Arleen Ocascio, director of the VA cemetery in Houston, has decided to take the Marxist Revolution a step further and has decreed that there will be no references to God or Jesus and that all ceremonies must be written and submitted to her for pre-approval. Obviously, this low level bureaucrat has decided Obama’s Revolution is stalled and she must pick up the standard and impose her will on the veterans who come to the cemetery to bury their loved ones.
According to her, there will be no mention of a Christian or Jewish God at future ceremonies, she has spoken and her feelings reflect the Democrats and their antagonism against God. There seems to be no antagonism against Allah, at least he has not been mentioned in Ms Ocascio’s demands that religion or God not be mentioned in the ceremonies taking place in her cemetery.
Marilyn Koepp, Secretary of the National Memorial Ladies, a volunteer group that attends every funeral at this particular cemetery, was told by Arleen Ocascio that they could not mention God while on the cemetery grounds.
It’s true that Obama’a Democrats wants to erase all traces of God from public buildings and our schools, but why must they insist that the veterans who pay the ultimate sacrifice or old heroes from the wars of yesteryear deny the presence of God before being interred with their brothers. Why is this tyrant being allowed to impose the Socialist creed against religion on the grieving families of our patriots. Is Obama’s hatred of our military, going to be allowed to force undue suffering on our Goldstar families when they are at their most vulnerable time.
There is a movement calling for the firing of Arleen Ocascio, not a reassignment, a termination. It is imperative that we demand her termination; otherwise, similar encroachments by Obama’s Socialism will continue to erode away our freedoms and the Constitution. If we allow every Marxist ideologue with a bit of power to usurp our freedoms at their whim, we will lose our Liberty.
This woman must be terminated, not transferred to sow other cushy job, but terminated without benefits. We can no longer stand around and watch these petty tyrants throw their weight around and cower in fear. They are petty Marxists who think they have power over the Constitution because of Obama’s disregard for the Constitution.
We have been pushed, it is time to show these pathetic little Marxists how the brotherhood of patriots regards their disregard and disdain of our basic rights and freedoms.
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The prayer that started it all.
I suppose it was the last line that was seen as an issue for a public Memorial Day gathering, disclaimer clause not withstanding.
The local republican response.
Why are we allowing this one woman to dictate to us what we can and cannot do this is pathetic. This is a free country and I will never ever let someone say if I can speak the word of God or say a prayer when I feel the need…
Ha , must submit prayers….No one in ANY venue or in any place can control my conversation with My Maker. ….censure my prayer…..well madam…I really wasn’t talking to you now was I …. ; )
Skook, FYI….a judge has issued an injunction:
Rainey-v-VA-6-11
link is here
http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/59312329?access_key=key-1vc0zi5uzjl9rt6uaquz
Who in the Blue Hell is this crazy b*tch?? This is an asinine act by a socialist Obama drone.
The First Amendment clearly states [emphasis mine]:
What she is doing is unconsitutional and I am sure that it won’t stand.
Oh, it gets worse: Arleen Ocasio ordered that any invocation, prayer, tribute, et al, must be submitted to her, in writing, prior to the funeral so that she (the Queen on High) can make sure that all is segular. Also, she ordered the chapel built on the cemetary property to be closed to the public (as well as grieving families) and it is now used for storage and had been used for her to hold meetings. To add to her radicalism, Ms. Ocasio has also ordered that no woman is allowed to wear open-toed shoes to the cemetary. Top that off with Ocasio informing a Houston funeral director who specializes in military funerals that he is allowed to give family donations to the minister/priest/imam who officiates the burial ceremony, but he cannot transfer any check/cash donations to the VFW who provide the Color Guard and presents the shell casings from the salute to the family.
Congressmen Ted Poe and Michael McCaul (both from Texas) have called for Arleen Ocasio’s resignation or termination. They don’t care which, they just want her gone.
These are private ceremonies, not government ceremonies. These soldiers, who are buried at the second largest veterans cemetary in the nation have given more to their country than their country can ever repay to them, or their families. Ms. Ocasio has taken it upon herself to violate the First Amendment rights of the family to have the type of burial ceremonies they want for their deceased veterans. Just one more action on the part of the man who occupies the Oval Office that said if the political winds would ever change, he would always back the Muslims. But not Christians, and damn sure not the Hispanic parent of the murdered 16 year old San Antonio girl. No, instead, now the Obama DoJ is trying to prevent the carrying out of the death sentence of the illegal immigrant that murdered that beautiful girl.
