[rearguard]

Thanks for posting this as the converstaion between "Paul" and Corinne was both brilliant and truely entertaining to read, but it was also scary.<br /> <br /> For example, after the failed bribery attempt (priviledged platform), notice how "Paul" tries to entice a meeting by inviting himself to be photographed and put up on display!<br /> <br /> <i>By the way, I love muffins. I hope that perhaps one day we can have that chat. The thought crossed my mind that I may be taking the risk of getting a pie in the face and having my picture taken and posted on your site."</i><br /> <br /> Had Corinne taken the bait, I wonder what "Paul" would have done that was so important at such a meeting? Care to guess who would have been photographed, and followed, ...<br />

[FootPrints]

You're welcome. That's why I read her site. I love the way she writes. You are right though, it's not all just fun and games. When we decide to speak out, we aren't ignored.

[rearguard]

No, there's no fun and games involved, and that's one reason why Lt. Paul Finnemore tried his best to become simply "Paul", just like us regular folks. <br /> <br /> I took a look at the "Military Christian Fellowship" that Lt. Paul Finnemore mentions, and I got an idea of the purpose this organization serves for those who are indoctrinated into the military.<br /> <br /> From thier website, here's an article:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.mcf-canada.ca/site/news/AskingQuestion.html">Asking the Right Question</a><br /> <br /> Note these passages:<br /> <br /> <i>A young man called me from northern Iraq in much anguish over the perceived loss of his salvation. He had been engaged in a firefight and had inflicted casualties and had for the first time taken a human life.</i><br /> :<br /> <i>For this young man the angst was real and the weight upon his heart was great! He thought he had lost his salvation because of his combat experience.</i><br /> :<br /> <i>This young man had not sinned in the taking of life in combat. However, he was surely wounded by his experience.</i><br /> :<br /> <i>The reason God gave King David for denying him the privilege of building the temple was that he had blood on his hands. This is the unseen red badge of courage that the warrior carries with him always (wounded deeply with no visible wound).</i> <br /> :<br /> <i>Just as we are "without strength" when Christ died for us (Romans 5:6 KJV), we are often found "without strength" and bleeding from the wounds of life.</i><br /> :<br /> <i>This young warrior just needed a hug and a reminder that God's love is unfailing!</i><br /> :<br /> <i>"All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own" (Isaiah 53:6 NLT).</i><br /> <br /> The message as I read it, is that the killing of another person is perfectly fine, so long as it's done while in "combat". There is no need to worry over the person who you have killed, people stray from the "path" all the time, and God is very forgiving and will likely take him back into the flock in the afterlife. All you need his a good "hug" and a hefty dose of militarized religious propaganda to get over it.<br /> <br /> This is pretty sick stuff if you ask me.<br />