Quote:So was this a situation of the separation of church and state?


Can someone please explain?

 

No, it's a case of military "leaders" trying to dictate what can and can't be done at a retirement ceremony.

 

Quote:I'm still waiting for evidence that this had anything to do with him mentioning 'god'.  I mean his speech had the word god in it, but that doesn't mean that was the reason he was escorted out.  It seems some people just like to jump to conclusions.  Maybe he was kicked out for other reasons?  Maybe the commanding officer just didn't like him.  I don't see anything that suggests this is about his use of the word 'god'.  

 

Well my response to RJ might shed a bit of light on it.  To you and TAM, I'll share this link.  The results come up with a story from Stars and Stripes (the military newspaper) as well as other news outlets reporting on the story.

 

Quote:I doubt the text in bold is true, but for the sake of argument I'll accept it. While this is certainly a free speech issue, it appears there is a standard ceremony text for these events, authorized by the Air Force. If this is the case, and the basis of the base commander's attempt to prevent Rodriguez from attending and presenting his speech, then the confrontation was avoidable and intentional. Looking at the video, he was quietly asked to leave, refused and was subsequently escorted by several uniformed service men. To me, it looks like everyone expected it to happen.

 

You are very much wrong, though I do agree with you that it is a free speech issue.

 

Regarding your first point in bold, a retiring member has the privilage to invite guests to participate in every part of the ceremony whether it's giving a speech, being a member of the Color Guard to even giving an invocation.

 

Regarding the second part in bold, there is no "standard" text regarding the folding of the flag in the Air Force or any branch of service.  There are traditional speeches and texts that are usually read or spoken, but there is no requirement for any of them.

 

Regarding the final part in bold, it wasn't the base commander that attempted to bar the retired Senior Master Sergeant, it was his unit commander.  There is a difference.

 

From the Stars and Stripes article covering the story.

Quote: 

The Air Force said Tuesday it was still preparing a response to allegations regarding the incident. But a spokeswoman said that while there is a non-religious flag-folding script for official military ceremonies, Air Force personnel are entitled to use a religious script for a retirement ceremony.

<p style="font-weight:lighter;font-size:16px;font-family:Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">“Since retirement ceremonies are personal in nature, the script preference for a flag-folding ceremony is at the discretion of the individual being honored and represents the member’s views, not those of the Air Force,” spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said. “The Air Force places the highest value on the rights of its personnel in matters of religion and facilitates the free exercise of religion by its members.”

<p style="font-weight:lighter;font-size:16px;font-family:Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">In its letter to Air Force officials, First Liberty senior counsel Michael Berry called on the Air Force to apologize, acknowledge it was wrong and punish the non-commissioned officers who escorted Rodriguez from the room.

<p style="font-weight:lighter;font-size:16px;font-family:Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">Berry argued that Rodriquez, a 30-year veteran, was exercising his First Amendment right in giving the speech even on a military base and his removal violated his constitutional and legal rights. It is unclear whether the military officers were within their rights to remove someone from the hall for a religious speech.

 
<p style="font-weight:lighter;font-size:16px;font-family:Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">Roberson said he had invited Rodriguez to give the speech during the flag-folding portion of the April 3 ceremony, after seeing it performed at another retirement ceremony.

---