Last week we celebrated more than 230 years of protection from the United States Army. These brave men and women have been dying for our freedom to be stupid for a long time.

I am enraged by this administration’s recent attack on the military, and even more so by the administration’s inability to allow these men and women to live out their belief systems. If there is a war on women that has been started by the Republicans, then the war on God has been started by, fueled by and actively pursued by the Democrats.

Now, Democrats, before you get all uppity on me, remember, some of you have no problem blaming all Republicans for the bad decisions a Republican president and his staff made, so you need to swallow and own your own play book. The Democrats own the White House and, therefore, all of the tomfoolery coming out of it. This president, who says he is for freedom of religion, seems never to have stopped living in “backward day.”

This administration has strongly objected to an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would simply allow freedom of religious speech for soldiers. The amendment was authored by Rep. John Fleming, R-LA. It would have “required the Armed Forces to accommodate ‘actions and speech’ reflecting the conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the member.”

This is a blatant attack on Christianity. How so, you ask? Accommodations are still made for the prayer rituals of Muslims. Five times a day. Special rooms, approved absences in the middle of shifts, and so on.

The new rules being put in place by the administration would require soldiers to keep Bibles out of plain view. If soldiers are sitting on their bunks discussing the Bible, God or Jesus, and a non-believing soldier walks in and is offended, they have to stop. Chaplains performing services can’t use the name of Jesus even if the family asks.

My favorite saying of late is that the world must be spinning in the opposite direction.

Comrade Putin has declared in mother Russia that no hate speech toward churches or religions will be tolerated. Unlike the U.S., violations in Russia are publishable by imprisonment.

Here in the U.S. of A., intolerance toward religion is encouraged, especially against those who are Christ-centered or hold an “unfavorable” viewpoint toward gay marriage, illegal immigration, and waiting to have sex before marriage. We are so screwed as a society.

Regarding the military: The current administration needs to get its head out of the very dark, odious place it has had it in for many years and get back to reality. Anyone willing to fight for my freedom, take a bullet for me or my family – in simple words for the overeducated, anyone willing to die fighting for me – should be able to have and speak of any God, scripture and belief system they want. If a soldier wants to “Hail Satan” then so be it.

There have been virtually no complaints by non-believing enlisted soldiers. The complaints come primarily from attorneys and organizations. Cowards. These people aren’t on the front lines; they’re not fighting, and they typically have no relationship with our soldiers or their families. They’re cowards.

President Obama, get a grip on reality. I know you have no use for our military except as doormen and umbrella holders, but they have more courage, integrity and love for our country and its people in their baby finger than you have had your whole life.

Do you doubt this is really happening? Here’s a quick snapshot of other reports about Christian service members and chaplains being punished for their faith:

* The Air Force censored a video created by a chaplain because it included the word “God.” The Air Force feared the word might offend Muslims and atheists.

* A service member received a “severe and possibly career-ending reprimand” for expressing his faith’s position on homosexuality in a personal religious blog.

* A senior military official at Fort Campbell sent out a lengthy e-mail officially instructing officers to recognize “the religious right in America” as a “domestic hate group” akin to the KKK and neo-Nazis because of its opposition to homosexual behavior.

* A chaplain was relieved of his command over a military chapel because, consistent with DOMA’s definition of marriage, he could not allow same-sex weddings to take place in the chapel.

For the record, I blame my “religious” brothers for the loss of these freedoms. We allowed this to happen. We never wanted to make waves because we were afraid we might offend someone. These are the consequences of inaction. Slowly but surely, we are losing our freedom to speak openly about our religious beliefs.

I, for one, will not go down easily.

Joe Messina is host of The Real Side (TheRealSide.com), a nationally syndicated talk show that runs on AM-1220 KHTS radio and SCVTV [here]. He is also an elected member of the Hart School Board. His commentary normally publishes Mondays.