Jan 31, 2012
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The U.S. Military Academy pressured a retired U.S. lieutenant general to withdraw from speaking at a West Point prayer breakfast after Muslims and atheists complained, Fox News & Commentary has learned.
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Retired Lt. Gen. William Boykin was scheduled to deliver a speech at West Point on Feb. 8. But late Monday, the military academy released a statement saying he had decided to withdraw from speaking and would be replaced with another speaker.
However, a source close to the controversy told Fox News & Commentary that Boykin was pressured to withdraw.
“It was very clear they wanted General Boykin to withdraw,” said the source who asked not to be identified. “He asked them to rescind the invitation, but they were reluctant to do that so he said he would take them off the hook.”
Theresa Brinkerhoff, a spokesperson for West Point, told Fox News & Commentary that the U.S. Military Academy “did not decide this for him.”
“After a conversation with our chaplain, Lt. Gen. Boykin decided to withdraw,” Brinkerhoff wrote in an email.
Boykin, a former senior military intelligence officer, had been criticized for speeches he made at evangelical Christian churches where he said that American’s enemy is Satan, that God had put President Bush in the White House and that a Muslim Somali warlord was an idol-worshipper.
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He later issued a written statement apologizing and said he didn’t mean to insult Islam.
However, Boykin became a target for atheists and Muslim groups. They launched a campaign to force the military to remove the retired lieutenant general from the West Point prayer event.
“Mr. Boykin’s intolerant views do a disservice to our nation’s longstanding traditions of religious freedom and pluralism and could potentially harm our country’s interests and the security of our troops overseas,” Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, wrote in a letter to the superintendent of West Point. “By providing a platform associated with West Point, Mr. Boykin’s hate-filled rhetoric would receive a level of credibility and legitimacy it does not deserve.”
Awad called Boykin an Islamophobe.
“It gives Islamophobes a platform at the nation’s most prestigious military academy,” Awad told the Associated Press. “And I doubt that they would invite a KKK speaker and claim that they want to expose the students to a variety of opinions.”
CAIR joined VoteVets.org and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation in protesting Boykin’s speech.
Mikey Weinstein, the president of Military Religious Freedom Foundation heralded the military’s move as a victory and called Boykin a “vile Islamophobe.”
“We are deeply saddened that it took a public outcry of this magnitude to cause Boykin to pull out from this event, likely under pressure from within the Pentagon,” Weinstein said in a press release. “Our outcry must not stop – all individuals within the command structure responsible for inviting this vile Islamophobe must be held accountable via courts martial.”
Boykin told Fox News & Commentary that he was extremely disappointed in what has happened.
“I came under attack because there are liberal groups, Islamic groups and atheist groups that want to shut me down because I have been very open about my concerns about the encroachment of Sharia – or Islamic law,” he said.
Boykin said he planned on delivering a speech about the importance of prayer in a leader’s life.
“It was an ecumenical presentation,” Boykin said. “It had nothing to do with Islam.”
Boykin would not comment on reports that he was pressured to step aside, only to say that he considered the commandant of West Point to be a “good friend of mine – and a very good man.”
Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, was outraged by the decision.
“This has gone too far,” Perkins told Fox News & Commentary. “This is a troubling trend that we are seeing under this administration.”
Under the Obama Administration both Perkins and Franklin Graham were disinvited from speaking at military prayer services.
“When you talk to military leaders on the base, they don’t like this,” Perkins said. “There seems to be pressure coming from within the administration to sweep Christianity off the face of military bases.”
Boykin said he doesn’t believe the Obama administration has stood with the traditional values of the nation and he said the incident at West Point should serve as a wakeup call to Christians.
“The message is that people of faith and conservative Americans are losing our voice to a very well-organized and very well-funded group of very passionate people – those being the atheists and the Muslims,” Boykin said. “They want to change the nature of our culture – and they are succeeding.”
Perkins pointed to the Obama administration’s policies banning Christian prayers at National Cemetery in Houston and a ban on Bibles at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
“It’s time Americans realized that while these orders may not have been signed by the president, this environment has been created by him and his policies,” Perkins said.
Boykin accused the Obama administration of not standing with people of faith – “certainly not people of the Christian faith or Jewish faith.”
