Our first official Pastafarian meeting on Camp Victory, Baghdad Iraq went off without a hitch. Eight people, including myself, showed up for the first meeting, though I received several more emails of support. I’ll have to try harder to actually get them all to come out next week. On Friday 25 July, we gathered at the Pizza Hut stand on base and discussed religion and life over pizza and (non-alcoholic) beer. I had the Pastafarian announcement go out with the usual base-wide spam, so several thousand service-members, DoD contractors, etc now know about the FSM, may sauce be upon him. I then got several WTF emails, and had to explain what the FSM and Pastafarianism was to the Chaplain, JAG, ad nauseum, but it all turned out OK in the end. Attached is a photo of everyone attending, minus me (the cameraman).
–Josh
Josh’s contact info: jkaminoff@yahoo.com
well done josh – keep the faith and stay safe.
I am so glad that the FSM, peace be upon her (pasta, in Italian, is feminine), is with you in Iraq. It would be better if there were actual alcoholic beverages of course, so I’ll wish you all a good lager, stout or Pinot Grigio. Ramen.
Great to see you all, and keep spreading the FSM love! The military needs more like you! (I, too, would love to know exactly what you said to the chaplain…)
@ Foilwoman
If Italian is the same as French, then yes, ‘Pasta’ is feminine, but ‘Spaghetti’ is masculine.
Hmmmm. I wonder….
Two remarks
1. This ROCKS!!! Can you post how you managed to get this on your All-Victory, or whatever, postings? I work for the mayor cell and don’t see this getting past our sacrificial lambs…
2. I’m seeing a lot of missing reflector belts. Don’t you realize that this is the shiny representation of the noodly appendages in lasagna form? Shame.
This makes me a little more comfortable about my son, who just joined the Army, being shipped to the gulf in the future. He will have friends and supporters. Ramen you wonderfull guys. keep safe and thank you for your service to our country.
Another Pastafarian in Iraq here…I seem to be the only one out west here.
Good going guys! Perhaps we should get it recognized by the Chaplaincy so we can have it put on our tags?
For getting it sent out base-wide, I sent it to the usual Victory Base Public Announcements email. I had to explain that no, it was not an anti-Xian group and yes, it was for real. After it was sent out, I got a snarky email from someone at the Chaplain’s office saying he had to go to the palace (presumably to GEN Petreaus, but I don’t know) and justify approving the email, and that he hoped I saw the irony of a Christian paying the price to defend a group that derides his beliefs. I sent back a very polite email explaining how he was mistaken and never heard back.
To get it recognized by the military, Bobby would have to get a tax ID# from the government. While that would pretty much be the coolest thing ever, I doubt it will happen. I had the option of becoming a faith-based leader, but then the Chaplain would have to be present at our meetings. I told them no thanks.
Due to work and travel, I haven’t done it in a while, but I’m organizing it again tonight. I had several people bug me when I was going to do it again, so I didn’t have much of a choice. Thanks for all the kind comments, everyone.