reasons.    

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Invocations, prayers, blessings, etc… should be done in private or with your particular faith group.  A typical audience at any military event may include numerous people who practice various faiths, so why would anyone feel that it’s ok to give an invocation that might offend someone? 

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There are videos out on the internet showing soldiers marching in military formation holding the Christian Flag.  These videos are being used against us by other countries as propaganda; showing people there that the Crusaders are coming back to occupy their country again.  A "Christian Army" is not the image that we should be sending out to the world.    

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Chaplains in the military have guidelines that explain what public prayer should and shouldn’t be, yet it doesn’t seem to hold very much weight when they continue to give invocations at public military events.  The Air Force Religious Guidelines state “Public prayer should not IMPLY government endorsement of religion and should not usually be a part of routine official business.  Mutual respect and common sense should always be applied…”

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Starting an invocation with “Dear Heavenly Father” implies “government endorsement of religion”.

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Ending an invocation with “in His name we pray” implies “government endorsement of religion”.

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Using terms such as: “O Lord”, “Eternal God”, “Lord God of Hosts”, and “Amen” implies “government endorsement of religion”.

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These violations happen all the time acrocc the military at graduation ceremonies, award ceremonies, and at many other functions that could be considered “routine official business”.  Using the terms listed above and giving invocations that “imply government endorsement of religion” at these functions doesn’t sound like “mutual respect and common sense” is being applied.

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So, what’s the solution?  Well, it’s actually quite easy.  A moment of silence to reflect, meditate, or pray to the God and/or Goddess of your choice would and should appease everyone in any audience without offending anyone.  I don’t see why this isn’t the norm.

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For the military members who may be reading this who feel left out at every military function because you're not Christian; let you’re Chaplains know and/or file an Equal Opportunity complaint.  The only way things are going to change is if we take a stand.  Be respectful, but be heard. 

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And for those of you who are going to attack me by saying that “the United States of America was founded on Christian beliefs", then I urge you to please read the following quotes from some individuals that you might have heard of before.  The following quotes are not attacks by "me" on Christianity or any other religion for that matter, but they are quotes from influential people (some of whom were our founding fathers) who knew exactly what would happen if Church and State were mixed. 

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion..."      - Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli; Authored by American diplomat Joel Barlow in 1796, which was sent to the floor of the Senate, June 7, 1797, where it was read aloud in its entirety and unanimously approved. John Adams

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"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State."   -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Danbury Baptist Association, CT., Jan. 1, 1802

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"And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerve in the brain of Jupiter."   - Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Adams, April 11, 1823

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"This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it." - John Adams

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"So far as religion of the day is concerned, it is a damned fake. Religion is all bunk." - Thomas Alva Edison

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"I do not believe any type of religion should ever be introduced into the public schools of the United States." - Thomas Alva Edison

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"Religions are all alike - founded upon fables and mythologies." -Thomas Jefferson

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“I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.” - Susan B. Anthony

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“Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause. “

- George Washington, letter to Sir Edward Newenham, June 22, 1792

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“As the contempt of the religion of a country by ridiculing any of its ceremonies, or affronting its ministers or votaries, has ever been deeply resented, you are to be particularly careful to restrain every officer from such imprudence and folly, and to punish every instance of it. On the other hand, as far as lies in your power, you are to protect and support the free exercise of religion of the country, and the undisturbed enjoyment of the rights of conscience in religious matters, with your utmost influence and authority. “ - George Washington, to Benedict Arnold, September 14, 1775