Dear MRFF,
Your mission statement indicates that you are an organization that strives to allow all service members to equal access to participate in their religion of choice if they so desire.
If that is in fact true, then why is your group “Demanding” that Travis AFB remove a Manger scene and a Menorah from public view. Other groups/squadrons have been allowed to “publish” their expressions of holiday cheer to include an Atheist group. Why then, are the only groups being asked to remove their expression are those of Chapel squadron? All groups were given the opportunity to put together their own display. So, if a group decided not to participate in the holiday cheer, who then is harmed?
Where is this a freedom of religion? Based on your group’s actions, this would be a ban of religious activities. The very thing that your group says they are trying to prevent.
Shame on you!
(name withheld)
Dear (name withheld),
My name is Rick Baker. I’m a long time supporter of MRFF and a past volunteer. I occasionally get copied on incoming e-mail to try and help out during heavy correspondence periods such as now during the holidays.
Your questions are quite reasonable based on what you know and I can certainly understand your being puzzled over the Travis thing.
It is important for you to know that the Supreme Court has held that Government, including the Armed Forces, may not, in the course of their duties, advance, elevate, recommend, prefer or proselytize a religion over another or religion over non-religion or non-religion over religion.
The major mistake here was in not erecting the religion displays in the proper venues. The Uniform Code of Military Justice along with the US Constitution require religious display to be placed at appropriate sites such as the Chapel grounds representing the particular religion.
This is not to be snarky or anti-religion but to guarantee that no religion, irrespective of its majority can dominate in the public square or obfuscate other faiths.
It does not matter how many spoofy displays like the Flying Spaghetti Monster are included, it is the actual religious display that counts.
It often seems unfair to Christians why a majority religion should have to abide by constitutional provision since of over 76% of Americans claim to be Christian. Well, that’s just the point. America must follow the original precepts contained in the constitution, especially us old military guys and gals who took a sacred oath to defend and uphold it. The minority need protection as much as anybody.
If MRFF saved even one Buddhist, Baha’I , Muslim, Taoist, Sikh, Hindu or other religious practitioner in the armed forces from being marginalized because of a majority religious display, their job was well done.
Thank you for your letter and have a very Merry Christmas.
Rick Baker
Colorado Springs