Hooray for the American Legion and our Legal System; however, the attitude is still there, the assumption that our rights and freedoms can be arbitrarily deleted by self-serving petty bureaucrats without fear of retribution. The fact that it took place in one of the most hallowed places of America and against our Gold Star families in their moment of grief is despicable and inexcusable.
They’re probably opening the door for a prayer on some upcoming public occasion that ends like this:
“There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”
Exhibit C, at the very bottom of this document, is a facsimile of Arleen Ocascio’s e mail to Pastor Reiney. It seems clear enough what her concerns were. References to God weren’t the problem.
@Curt:
After that there has also been an amended complaint filed June 28, 2011, adding additional allegations, Liberty Institute alleged that the VA and Ocasio have engaged in religious viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Apparently Arleen Ocascio is on vacation and her phone message system is filled.
All you get when you call her number is a busy signal.
A nice video of what is going on despite her ”orders,” is here.
Lovely.
@Nan G: Thanks for posting that Nan. It was awesome to see all those veterans and to hear them praying out loud, is an in your face to Ocasio.
I am going to guess that stuff like this is going to bring out the religious sideliners who have let their religion be taken over by the liberals just like Obama brought out us political sideliners who have let the politicians take away our freedoms. This is what happens when a free society gets complacent with their freedoms and doesn’t keep a vigilant watch over them.
I’m not a religious person, but I don’t have a problem with having God mentioned in different things.
Reminds me a bit of the movies Airplane Two. If one remembers, there was a scene in which a Soviet style newscaster was reporting the wonderful news of the American shuttle about to crash. Of course, he had a gun pointed to his back.
Why would one be surprised at this? It has been made very clear by the media and our benelovent dictator that we will think as he does. Actually, it’s surprising they were able to find a judge that would issue an injunction!
Why aren’t God-loving, decent Americans taking to the streets in protest over this crap?
Arleen Ocascio (or whatever other way you spell her name) is under the authority of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (I think).
The spokesperson for that group, VA Press Secretary Josh Taylor, issued the following statement:
Taylor also directed FOX 26 to a little known policy dated 2007. It says Honor Guards “shall not provide texts of any such recitations to the deceased’s survivors for consideration.”
I wonder if Arleen is long for her job?
@Ivan: #13
Because they are taking to the cemetery.
@anticsrocks: Perhaps the crazy b*tch should read this country’s constitution.
How much more will we take?
@Warren: She would in all likelihood view it as “living and breathing” in order to prop up her actions.
The funny thing about the liberals’ view of the Constitution being living and breathing is that it, in essence kills the Constitution.
THEY BETTER TAKE NOTE OF THAT DEMAND, FOR THEIR OWN GOOD,
IS THIS AMERICA DESPERATE ENOUGH TO HAVE TURNED THIS NATION ON MUSLIM PROPAGANDE?
AND LEAVE THE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS BEHIND TO BE HIDDEN AND FORBIDDEN TO PUBLICLY PRAY GOD AND HIS BELOVED SON JESUS,
IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE MUSLIMS’S FAITH AND POLITICAL AGENDA,
ORDER BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
it’s obvious that the person OCASCIO, HAS BEEN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THAT JUST LIKE MANY TEACHERS LEAVING OUT GOD AND JESUS,
ALONG WITH THE CONSTITUTION FROM THE CHILDREN TO LEARN.
SO THE CHILDREN BECOME BETTER AMERICANS IN THEIR FUTURE
@anticsrocks: Yeah, anticsrocks, liberals view the US Constitution as they want to, not as it was written by men far wiser than they are. Take Obama (please) for example: he views it as “too limiting.”
@Warren: #19
Obama and his royal court consider the Constitution an OBSTICLE that is in the way of them setting up their kingdom.
People apparently only see what they want to see–or can’t resist the temptation to use anything they can to fire up divisional partisan animosity.
Arleen Ocascio was attempting to maintain a constitutional principle at an official function for the general public in a federal cemetery. Such occasions are for and are attended by people of all faiths. Consequently, prayers to God are expected to be non-sectarian and inclusive of people of all faiths. You’re not supposed to put a this one’s for Jesus or this one’s for Muhammad spin on the benediction. To do so at a public Memorial Day service in a federal cemetery would not only be unmindful of the feelings of any people of differing faith in the audience, but contrary to the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution.
At any private gathering or occasion in the cemetery, people are perfectly free to express any sectarian sentiments they wish.
As mentioned in post #8, people taking issue with Ocascio’s policy may be opening the door for more than they think.
@Greg:
You’re full of crap Greg. Again.
