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Response Letter to “The Vacaville Reporter” Commentary

Published On: December 22, 2011|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|6 Comments|

I understand the sentiment expressed in Pat Issa’s letter concerning the controversy over the Christian and Jewish displays at the main intersection at Travis AFB. He misses the point however. The U.S. military exists to protect all of our rights and cannot choose a religious perspective to represent as it has done at Travis. All religious perspectives must be respected equally – this is a basic American and Constitutional principle. As a USAF officer and pilot (both fighter and tanker aircraft) recently retired from Travis, I know that this issue is just the very tip of the iceberg at Travis AFB. Overtly religious inspirational videos, created by fundamentalist Christian organizations were routinely shown at mandatory USAF Commander’s Calls. A presentation on the official USAF Travis AFB computer system, accessible by all USAF airmen at Travis actually denigrates non-Christians as “Idiots” and “Fools”. The properties of this official USAF computer file reveal that it was actually PRODUCED by the Travis audio visual department. One wonders who it was created for and presented to on base. I was told to stand and bow my head “In Jesus name” at virtually every gathering from post-combat deployment ceremonies to mandatory USAF meetings about official travel pay. After one such meeting, a USAF enlisted crewmember, who I had recently served with in combat came to me in private and asked, “Sir, How dare they assume I’m a Christian?” My legal and proper forwarding of this airman’s complaint was met with an immediate systemic smear campaign against me that virtually destroyed my career despite the incontrovertible fact that I had earned 21 in a row passed proficiency evaluations and lauded combat service. For leaders within the American military to routinely favor any specific religion is both un-American and un-Constitutional. It is dishonorable and it is offensive to those who proudly protect American principles including the right to have any religious perspective or even no religious perspective at all. As the American military has already done, albeit embarrassingly late, concerning racism, sexism and gays in the military, its leadership needs to firmly reject the bigotry, prejudice and discriminatory status quo and immediately begin to provide equal respect to all of its heroes, including those who are not Christian.  Moreover, it needs to begin to respect core American principles concerning religious rights.

Dave Horn
Vacaville Ca

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6 Comments

  1. Robert December 22, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    Right on!!! Appreciate Mr. Horn speaking out on the article and further making his case for the military to keep it’s focus on its primary purpose without discrimination. Thanks to MRFF and Mikey for their untiring work in this area. Thankfully, in 1951-2-3, I didn’t seem to be bothered by anything but protecting the country; too bad to see the changes since then…

  2. chuck McIntyre December 23, 2011 at 2:04 am

    Great letter! I too thank Mikey and MRFF for all the struggle and denigration they have faced.

  3. freeman December 23, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    How many of you have been to Travis?? Anyone…anyone? You’ve all missed the point. The Constitution guarantees fair access not equal representation. Not every view can be or needs to be equally represented. The government did not erect the displays… free people did. If an Islamic group on base would have prepared a card it would have been accommodated. If a Buddhist group had a card to display.. the same. The Jewish Menorah has been displayed as long as I can remember…at least 10 years, no doubt built by Jewish congregation members… it was not hastily erected as the misinformed have claimed. In fact, the Menorah was in front of the Christmas tree for the lighting then moved next to the street as it has been every year I can recall. The only display that denigrates another is the Atheist display. Let’s hear Mr Weinstein call foul on this group. He won’t.

    Equal access to the public forum should be honored

  4. Frank December 23, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    I don’t believe a single thing Mr. Horn just wrote. I have been in the military over 16 years, 7 of those at Travis and have never seen anything of the like. Surely he kept a copy of the video he references? Surely he has proof? Outlandish.

  5. Joe Mc Fauil December 27, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Well, I’ve been to Travis, for what it’s worth. Travis is not a public forum. It’s a military base. That’s what it’s primary mission is. Proselytization has no place on base.

  6. Subliminal January 3, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    Oh come on Frank. Of course he has proof. I have seen it. I will be happy to attach the documentation. Calling a man a liar is low, considering you have zero knowledge of his credentials nor his character. Upstanding guys like David are smeared for defending our constitutional rights. David’s actions are those of a strong and honorable man. He boldly places his name upon his ideals most courageously. You, my dear are simply outlandish and may I add a rather boorish Frank.

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