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AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC. – Latest chapter in the unconstitutional Travis AFB nativity scene controversy

Published On: December 16, 2011|Categories: News|2 Comments|

Latest chapter in the unconstitutional Travis AFB nativity scene controversy

In my capacity as the American Atheists, Inc. Military Director, I’m writing to inform you the latest news in the situation at Travis Air Force Base.

Staff Sergeant Dan Rawlings is an atheist stationed at Travis. Rawlings contacted American Atheists about putting up an Atheist-themed display as well. The display was intended to go up next to the Nativity Scene and the token Jewish Menorah. American Atheists offered to pay for and provide an equivalent display for Staff Sergeant Rawlings to submit.

Unfortunately, the illusion of a pluralistic environment was shattered when Rawlings was told by his USAF chaplain that he could not participate. His chaplain claimed to be following the orders of his higher headquarters;  the Air Mobility Command commanders and their guidance. Justin Griffith, the Military Director at American Atheists immediately recommended that Staff Sergeant Rawlings contact the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. MRFF’s highly visible fight for equality at Travis Air Force Base has recently been demanding the removal of the potentially discriminatory displays. The unconstitutional “potential discrimination” is now an ugly reality.

The California Council of Churches IMPACT, and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation are standing up for bedrock United States Constitutional principles. American Atheists Military Department sees nothing strange about these bed fellows. It is painfully obvious that non-theists are being discriminated against at various levels of the command structure. The situation regarding USAF Staff Sergeant Dan Rawlings proves the fact that the Air Force commanders at Travis are not simply allowing ‘all groups to have their space’. This is just another wretched example of fundamentalist religion (in this case, fundamentalist Christianity) demanding special privilege over others, including many of their fellow Christians. These leaders need to stop the systematic bending of long-standing laws, policies, and regulations immediately.

Very respectfully,
Justin Griffith
Military Director – American Atheists, Inc.
Fort Bragg, NC | (239) 689 0323 | Facebook | Twitter | Google+

Project Lead: Rock Beyond Belief – Atheist Festival on Fort Bragg – March 31st 2012
Organizer: M*A*S*H: Fort Bragg – Fort Bragg’s group of Military Atheists & Secular Humanists

–Support All of the troops, support foxhole Atheists!–
*Disclaimer: Although I am an active duty Sergeant in the US Army, I do not speak on behalf of the Army or the Department of Defense.*

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2 Comments

  1. roy varner December 18, 2011 at 11:07 pm

    Bottom Line First: I encourage you folks to either love this countries military traditions or leave the country.

    The freedom we have in this country is strongly derived from the faith based principles and traditions taught by our military chaplaincy Corps and voluntarily accepted of these principles by our military personnel and their leaders.

    If your organizations and your membership do not want to abide by these traditions then let me suggest that you take your ideas and methods somewhere other than the USA. PS: I am sure the SSGT was not forced to enlist into the US Air Force and if he can not accept these long standing traditions he too should respectively debark his position and take his beliefs elsewhere.

  2. Bonnie Welder May 9, 2013 at 8:20 pm

    Bravo, Roy!

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