Retired Senior Master Sergeant Oscar Rodriguez was dragged out of an air force ceremony for referencing God.
Rodriguez retired in 2013 after serving for 33 years.
When performing the ceremony, Rodriguez chose to use the traditional language that includes, “Let us pray that God will reflect with admiration the willingness of one nation in her attempts to rid the world of tyranny, oppression, and misery. It is this one nation under God that we call, with honor, the United States of America.”
In 2005 the Pentagon changed these words, taking out divine references. Many follow the current language excluding God, but a number still use the traditional words and prefer the ceremony that soldiers have used for decades before 2005.
After Rodriguez made it clear he was going to perform the traditional religious ceremony four army officers who have no lawful authority to detain a private citizen like Rodriguez forcibly removed him from the ceremony.
Rodriguez continued to speak over the officers pushing him out of the room.
This is another example of how the culture of political correctness hurts American citizens.
First Liberty Institute, the largest law firm in the United States exclusively dedicated to protecting religious liberty, is representing Rodriguez and are demanding they issue a formal written apology to Rodriguez, an admission that Air Force personnel violated his civil rights, a written promise that Rodriguez is welcome to return to the base and engage in legally protected speech, and “Punitive action against those determined to be responsible for violating Mr. Rodriguez’s constitutional rights.”
The group argues Rodriguez has the right to freedom of religious expression, even on a military base.
The public should be outraged at the abuse of power and infringement on individual rights.
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