“If there has been support in this administration for faith it has been more skewed towards the Islamic faith than anything else,” Boykin said.
Perkins said the biggest and most troubling concern is how Boykin has been treated.
“The man they have disinvited is a true American hero who has spilled his own blood on foreign soil for this country,” Perkins said. “He has done so much to defend the ideals and the freedom that American stands for. Yet his own freedoms – that he fought to protect for others – have been taken from him.”
With reporting from the Associated Press
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"after Muslims and atheists complained" how about after Christians complain about their rights under the constitution. Is there one word in the constitution which addresses Muslim rights specifically or atheists rights specifically? The answer is no!
OK…… ENOUGH IS ENOUGH…..ITS TIME TO DECLARE WAR ON MOOSLUTS AND OTHERS WHO WOULD DENY FREE SPEECH!
I don't think I would last long in this politically correct military. I heard lots of things I didn't like or agree with when I served but learning to deal with it builds Character. Boykin is a former Delta Force Commando and one of the finest soldiers our country has ever produced. West Point should be ashamed.
Ray, I found the military to my the most "blind" organization/company in the world. It didn't matter if you were black, white or purple. It didn't matter if you were 6'4" or 5'6". It didn't matter if you were Catholic, Jewish or Athiest. We were all just a number, and if you worked hard you moved up. If someone with more rank/authority gave you an order, you followed it — like it or not. That's how the military must be. It works and maintains order. Like you, I think I would not fit into a politically correct military. Diversity is a great thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCAffMSWSzY here is your proof, you want the truth, go to http://www.atlasshrugs.com islam is nothing more than a satanic, bloodletting cult perpetuated on the world by an opium smoking, woman beating, child molesting thug. mohamed was a piece of camel shit that learned to walk and talk. fuck you mohamed, take your camel dick sucking, woman beating, child molesting, opium smoking ass and the POS in the white house and drown your ugly fucked up imbcile self in a bucket of pigs blood! Your not wanted anywhere on earth!
what makes me feel good about all this is They will all face their judge one day and they willl all join together again but I do not believe they will be rejoicing. As long as Obama is in power and CAIR is allowed to exist Christians will be persecuted. What should be done is everyone boycott the prayer session but Obama will force them to go and praise his devil GOD because that's the onlyway it would get praise is by force.
Remember all this come November…for this is the America Obama promised. A Fundamentally Changed…America…HIS vision of America.
Nihad Awad & Mikey Weinstein, what we have here are two useless people who can't live with their own hate for America. Have you both got anything better to do with your time other than foaming at the mouth. You both need to have your meds adjusted. IF you don't like the way it is in America, just take a cab to the nearest airport with a one-way ticket. Awad: I'm an Asian American and don't like your imaginary destructive belief in islam and I don't like you telling us how to live in our country. You have not earned that right. You and Mickey can sit next to each other on the plane out of here.
Does it surprise anyone that we continue to see a Backbone deterioration in the Pentagon or White House? They invited him, but then too save face, would not disinvite him. American leadership is not leading!
muslims and atheists are rewarded for shoving their views down this country's throat as Christians are being demonized and persecuted- IN AMERICA…… disgusting!
Another example of the restrictcion on free speech. Please read 'Silenced…" Oxford University Press just out recently!
The truth hurts…lets face it the bible teaches that bad muslims and atheists will make trouble for Christians..that is proof from the bible right there. If they read the bible they would see it has never been wrong and teaches to be good not evil like they are and how their book promotes evil….one day they will bow down to the greatest God. He is the only one that can save them…but they choose to die and just make the world worst off…the facts say it all. I have NO respect and ashamed that West Point stooped that low. Yes, this country was based on the good life of Christians. Don't like the country go back to your own…obviously that says it all also…God help you all. Try Jesus you may like it…he loved his enemies…and helped the non-believers. Why is it so bad to hear the good what Christians have to say. Glad to have you Jesus in my life and I will pray like you say for these bitter people to turn and be good and make the world a better place.
I'm sick and tired of the tail wagging the dog. When do we stop this madness?
