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MRFF INBOX – “Behind You 100%,” “Brig. Gen. Gives MRFF Its Due,” and more…

Published On: May 9, 2010|Categories: MRFF's Inbox, News|0 Comments|

From: USAF USAFA CW/CS(Sq. # withheld)
Date: May 7, 2010
To: Mikey Weinstein
Subject: Behind You 100%

Mr. Weinstein,
It continues to amaze me how people make connections to things. However despite all those who believe you are doing the wrong thing and those who have chosen to make you their enemy; you should know that you are a hero to many people especially including myself. It’s not even possible to list all the ways in which you have helped me and countless other members of the military. You are a true inspiration and a great American. I wish more people had the stomach and resolve to fight the ignorance and in some cases evil that you are fighting. I know I speak for a lot of people when I say I’m behind you 100% and always will be. You are not only a great friend, but a valued member of the family.

Your eternal supporter and friend, (name withheld).

Very Respectfully
C1C Name Withheld
USAFA CS-Sq. # withheld
USAF Academy Job assignment withheld


From: e-mail address withheld
Date: May 7, 2010 9:19:52 AM MDT
To: “Mikey Weinstein”

Mikey,

I thought you might like to know that as expected there is a lot of discussion on “edodo” about your getting the invitation for Franklin Graham withdrawn. It is nice to see that several folks have commended your actions while others of course are critical.

This one comment does however stand out, referencing your fight to get the Army Hospital at Ft. Carson to alter its “Crusader Cross” logo and patch.

Military patches and symbols change all the time–and many are revised when progress and a little wisdom make us realize that they are really not that appropriate anymore. We see this sort of thing outside of the military, too. White entertainers in black-face? Funny to some in the 20s–not so much anymore. Playboy bunnies on military patches? Not many of those these days. Zig-Zag man on the ‘Barnstormin’ cadet squadron patch? Only if he has a chronic backache and a doc’s prescription in CO. We can change patches. That doesn’t mean the original designers were evil Christians imposing their will on us heathens. It just means that we’ve past that point and we want some symbol that better represents us IN THE PRESENT.

Tradition is not an excuse for continuing actions that are clearly counter to the document we’ve affirmed to defend. It wasn’t when segregation was the order of the day, and it isn’t now when an increasingly diverse society finds it disrespectful, oppressive, and counter to the current struggle to have a specific brand of superstition endorsed and announced by the PTB in an hierarchical organization pledged to non-partisanship.

Repeat after me everyone (I know someone that calls this the XXXX Doctrine): No belief system has a monopoly on honorable service, nor is any religion or belief system a necessary and sufficient condition for same.

If we could get commanders to mouth those words and think (as some are increasingly) before they ASSUME that everyone wants to hear a monotheistic invocation before an awards ceremony or that everyone NEEDS a group hug and Zombie pledge before a dangerous mission or a staff meeting, that maybe, just maybe this is a personal matter that doesn’t need or warrant advertisement and public proclamation by someone in uniform, we might be on the way to real respect and dignity for all that serve.

Sincerely,
(name withheld)


From: e-mail address withheld
Date: May 9, 2010 11:03:33 PM MDT
To: “Mikey Weinstein”
Subject: Brig. Gen. Gives MRFF Its Due

At a friends graduation cookout, yesterday on May. 8, 2010, here in (city and state withheld) I met Brigadier General (name withheld). He is my friend’s (friend’s name withheld) father. I noticed the officer’s sticker on his vehicle and I thought I would ask him if he knew Mikey Weinstein. I asked General (name withheld) if he knew Mikey Weinstein and sure enough he did. He told me that he was one year behind Mikey when they were both cadets at the Air Force Academy. I told him how I knew Mikey and he was very cool with it. Gen. (name withheld) told me “It (MRFF) has helped us see the unintended consequences that can arise when, among other things, leaders attend religious study groups.” He went on to explain that when he was a new base commander, he declined to join the popular bible study group that many, many Colonel’s and other field officers were a part of. He went on to explain that if he as the man in charge were to join the group, it could make his subordinates feel obligated to attend or even fear being passed over on select assignements and promotions. It was an absolute pleasure speaking with Gen. (name withheld). His son (my friend here in city’s name withheld) definitely gets his “likeability” from his father. Mikey’s impact is positive and far reaching. Although Gen. (name withheld) said he did not agree with some of Mikey’s stances, he firmly believes that Mikey’s efforts have, nonetheless, greatly helped senior USAF leadership better prevent the problems that arise when religion is excessively entagled with the military command structure. (name withheld)

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