The prayer lifted by that clergyman was his prayer. He was clear on that. Go read it. He has the right to pray in any fashion he wishes in any location he wishes.
The gov’t cannot intervene or interfere in the free speech or free expression of that clergyman or any other US citizen in relation to spoken prayer.
Refer to the 1st Amendment for clarification.
@Aye, #22:
Fine. Just don’t be shocked some Memorial Day if an Imam offers up a prayer to Allah in the name of Muhammad at a public ceremony.
@Aye:
Honestly, Greg typifies the chasm that separates the right from the left. The left and right will read the exact same document and come to completely opposite conclusions as to the meaning of the said document.
The chasm I mention is way to far to bridge, now. Prior to the left’s taking over of the Democratic Party in 1972, the Dems and Republicans used to agree on numerous issues. Now they agree on NOTHING.
This does not end nicely.
@Greg:
And it would be his right to do so, duh!
@Greg:
I wouldn’t have a problem with that.
Seems to me that you support the removal of liberty and freedom for Christian believers in an effort to prevent Muslim believers et al from being allowed to enjoy their liberty and freedom.
If most conservative Christians believe that, I guess there will be no problem at all. For some reason I was under the impression that some of them might be a little touchy about such things.
GREG, WHERE is the clause for the MOSQUE THEY BUILDING RIGHT BESIDE THE
CEMETERY OF THE 3000 DEATH IN 9/11 BY TERRORIST MUSLIMS.
OH , YOU WOULD SAY, IT DID NOT APPLY
IT’S NOT FOR THE AMERICANS TO ASSIMILATE TO IMMIGRANTS.
THE PART IS ON THE IMMIGRANTS TO ASSIMILATE TO THE FREEDOM
THIS COUNTRY ALLOW THEM TO HAVE,
THE PEOPLE DONT HAVE TO TIP TOE IN ORDER TO NOT HURT THEIR FEELING,
BUT THEY HAVE TO TIP TOE, TO NOT HURT THE AMERICANS’S FEELING,
BECAUSE THEY BETTER ALL KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS CEMETERY COUNTAIN THE
REMAINS OF THE BRAVEST OF THIS NATION WHOM THEY OWE
THE MOST RESPECT TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILYS WHO WANT TO PRAY THERE,
THEY EARNED THE RIGHT ,MORE THAN ANYONE, FOR THEY DIED FOR ANYONE TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY, TO SHARE THE FREEDOM, THEY NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO FINISH THEIR LIFE,IN THEIR BELOVED AMERICA.
@Greg:
If some Muslim mandies fighting for our nation, let him have a 1000 Imans at his funeral. Most Christians would respect that.
I guess, again, liberals are shown to be the truely intolerant ones.
@Greg: #21
Keep in mind that I don’t go to church. You insinuated that the Constitution says there will be a separation of church and State. It doesn’t say that. It says the Federal government can’t ESTABLISH a religion. In other words, it can’t CREATE a religion and force the people to worship in that religion. It also can’t pick an exhisting religion and say that it will be the accepted religion. To me this means that the Federal government should stay out of the religion business completely, except for legal issues.
Until a few years ago the only places marriage and homosexuality were mentioned is in religions. There were no laws governing either one. Most religions say it is a sin to be BORN gay. If you listen to the gays, they all say they didnt’t CHOOSE to be gay. If being gay is a choice, then being straight has to be a choice too. How can one be by choice and the other natural? How many people do you know who CHOSE to be straight?
Since I ain’t a church goer, it wouldn’t bother me if all religions vanished, but we live in a free society that allows religions and many other things, so I don’t have a problem with the religions that teach to love and forgive. Why do the ones that teach to hate get a tax exemption? Isn’t giving religions tax exemption one form of establishing a religion?
I am taking a long-winded way of saying if anyone could complain about allowing prayer or the mention of God on Federal property, it would be me, but I don’t see a problem with it at all. Follow history and you will see that the religious people are usually more patriotic than nonbelievers. I remember the saying, “There are no athiests in a foxhole.” I have never been in a foxhole, so I can’t confirm that.
For those who say there should be a separation of church and State, that means that the church would regulate itself, not pay any taxes on any income, (including salaries) and they would be like the Vatican, which is a self governing intity that Italy has no control over. Either we have a FULL separation of chruch and State, or we allow them to merge in areas that don’t infringe on either one’s rights. Allowing religious meetings in government buildings is something that should be allowed if both sides agree on the where, when, and other issues.
@Greg:
greg, Most Christians know that Jews accept the entire Torah (AKA the Old Testament or Hewrew Scriptures).
