[Vision2020] Spec Jeremy Hall -- A Recap and a Request

[Chasuk]

On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 11:33 PM, Donovan Arnold
<donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Is it possible that a person could be BOTH a free thinker and a
> fundamentalist? Or one must be one or the other?

A "free thinker" could, arguably, also be a fundamentalist Christian,
but not a "freethinker."   The word "freethinker" has a specific
historical and philosophical definition.  It is not literally
synonymous with atheist, but nearly so.  The meeting that Hall was
attempting to shepherd was under the auspices of the Military
Association of Atheists and Freethinkers.  An inaugural meeting, as I
understand it.

> How did Welborn break up the meeting? Did he use rank, or was he just
> disruptive? How was he disruptive, what was his demeanor? How did he
> approach the other three people in the room? What were his words?

I think the phrase "verbally berating the attendees" indicates his
demeanor.  He made the three enlisted stand at attention as he dressed
them down.  I have no idea what his alleged words might have been.

> How did he threaten Hall? Did he say he would demote him, withdraw his pay,
> give him a dishonorable discharge? Did he physically threaten him?

He threatened Hall's future promotion prospects.

> What did the fliers that Hall put up say? Could they be perceived as
> inflammatory, insulting, or derogatory to those that believe in any other
> faith? Did he distribute the fliers according to the proper regulation?

They indicated the time and location of the meeting.  Nothing less,
nothing more.  Yes, the fliers were distributed according to the
proper regulation.

> What did Wellborn say they were going to do to disrupt or plot against
> Christians? Were they in fact planning to do something to upset, disrupt,
> disturb, or offend Christians or other members of the military for their
> beliefs?

This isn't indicated in any of the public reports, so I don't know.

> What specific regulations, rules, and laws did Welborn break, if any? Was
> Welborn acting as a ranking officer, or as another solider concerned and
> expressing his opinion at an open public meeting?

Welborn interrupted a lawfully convened meeting, at the very least.
There is no "ranking officer" concept at open public meetings.
Welborn was abusing his rank unless he was, in fact, preventing
plotting that would have been detrimental to esprits de corps, etc.
(insert list of reasonably conjectured reasons here).

I have known officers (and enlisted) like Welborn.  I have personally
been verbally abused, and given punitive duties, for declining to
participate in National Day of Prayer activities.  I have no problem
believing Hall's story exactly as reported.