The nation took a hard left turn on Friday. After the “snowflakes” descended on Tennessee legislator Mark Green for his conservative views, a man who would have been a glorious Secretary of the Army withdrew his name from consideration on Friday. And his regretful decision, counted as a victory by Muslims and the LGBT crowd, will do far more to hurt each fringe group than help.

The Muslims got agitated because Rep. Green does not feel we need to teach Muslim beliefs and practices in our public schools.

I don’t either. And the LGBTers hate Green’s quite-civil ideas about unisex bathrooms and that he once said some psychiatrists believe transgender is a disease. I respect all people but I got to’ tell you -- I am past being tired of less than 5 percent of the population antagonizing the other 95 percent.

We’re not teaching Muslim and the rest room rant has no more fizzle. We ain’t doing neither – deal with it.

No, what has left the majority of America screaming is clearly crystal. The country didn’t want Dr. Green to study different cultures or religions. We don’t need his views on why some people are gay and the ridiculous restroom argument has about run its course in our “loony-verse.” We wanted him to become the Secretary of the Army and, by every true measure, the 54-year-old achiever would have been a dandy.

Political correctness is suicidal. I have never hated Muslims and I have more gay people who I revere as friends than ever before but there is a solid argument Green has just as much of a right to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and his conservative views as any of his detractors. Somebody said not long ago the wackos are silencing themselves and here’s a great example.

As one reader commented, our nation is allowing a twisted media to represent conservative heterosexual Christians as willful racists. That’s preposterous. Lay the blame squarely where it belongs – the Muslims and the LGBT lefties just denied our nation the skills of a fine and noted military veteran.

Mark Green was born and raised in Ashland City, think Cheatham County -- midway between Nashville and the Kentucky border. Proud of his country, went to West Point, became a Ranger and led men in Iraq. His dad had a near-fatal health problem, spending 45 days in ICU, and almost immediately Capt. Green talked the Army into sending him to medical school.

Fast forward to the night of Dec. 13, 2003. A covert Special Operations team launched “Operation Red Dawn” in the scrubby town of ad-Dawr, Iraq, near Tikrit, and soon pulled the despicable Saddam Hussein out of a grimy “spider hole.” Want to guess the doctor who interrogated Hussein for the next six hours? A guy from Tennessee, Mark Green, the chief medical officer on the Special Ops team. And, yes, the same guy we just allowed Muslim and LGBT loud-mouths to thwart becoming our Secretary of the Army.

Green explained. “Unfortunately due to false and misleading attacks against me, this nomination has become a distraction. Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mis-characterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain."

No, let me tell you what was most tragic. War hero John McCain, age 80, is the Republican chairman of Armed Services Committee. He was among those who threw Green under the bus. McCain has been acting strangely for some time. McCain said Green’s comments about LGBT were “very concerning.” About three dozen Democrats in the House had asked the Senate to block Green, and Daniel Feehan, who was an official at the Pentagon under Obama, said his views could hamper military recruitment.

“The statements he has made on a number of fronts — in particular to the LGBT community, to different minority groups, different religious groups — are a great, great concern toward military readiness,” Feehan told USA Today.

“The way the military works, the way the Pentagon works, your reputation precedes you,” Feehan also said. Please. Tell me you notice more. To wit: I would point to Green’s humble journey from a little town in upper East Tennessee to West Point to his Ranger tab. He was deployed to Iraq three times, where he led men into combat. Look at his devout faith and the standard it holds, his experience as a state legislator, a medical doctor and the head of an emergency-room staffing group that sends ER physicians to 50 hospitals in 11 different states.

Mark Green deserved to be the Secretary of the Army but, in the end, the United States did not deserve Mark Green. I’m glad he’s back home in Tennessee. It is here where we admire and appreciate him the most.

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THE EIGHT BEATITUDES

The eight Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3–12 during the Sermon on the Mount.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:3)

Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)

Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)

Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10)

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. .5:11-12

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