Wait a minute. I just re-read the article, and see it was a "prayer" breakfast. Who should speak at it? An atheist? Who complained? Was it cadets at the academy? If not, who cares what they want???
let me get this straight.With Muslims doesn't ISLAM come along with that? and they are at WESTPOINT? someday will we have Heads of the Military being muslim? I am sorta conflicted on this one… Why is Westpoint Changing their Speaker line up , Prayers for them? Why are they bowing down to their demands? And really Who cares if Atheists and Muslims are offended? We are offended by them and their Beliefs..So we are suppose to bend over backwards to appease them? and yet they don't budge for anyone else? (my eyes are rolling).
Your right sherrill knill this country was founded on christianity, i agree if those you don't like it get out go back to where you came from you'll have nothing like what our country has to offer god bless america and her army……………
Is it really bothering the atheists and muslims. Neither are smart enough to get into West Point anyway. All they want to do is stir up trouble because they are miserable with themselves and wants everyone else to be miserable also. Send the muslims, the atheists, the ACLU, and anyone else who is not satisfied with our country, back to live in the muslim countries. Get out of the United States of America.
I live near Ocean City, MD. Last week, we had our annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast. Our speaker was Gen. Boykin. CAIR and People for the American Way really pushed hard to have him disinvited, but the Mayor did not back down. Gen. Boykin's speech was incredible – its was his testimony of salvation and it was beautiful. It's a real shame when the Mayor of Ocean City, MD, has more backbone than the Commandant of West Point.
Well said, Carol.
WHY is cair getting involved with what goes on at OUR military academies? Hey dipstick, now you're infringing on OUR Rights and freedom of speech. Next they'll be dictating what is in the curriculum and saying we can't teach 'the art of war' because it offends them! I say "screw'em" and if they don't like what we do in our OWN Country, LEAVE! Why don't you go on back to your own Country and fight for the rights of your countrymen? Oh, I know, because they'd probably execute you!
So now atheists and muslims dictate who can speak at a PRAYER breakfast? This trend is going to destroy our country. Nothing good has come from this administration. And I am sorely disappointed that this man just stepped down because of some muslim's complaint! For a war hero, you sure don't have a spine when it comes to God! You just gave the power to the godless!
Tolerance: You better respect my beliefs…but keeps your beliefs private! Tolerance is a one way street for any non-Christian.
I have a better idea. Do they change their ways when we are in say saudi Arabia no they don't. I f you don't like the way we do things in this country get the heck out. Hpw about we get rid of all those that oppose america and its military. I'm sure their are other countries that will take these haters of america!
Nice company these muslims and atheists!
What are they doing in this COUNTRY?
Nice company these muslims and atheists!
What are they doing in this COUNTRY?
West Points Commandant has no back bone.
Musilms say their a religion of peace yet in the koran there's more ways to kill nonbelivers than on turning the other cheek.
Musilms say their a religion of peace yet in the koran there's more ways to kill nonbelivers than on turning the other cheek.
This article sets the stage for religious degradation within the class warfare in our country. Islam has clearly demonstrated it has NO desire to assimilate within the American culture, they wish to remain separate in all ways inclusive of their own legal system. Their desire is to dominate NOT assimilate!
Muslims have no right to dictate ANYTHING in OUR country. They should keep their mouths shut and be happy to be here. This is why they are dangerous. They do not assimilate but rather attempt to dictate. At some point, AMERICANS will have to put their petty political differences aside and deal with a growing enemy from with-in!
You hysterical, mixed-up paranoid boneheads are the best evidence ever for the truth of the claim that believing in a magickal Jewish zombie carpenter makes you really stupid. Or is it evidence that being really stupid makes you believe in magickal Jewish zombie carpenters? Jeeez…
Anyway, however it works, it's undeniably self-evident that there is a strong correlation between invincible idiocy and religious fervor.
All I can say is this country has gone to he** in a handbasket!
All I can say is this country has gone to he** in a handbasket!
Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli was unanimously approved by the Senate and signed by President Adams: "As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen,….." Jefferson, one of the greatest minds of his day and drafter of the Declaration of Independence and James Madison, "father" of the Constitution were both at best deists and neither had anything good to say about Christianity. Christians typically assume that any mention of a creator means their set of beliefs which clearly is not the case if you better inform yourself about the thinking of many of our forefathers who wanted to get away from the virtual religious slavery of the Church of England. Boykin should never have been scheduled in the first place because of his well know extreme views. For him to give such a speech at the academy would have given official sanction to such views. In the interests of maintaining the separation of church and state, it was appropriate for him to withdraw. Otherwise, there should be no problem with inviting well known atheists or devout Muslims to address the class as well, which I am sure those who think only Christian views are allowed would be horrified to see. Science has trumped all religions, and if you take off your religious blinders, which few can or will do, you will see that.
