Saturday 24 September 2011

US troops take on Taliban with secret ‘Jesus rifles’

American troops fighting in Afghanistan are using rifle sights secretly inscribed with coded biblical references. The inscriptions are in direct contravention of military rules designed to prevent criticism that the US is embarked on a religious "crusade" against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. What is bizarre about this revelation - unearthed by ABC News on January10th, 2010 - is that US military commanders were apparently unaware of the fact. The inscriptions were made by the sights' manufacturer, Trijicon, a Michigan company that has always operated with,"Christian principles".


The news brought a strong reaction from those who feel the separation of church and state must be upheld in the US military. "It's wrong, it violates the Constitution, it violates a number of federal laws," said Michael Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).


"It allows the Mujahedeen, the Taliban, al-Qaeda and the insurrectionists and jihadists to claim they're being shot by Jesus rifles," he said.
Some of the inscriptions on the sights were as follows:-


When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life". John 8:12


For it is the God who said, 'Let your light shine out of darkness' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6


And so we  have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19


In the same way, let your light so shine before other, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16


The Lord is my light and my salvation/whom shall I fear?/The Lord is the stronghold of my life/of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1


Trijicon quickly, "Saw the Light."


It was no surprise that the threat of losing millions of dollars in contracts to the US Army and Marines quickly made Trijicon abandon all, "Christian principles",for  the sake of financial prudence. I mean, when your main product is designed to help people be more efficient killers of his fellow man, you need the military on your side and to hell with "Christian principles".  On 22 January 2010, Trijicon announced it would stop the practice of engraving Biblical references on products sold to the government. It also offered to provide modification kits for the purpose of removing such engravings on sights already produced and sold to the military. In a statement, the company said it was both "prudent and appropriate" to remove the engravings. Trijicon's consumer products are still engraved with Biblical references in accordance with company tradition and "Christian principles."


The pressure on Trijicon was even more acute coming after the incident in 2009, when military leaders discarded and burned “unsolicited” Bibles sent to a soldier in Afghanistan by a U.S. church that had located Bibles translated into Dari and Pashto, “the two most common Afghan languages.” Military spokespersons said that the Bibles could be used for proselytization of Muslims (or contribute to the perception that U.S. troops were engaged in proselytization), actions which are strictly against U.S. policy for deployed troops.  Central Command “General Order Number 1” (updated as General Order Number 1B), specifically prohibits “proselytizing of any faith, religion, or practice," and military representatives say that “if actions were perceived in this manner,” they could “endanger American troops and civilians in the devoutly Muslim nation.” According to Afghan law, it is a crime to try to convert a Muslim to another faith."


News about the Bibles had reached the Al Jezeera network, which had broadcast a story about the possibility that American troops were violating anti-proselytization rules. The report included video footage of U.S. Army Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Gary Hensley telling soldiers that they had a responsibility to "hunt people for Jesus": "The special forces guys — they hunt men basically. We do the same things as Christians, we hunt people for Jesus. We do, we hunt them down.... Get the hound of heaven after them, so we get them into the kingdom. That's what we do, that's our business." The footage shows a discussion between soldiers and their chaplain discussing how the Bibles might be distributed without violating the military's General Order against proselytization. When a reporter from Al Jazeera brought up the issue of using the Bibles to proselytize Afghanis during a May 4, 2009, Pentagon news conference, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Michael Mullen stated that "from the United States military's perspective," it is "not our position to ever push any specific kind of religion. Period.


I am no card carrying, bible thumping supporter of any religion but even I feel insulted by the use of Christianity by corporations whose only aim is to make money off the suffering and bloodshed of war. You have no problems making the tools that make soldiers more efficient killers but you feel the need to make them into, instruments of righteousness, by inscribing them with religious propaganda! 


Trijicon, how about using this inscription:-


No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. - Matthew 6:24


If Trijicon had told the US military that this is what we believe in, this is our product, take it or leave it, they would have gained my respect but to bow to pressure to stop doing what they believed was the, “right thing to do”, shouts of hypocrisy.


As for Lt. Col. Gary Hensley, "hunt people for Jesus", “get the hound of heaven after them”. Are you serious Colonel? Was this the message that the story of Jesus intended to impart? This is the 21st century, for Christ’s sake, (pun intended), not the Dark Ages.  Don't let me even start to expound on the imagery these words evoke. The shield emblazoned with the symbol of the cross in on hand and the sword in the other!  The Crusades are alive and well!  


I am reminded of a quote from Mahatma Gandhi.


 “Oh, I don’t reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ. I would be a Christian if it were not for Christians.”


Quote of the Day

A picture is worth 1000 words.











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