11/3/11
Dear Friends,
Followers of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation know all too well that the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, CO has an abysmal track record in regards to their inability to distance themselves from the practice of ramming Christian fundamentalist propaganda down the throats of cadets.
Barely a day goes by without MRFF receiving numerous complaints from the fast-growing list of severely aggrieved parties at USAFA. Sadly, MRFF has an extensive, growing client-base at the Academy, comprising 345 cadets and faculty members in all.
Yesterday, we were contacted by 120 cadets and 12 faculty members — 132 total, out of whom 118 are of the Christian faith, either Protestant or Roman Catholic. They reported that senior Cadet Commanders were issuing memos to the entire Cadet Wing (USAFA student body) urging cadets to vigorously and enthusiastically participate in “Operation Christmas Child,” a project of internationally-infamous Islamophobe Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse organization. Ostensibly meant to bring a bit of “Christmas cheer” to children in disaster areas and war-stricken nations, this missionary program masquerading as an innocuous charity uses deliveries of toys and toiletries as a Trojan horse to sneak Graham’s fundamentalist Christian ministry of Jesus Christ into “heathen” nations such as Japan, Libya, Haiti, and Iraq.
MRFF immediately jumped into action against this blatantly unconstitutional memo - and it wasn’t long before an official letter of apology was emailed to the entire U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Wing on behalf of the Cadet Wing Vice Commander (the second-highest ranking cadet at the Academy). This same Cadet Colonel had approved the original unconstitutional memo.
While this victory certainly does not signal the end of the egregious, longstanding national security threat of unconstitutional proselytization at the Academy, it does represent a small step in the right direction and a major victory for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and the foundational civil rights guarantees promised by the Constitution of the United States of America.
You have made that possible, through the generous donations which you have made towards our cause. Please make a fully tax-deductible donation today so we can continue fighting – and winning – these battles against those who are constantly trying to turn our honorable and noble United States military into “God’s Army.”
Your Eternal Ally,
Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein
Founder and President
Military Religious Freedom Foundation
11/4/11
ABC 7 DENVER – Air Force Academy Backs Off Christmas Toy Program
OPPOSING VIEWS - Air Force Academy Retreats From Christmas Charity
THE REPUBLIC (AP) – Air Force Academy cancels toy program because of flap over religion
FOX NEWS RADIO – Air Force Academy Backs Away From Christmas Charity
FOX NEWS (VIDEO) – MRFF Featured by Grapevine
ACLJ – Air Force Shoots Down Christmas Charity
CHRISTIAN POST – US Air Force Apologizes for Endorsing Christian Child Program
FAMILY NEWS IN FOCUS (FOCUS ON THE FAMILY RADIO) – Air Force Drops Operation Christmas Child
11/7/11
OPPOSING VIEWS – Air Force Academy Caves to “Anti-Christian” Activist
11/8/11
CHRISTIAN POST – Former Air Force Cadet Tries to Get Rid of Operation Christmas Child
MRFF have received a torrent of correspondence, threats, and hatemail as a result of our role in putting an end to the unconstitutional promotion of fundamentalist Christian “charities” by USAFA cadet commanders rather than going through the Chaplain corps. To read these detractor emails, and MRFF responses, please click here to go to MRFF’s Inbox.
It is very sad how hateful you are to deny help to kids in need. Under the disguise of freedom and patriotism you do things that will ultimately cause more suffering. Shame on you!
Mikey Weinstein it was bad enough I had to share a squadron with your kids at the academy. Now I have to read about how you killed one of the greatest programs offered there?
The cadet Chapel overlooks the academy grounds. Lets get that removed next. It shows favoritism to Christians.
This MRFF you have created does nothing but inspire hate. For every 1 legitimate religious intolerant thing reversed (which I am sure you HAVE to fix some actual injustices) you kill 10 out of total hatred and disorganized thoughts.
Get over yourself. Religion is a good thing and because yours isn’t winning doesn’t mean you have to kill everyone else’s.
Do you not see your hypocrisy? Your anger, hatred, and arrogence
have blinded your humility. Jesus met the Christian hater/ murderer, Paul, on the road
to Damascus, I hope you’ll meet Jesus too.