Muslims will not go anywhere else to live. They are commanded by the Koran and the life of Muhammed to migrate and spread (i.e. take control) of all the nations of the world. This is one manner of jihad, and sadly they won this battle. Atheists should not think that they have a friend in dedicated Muslims. This should just demonstrate how they will join forces with any group that furthers the end they have in sight. Once that end is achieved (total power) they will then persecute any groups that helped them. Once they have totally dominated all non-muslim sects, then the muslim sects will turn against each other until one rises above the rest. Welcome to the Islamic version of utopia friends. America had better wake up before we are ripped apart.
as long as the towelheads are still using beans and rice to count we are OK. this military guy is weak, let him go speak to little old ladies if he is a coward.
"Military Religious Freedom Foundation " http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/ website top quote from Mikey Weinstein: "there is only one religious faith: American patriotism." They contradict themselves. They reference the first Amendment that states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. They are doing just that prohibiting our free exercise of our Christianity.
And now they are into the military….these people will do anything to destroy this country!
Wake up!
I did not say every thing I mwanted to before , just think we are training people at west point that want to destroy america, our tax dollars are doing this, this is an outrage and should be stoped, but want with a muslim pres.
the other comments were posted by Richard miers. Thank You
the other comments were posted by Richard miers. Thank You
A bunch of atheists teaming up with a Godless religion. This really has become the Planet of the Apes. Just so I understand, despite over 85% of Americans believing in God we are cowering down to a vocal few. Have we really become a bunch of cowards. How about we stand up for our “rights” for a change.
A bunch of atheists teaming up with a Godless religion. This really has become the Planet of the Apes. Just so I understand, despite over 85% of Americans believing in God we are cowering down to a vocal few. Have we really become a bunch of cowards. How about we stand up for our “rights” for a change.
God will prevail no matter what any man says, thinks or does. With this in mind, I have peace. Disbelieve away, my friends… doesn't help your end game much, but you will disagree using logic and not conscience. Sound logic for a mind that only operates in an "everything true is tangible" state of mind. This world is ruled by many intangibles, it's foolish to treat it otherwise.
I have had enough of the so called religious beliefs of the Moosleums( misspelled on purpose!) and Atheists. This is the U.S. and our First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees us the right of free speech. If you don't like what this country and the U.S. Military Academy stand for, then get the HELL OUT! My husband graduated from the Academy and his father was a Two Star General. Both served our country to protect our freedom. What have you done? If you don't like what we stand for….. Get the HELL Out!
all I have to say…. IN GOD WE TRUST.
hello my name is allie and i was wondering if u can please get a hold of your son kale and have him please call me my number is 620 290 9936 and its important that i talk 2 him b4 i live kansas he always told me if i needed him to get a hold of him but when i write him he dont ever respon
thank u i would really love it if u had him call me
How can one be intolerant if they want to kill you? West Point and Notre Dame – from the same wimp soup.
Muslims should have no voice in this country. They are the scrouge of civilization.
Hmmm, disturbing trend for our military, If you are Christian you are not welcome , but control of our military is slowly devolving onto the power of Muslims and Atheists who jointly want Christians to become the the New Second class citizens. Wonder when they are going to start rounding up those who believe in Christ and begin putting them in those FEMA Death Camps?
Hmmm, disturbing trend for our military, If you are Christian you are not welcome , but control of our military is slowly devolving onto the power of Muslims and Atheists who jointly want Christians to become the the New Second class citizens. Wonder when they are going to start rounding up those who believe in Christ and begin putting them in those FEMA Death Camps?
As I have said before, 'Remove Christianity from the Military and any atrocitiy against US citizens by its own military is more than likely in the future!
As I have said before, 'Remove Christianity from the Military and any atrocitiy against US citizens by its own military is more than likely in the future!
This country is going down the perverbial drain,,and, it's being pushed down by,,,,,"HIS MAJESTY" ! , !