Christians also accept that plus the New Testament also called the Greek Scriptures.
Most Christians also understand that Mohammad accepted both of those sets of Scripture.
Many of the verses in Mohammad’s Koran are bastardizations of verses from Greek and Hebrew Scriptures.
So, many Christians (and also many Jews) would have no problem with an imam (Iman is Davis Bowie’s wife) presiding over a Memorial service where some of the dead are Muslims.
SMORGASBORD, I say that GOD is not a religion, he is beyong a religion,
he is universal as the CREATOR OF ALL THAT EXIST, FROM THE MINUTE SPECK, TO THE GRAND
OUTTER SPACE so anyone who try to silence the word of GOD, is in the same way silence it’s soul
in the deepest part of their humanity.
bye
@ilovebeeswarzone: #33
I have my believes and I let others have theirs.
SMORGASBORD, YES FOR SURE,
I was not trying to push it on you either,
sorry if it look that way.
bye
@ilovebeeswarzone: #35
I just meant it as a general comment not intended for any certain person.
SMORGASBORD, YES I understand
bye
@Greg: You said:
Your point being, what? Which Constitutional principle was she attempting to uphold?
What??
If I were attending the service and a Rabbi gave the invocation, why on earth would I be offended if he did so? I am not Jewish, but I am also not so immature as to be offended if someone of another faith says a prayer.
As to the Establishment Clause:
So you see Greggie, this low level, power hungry bureaucrat is clearly overstepping the bounds of her authority.
I wondered how long it would take you to figure out some hair-brained angle to try and defend this socialist wacko.
That misses the point entirely. (You’ve also missed the point of “hair”-brained, which is actually a reference to the somewhat marginal analytical capabilities of rabbits.)
@Greggie: When you start picking apart grammatical mistakes that you think I have made, then I know that you understand how wrong you were in your original premise. LOL!!!
You said:
From Dictionary.com:
Rash.
Foolish.
Badly thought out.
All those apply to your premise that someone saying a prayer violates the establishment clause.
As to missing the point, well YOU are the one that said others might be offended. I merely pointed out that folks with some maturity wouldn’t get all upset if someone else of another faith says a prayer. So, YES I did get the point; and as usual pointed out how wrong you were.
Okay enough said. I am ending this, besides I am leaving on a short three day vacation with the family. So I will see you all again Sunday night or Monday.
@anticsrocks:
Heh!
That’s the way I’d describe 98.795% of the Gregster’s arguments here at FA.
anticsrocks, hope you get the nice wheather to go with it,
and enjoy.
bye
You should also consider dropping the diminutive name forms as a childish means of insult, unless you actually are only 10 years old. You can surely find a more adult way of expressing your rudeness.
AYE, HE IS RUNNING OUT OF WORDS TO COVER HIS SIDE,
now he will come out with big words like; HIEARCHICAL CONSERVATIVES,
AND SOCIALISTICLICAL LIBERALS.
THIS HERGOCENTRISTICALY SUPRAELISTICLY HEXAGERASTICLY DONE
I miss the CHIHUAHUA ALSO
@Greg: Greggie, Gregster, whatever name is used, you just told me all I needed to know.
Game, Set, Match!
anticsrocks he doesn’t like diminutive words, only the big words,
@ilovebeeswarzone: Thanks Beezy!!
The woman who demanded all prayers submited to her is in violations of Religous expression in public or private, as censorship of public display of any Religon is unlawful. If she was so worried about other Religons being shafted in representation than she should have asked if the Pastor would invite representatives of the communities other faiths… oh wait, this County is mostly Catholic and Christrian… Still, she could have been less of a jackwagon and not insult the Pastor but simply called around to see if any Jewish members or any other religon would like to do honors at the Cementry. But no we get one angsty director.
And frankly I want the words, “God,” “All Father”, “Holy Ghost” and, “Lord of Heaven” spoken at my Funeral under Catholic riturals. I sure as hell (if I could express anything at this point…), let alone my family, be livid if any other Religon is used at my burial as I do not worship within those bounds of ritural practice. I expect Muslims and Jewish to be as deeply offended by having Catholic or Christian rituals or Jevoah Witnesses rituals performed on their family burials.
this is unforgiveble, an action so low,
where did it come so bad in AMERICA THE LAND OF GOD BEING DENIED THEIR RIGHT,
IT’S AS BAD AS IT CAN GET AND WHAT’S NEXT
And soon theyll replace all those crosses with the red star and hammer & psycle to sattifi the marzist scumballs