Army Approves Atheist Concert

With the Army's approval, there will be an "atheist concert" at Fort Bragg. I have no idea what an atheist concert would be like.

"You know those goosebumps you get when your favorite song hits that sweet spot? I got those," said Sgt. Justin Griffith, main organizer of the event and the military director of American Atheists, in an email. "I was overcome with joy and a sense of vindication." The plan is to hold the event on March 31 at the main parade field at Fort Bragg, where the Christian-themed Rock the Fort concert was held. Famed atheist Richard Dawkins is scheduled to appear, along with musicians, speakers and other entertainment. "This just might be the turning point in our struggle for acceptance," Griffith said. "I mean it. I get letters daily from service members asking for advice on how to `do something like what's going on at Fort Bragg'."

The concert is being staged partially in response to recent Christian rock concerts approved by the Army.

British Soldiers Lip-Dub Glee

Jeebus Wants You To Nuke The World

After an expose by the website Truth Out, the Air Force has suspended a program that uses Christian parables to teach "nuclear ethics."

The course was led by Air Force chaplains and took place during a missile officer's first week in training at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Officers who train to be missileers were required to attend the ethics course, which included a PowerPoint presentation on St. Augustine's "Christian Just War Theory" as well as numerous examples of characters from the New and Old Testament the training materials asserted engaged in warfighting in a "righteous way." St. Augustine's "Qualifications for Just War," according to the way the Air Force characterized it in slides used in the ethics training, are: "to avenge or to avert evil; to protect the innocent and restore moral social order (just cause)" and "to restore moral order; not expand power, not for pride or revenge (just intent)." One of the PowerPoint slides also contained a passage from the Book of Revelation that claims Jesus Christ, as the "mighty warrior," believed some wars to be just.

According to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the Christians-only nuclear training constituted a blatant violation of the Constitution.

Hate Group: Don't Recruit Homos

Formerly with Coral Ridge Ministries, hate honcho Robert Knight is now with the laughably-named American Civil Rights Union, where he is calling on the military to refuse to advertise for gay recruits. Because that would constitute "special treatment." That same special treatment is currently used to recruit Latinos, blacks, and women.

Robert Knight, a senior fellow at the American Civil Rights Union, says no one should be surprised that the homosexual lobby wants special treatment from recruiters. "This is huge. This could have generational impact,” explains Knight. “And it can't stand. It will wreck our military. People of good conscience will have to leave the military and in fact many have already said they're going to." Knight alleges the entire "don't ask, don't tell" repeal process was a sham. "It was brought about with junk science, with a misrepresented survey that was leaked to the press for maximum effect -- and that ought to be investigated. In fact, that's one thing Republicans could do right now is to call for hearings into the misuse of that survey of U.S. personnel and see how the results were slanted," says the family advocate.

Knight's group has been pressuring GOP members of the U.S. House to open an inquiry into the handling of the DADT surveys completed by active duty servicemembers.

RELATED: If you believe Knight's group was deliberately named so as to funnel donations meant for the ACLU, raise your hand.

Mapped: Every Nuclear Explosion

Clip description: "Japanese artist Isao Hashimoto has created a beautiful, undeniably scary time-lapse map of the 2053 nuclear explosions which have taken place between 1945 and 1998, beginning with the Manhattan Project's "Trinity" test near Los Alamos and concluding with Pakistan's nuclear tests in May of 1998."

Obama Certifies DADT Repeal

President Obama today formally certified the repeal of DADT. Reactions below:

Task Force

"Today marks the final critical strike against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,’ a policy whose demise can’t come fast enough. Eighteen years of witch hunts under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ have cost thousands of exemplary service members their careers, once again proving there are very personal and costly consequences of discrimination."

Human Rights Campaign

There are many people who brought this historic day to fruition starting with the President’s tremendous leadership and the steadfast allies in Congress who refused to give in to the lies and fear mongering. Additionally we thank all of the brave men and women who have continued to wear the uniform under a policy that forced them to hide who they are. The end of that shameful time is thankfully near.'

People For The American Way

“By repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Congress and the president have sent the powerful message to all young men and women growing up in the United States: if they are willing and able, their country will welcome their service and sacrifice. This repeal strengthens our military and strengthens the values at the foundation of our country. Gays and lesbians have always served honorably in our armed forces. Today's decision means that they'll finally be able to do so openly and honestly."

Servicemembers United

"Today, gay and lesbian servicemembers can and will breath a huge sigh of relief. While we still must wait 60 days for this change to formally take effect and for the law to officially be off the books, this step is nothing short of historic," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and a former U.S. Army Human Intelligence Collector who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "This is the final nail in the coffin for the discriminatory, outdated, and harmful 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law. All servicemembers, the U.S. military, and the nation will be better off as a result of this long overdue change in policy."

RANDALL: The Crazyass Gunnery Sergeant Of The USMC

WSJ Reports Pentagon Will Tomorrow Certify Repeal Of DADT

Big news:

Top defense officials plan to certify Friday that the Pentagon is ready to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military, officials said, a landmark moment after almost two decades of controversy. The military now has to resolve crucial questions such as what benefits same-sex couples will receive. While the military will be free to provide some services to same-sex spouses, such as family support for spouses of deployed service members, federal law blocks it from providing them the full range of health, housing and education available to heterosexual couples

Pastor John Hagee: We're Not Winning Any Wars Because Of Pagan U.S. Soldiers

SAN DIEGO: Hundreds Of Active Duty Military March Openly In Pride Parade

For first time in American history, yesterday hundreds of openly gay servicemembers marched in a gay pride parade as the military town of San Diego cheered.

The crowd roared as the group waving military flags and holding placards identifying their military branch walked past the thousands. Every branch of service was represented Saturday, including the Coast Guard. Marines and sailors ran out carrying their branch's flags over their heads. One Marine stopped to pose with two towering bikini-clad blondes in stiletto-heeled boots. Onlookers stepped into the parade route to salute them. One man in a rainbow colored shirt waved his feather boa and yelled "Hooah!" the military battle cry. The national Servicemembers Legal Defense Network - representing gay and lesbian active-duty military personnel - informed organizer Sean Sala that they are warning members that it is still a risk to come out as long as "don't ask, don't tell" is on the books. Sala, a former Navy operations specialist, said it's time for the gay and lesbian community to stop hiding in fear.

Photo above and video by Rex Wockner. Many more photos at the link.