Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Ynot · 11-21-2004, 12:05 PM

Hey all.

I received in the mail a request for a donation to the USO. Having been in the military, I am familiar with the organization, however I've never thought to contribute. This request encourages me to contribute so that the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan can get some needed items and some needed R&R and little perks.

I'm all for helping the troops out, but what I don't know is if the fruits of my donation might be delivered with a religious message. The letter specifically states that the USO is NOT a government organization, however it neither states its secular or religious basis.

Does anybody out there know more about them? I want to help, but I don't want my help delivered as a side note to a mission to proselytize.

Any information any of you can give me will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Y

xxthe_leewitxx · 11-21-2004, 01:52 PM

Paging through their website, it would seem that although they were founded in the 40's as a united effort between organizations like the Salvation Army and the YMCA, they are now an independant non-profit, and I didn't find anything that would indicate they are pushing any religious agenda.

Barefoot Bree · 11-21-2004, 06:05 PM

All I can offer is anecdotal evidence - I was last overseas in Germany 1997-99, and took many day trips with the USO. Never a lick of religion in sight.

I think it's safe.

walt6 · 11-21-2004, 07:57 PM

I remember the days in the Navy and the USO was a warm refuge. I have nothing but good memories for the USO.

Walt

FSX · 11-21-2004, 08:49 PM

I must concur with the rest here; from my experience with the USO I never noticed anything remotely religious.

Plognark · 11-22-2004, 05:32 AM

Ditto. USO people were nothing but noce to me while I was in, and everything appeared entirely secualr, to my limited recollection. No hidden agendas that i'm aware of.

Dark Jedi · 11-22-2004, 10:14 AM

Same here. USO was a refuge from the church-ran organizations that abound near military bases.

A worthy cause. And, they gave us a room in Jacksonville, NC so we could play D&D undisturbed when the lay preacher military folks saw us playing in a public room and began harassing us about devil worshipping.

Ynot · 11-22-2004, 02:23 PM

Thanks to all who have replied to my query. I feel much better about it now, especially after reading Dark Jedi's post.

I sure hope they can put my $1 to good use.....

Y

Biff the unclean · 11-22-2004, 10:46 PM

I remember them well from Nam. Bob Hope came one year with Raquel Welsh the next with Ann Margert and The Gold Diggers. For an hour each year sexy girls would dance and wiggle in front of us...and then we would head back into the jungle

11-21-2004, 12:05 PM	#1
Ynot Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: midwest Posts: 298	Anybody Know USO? Hey all. I received in the mail a request for a donation to the USO. Having been in the military, I am familiar with the organization, however I've never thought to contribute. This request encourages me to contribute so that the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan can get some needed items and some needed R&R and little perks. I'm all for helping the troops out, but what I don't know is if the fruits of my donation might be delivered with a religious message. The letter specifically states that the USO is NOT a government organization, however it neither states its secular or religious basis. Does anybody out there know more about them? I want to help, but I don't want my help delivered as a side note to a mission to proselytize. Any information any of you can give me will be appreciated. Thanks. Y

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11-21-2004, 01:52 PM	#2
xxthe_leewitxx Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Here is where I am. Posts: 1,636	Paging through their website, it would seem that although they were founded in the 40's as a united effort between organizations like the Salvation Army and the YMCA, they are now an independant non-profit, and I didn't find anything that would indicate they are pushing any religious agenda.

11-21-2004, 06:05 PM	#3
Barefoot Bree Contributor Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: East of ginger trees Posts: 12,637	All I can offer is anecdotal evidence - I was last overseas in Germany 1997-99, and took many day trips with the USO. Never a lick of religion in sight. I think it's safe.

11-21-2004, 07:57 PM	#4
walt6 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: San Francisco Bay Posts: 1,144	I remember the days in the Navy and the USO was a warm refuge. I have nothing but good memories for the USO. Walt

11-21-2004, 08:49 PM	#5
FSX Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: WA Posts: 518	I must concur with the rest here; from my experience with the USO I never noticed anything remotely religious.

11-22-2004, 05:32 AM	#6
Plognark Contributor Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 14,952	Ditto. USO people were nothing but noce to me while I was in, and everything appeared entirely secualr, to my limited recollection. No hidden agendas that i'm aware of.

11-22-2004, 10:14 AM	#7
Dark Jedi Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Afghanistan Posts: 4,666	Same here. USO was a refuge from the church-ran organizations that abound near military bases. A worthy cause. And, they gave us a room in Jacksonville, NC so we could play D&D undisturbed when the lay preacher military folks saw us playing in a public room and began harassing us about devil worshipping.

11-22-2004, 02:23 PM	#8
Ynot Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: midwest Posts: 298	Thanks to all who have replied to my query. I feel much better about it now, especially after reading Dark Jedi's post. I sure hope they can put my $1 to good use..... Y

11-22-2004, 10:46 PM	#9
Biff the unclean Banned Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: an inaccessible island fortress Posts: 10,638	I remember them well from Nam. Bob Hope came one year with Raquel Welsh the next with Ann Margert and The Gold Diggers. For an hour each year sexy girls would dance and wiggle in front of us...and then we would head back into the jungle

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