A Shameful, Sad, and Empty Organization

Published On: May 1, 2010|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|2 Comments|

Accessibility Notice

This post was created on the previous version of the MRFF website, and may not be fully accessible to users of assistive technology. If you need help accessing this content, please reach out via email.
To All at MRFF,
I was sad and disappointed to read the article regarding your attempts to change the medical unit’s crest. I looked at your website and was disappointed even further. How sad for all of you that your purpose in life is to shut out God.
There may come a time in your lives when you realize the errors of your ways and, at that point, you may be too old or may have gone too far to atone for what you’ve done. I feel sorry for all of you. You surround yourselves with others who are equally misguided in life, so you lose sight of how pathetic your existence really is.
I have also noticed a lack of references to Islam. What are your thoughts on those of Islamic faith growing beards and other religious-based uniform changes? Not ready to tackle that yet, are you? I guess it’s only Christianity you are persecuting. That makes your organization that much more sad and pathetic.
There is a special place in Hell for all of you associating yourselves with this organization. Finally, I deeply resent your using the military in the name of your organization–you do not represent me, my country, or the military. Maybe I’ll petition to have the word “military” removed from your title.
Regards,
(name withheld)
US Army
In God I Trust

(name and rank withheld)
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation represents the interests of Christians, Jews, atheists, and other religious minorities who are subjected to religious coercion in the military, both institutionally and in isolated fundamentalist commands. Wouldn’t you like to have a way to bring attention to the problem if you were forced to attend a Satanist prayer ritual or wear a Muslim symbol on your uniform? What if you were forced to sit through a Scientology auditing or listen to an atheist Army leader dismiss your beliefs while you stood at attention in formation or were forced to bow your head in submission and “respect” to his beliefs?
It is nonsense to claim that the MRFF wants to “shut out God” – unless you believe your God needs command approval and government backing to maintain his legitimacy. We’re all about the private right of individuals to believe and worship and pray and so on. We are against the institutionalization (forced prayers, religious emblems, etc.) of private beliefs because it creates a divisive and hostile climate to the non-Christians. The Army can’t be one team if it is excluding a sizable chuck of its soldiers from unit activities that should be all-inclusive. There is no difference between a Christian chaplain delivering a Christian prayer before a mandatory audience and a white supremecist chanting “white is right” before that same audience. (I mean, hey, he didn’t say “black is wrong”, did he? No, he just implied it.)
The unit patch we’re opposing is no different from forcing Christian soldiers to wear pentagrams, upside-down crosses, or the Star of David. MRFF would oppose all of these. But the fact of the matter is that fundamentalist Christians are the ones pushing their beliefs beyond the boundaries of private practice and into the government, in violation of the Establishment Clause. We want to reverse this shameful attack on the Constitution. Wearing personal religious symbols is not the same thing as imposing a unit religious symbol.
The MRFF has every right to use the word “military” because they represent members of the military, including myself. Your petition, should you embark on such a shameful venture, would be a hopeless attack on the First Amendment and a betrayal of your oath. We’ve got a lot of practice defending the First Amendment, so good luck.
Sergeant Dustin Chalker
US Army
I Trust Myself

Share This Story

2 Comments

  1. Dan May 6, 2010 at 8:33 am

    This group is not about religious freedom, they are about religious repression. Change your name!

  2. DZ May 6, 2010 at 9:27 am

    For over 22 years I have VOLUNTARILY doned my uniform, not once have I been forced into any religious activity. If there’s a prayer, simply don’t, just do it with respect to others beliefs, not what they beleive in. I guess anyone can pretty much say and do just about anyhting while claiming protection under the First Amendment; funny how you don’t mind that those crazy Christians came up with it to begin with. SGT Chalker, as an NCO, you should know that the military has a lot of taditions and has gone to great lengths to accomodate and embrace everyone’s religious beliefs and non-beliefs, including yours. Please familiarize yourself with The EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Program. Symbols are just that “Symbolic”, “tradition”, “historic”, not religious advertisements or propaganda. Furthermore, if you’re downrange and hurt, I highly doubt you will refuse aid just because the soldier is wearing that patch. If you are so opposed to the insignia that is used in the military, DON’T RE-ENLIST, after all, it’s VOLUNTARY.

Leave A Comment