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Re: “Fundamentalist Christian Monsters,” Mikey’s OpEd “language,” and a response from MRFF volunteer, Andy

Published On: April 18, 2013|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|15 Comments|

The language used in this OpEd is not going to attract people with rational minds.  It is the kind of thing one would expect to find within a fringe organization’s site.  You can rise above this sort of thing.
(name withheld)


 The following is a response from MRFF volunteer Andy Kasehagen

(name withheld),

Mikey has read your email comments and has asked me to respond on behalf of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).

What you have chosen to take offense to and offered advice on (“The language used in this OpEd…”) is specifically the rationale behind my decision to originally volunteer for MRFF almost 3 years ago.  17 years of firsthand experience in participating in and objecting to the inertia of smaller governmental institutions’ tendency to steamroll polite requests for change or action led to this very rational decision.

If you take the time to read Mikey’s biography or either of his books, you will see Mikey’s attempts to ‘rise above it’ were met repeatedly by the steamrolling tendency of a much larger governmental institution (Department of Defense) than I ever had to deal with.  A government institution filling with powerful leaders aligning themselves with a religious institutional structure determined to unconstitutionally control government and all aspects of our society (Christian Dominionism).   Mikey’s abandonment of ‘milk toast’ demands or responses has appealed to many other rational individuals such as former Ambassador Joseph Wilson and Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson (former chief of staff to Sec. of State Colin Powell) who populate MRFF’s Board & Advisory Board (full list attached).

Mikey’s very forceful style in making demands or pointing out unmitigated hypocrisy as he did in this OpEd, has produced a track record of success on behalf of U.S. Military service members faced with unconstitutional religious influence in their training, assignments, advancement, and retention that is second to none.  Mikey’s successful style led to the adoption of the 1st ever religious neutrality standard enforceable under the UCMJ (Air Force Instruction 1-1, Section 2.11) and has been recognized by 5 Nobel Peace Prize nominations and being named to the List of 100 Most Influential People in U.S. Defense (compiled over five months by more than two dozen reporters and editors representing the world’s biggest military newsroom and the award-winning staffs of Gannett Government Media’s sector-leading publications: Defense News, Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times, Armed Forces Journal and Federal Times).

In regards to your obvious desire to denigrate MRFF as a “fringe organization”, I can only respond with Thank You.  MRFF, as with most organizations established to protect civil rights and liberties, deals with constitutional protections designed for minority interests (a.k.a. The Fringe).    Mikey very effectively points this out in his OpEd by calling out hypocrisy in those within the religious majority who chose to use their religious beliefs to oppress others, then squeal that they are being oppressed whenever their oppressive actions are uncovered or thwarted.

In closing his OpEd, Mikey provided a quote from Elie Wiesel regarding indifference and the effect it will have within the U.S. and its military.  I will close by adding another quote that Mikey and everyone at MRFF strongly believe in:

Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what a people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress. Men may not get all they pay for in this world; but they must pay for all they get.
(Frederick Douglas, an address on West India Emancipation on 8-4-1857)

You are encouraged to join us in making demands without indifference.

Sincerely,

Andy Kasehagen

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15 Comments

  1. Old_Warhorse April 18, 2013 at 5:55 pm

    I strongly support MRFF and its mission however and whenever I can, but that screed of an op-ed put me off, too. Believe me, I understand about the government and its entities completely ignoring politely worded disagreement or protest, but there are better ways of stating a position and making a point than dropping to the level of the Yahoos you’re fighting against.

    Don’t worry, I still support MRFF, but that op-ed was disappointing and I honestly expected better.

  2. Old_Warhorse April 18, 2013 at 5:58 pm

    I also should add that I agree with every single word Mikey Weinstein said, I just wish he’d worded it better.

  3. jurisprudence April 19, 2013 at 9:24 am

    Old_Warhorse – Anyone who has been following Mikey and MRFF for a while has heard this same sentiment many times: “We agree with WHAT Mikey’s saying, just not HOW he’s saying it!”

    I’m not going to take the time to write my own response, when so many of the Huffington Post commenters on Mikey’s op-ed have done so for me:

    Comment from STL_Avenger

    Comment from FalconA

    Comment from BeenThereDT

    Comment from markbyrn

    In short, when you’re speaking truth to power, as Mikey is, you have to put power behind that speech.

  4. Labrys April 25, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    I support Mike every month with a check. I also support what he says and how he says it. If the “monster” shoe fits….hey, they SHOULD be forced to wear it in public. Women are constantly told, when they speak to patriarchal (and often Christian) power, that we just aren’t “saying it right”, we are being “rude” or “tactless” or engaging in hyperbole.

    Frankly, it’s all crap. The offenders being brought to the public attention bar simply want white wash comfortably covering all the misery they cause. Some of the folks Mike has to deal with would happily stage a 21st century “Agora” against atheists, pagans, or not-rabid-enough Christians.

  5. Dennis C April 29, 2013 at 12:05 pm

    “Today, we face incredibly well-funded gangs of atheist monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans by forcing their weaponized and twisted philosophy upon the helpless subordinates in our nation’s armed forces and innocent children.”

    We must decry the virulent atheist oppression perpetrated by these haters of the True and Living God, Jesus Christ. These atheists are monstrosities and pitiable unconstitutional carpetbaggers who have been allowed to proliferate only due to the good graces and tolerance of Christians in American. However, these atheists are antichristian bigots intolerant of those who believe other than as they do.

    Mr. Weinstein is blithering, spittle spewing, foaming at the mouth antichristian extremist, with a militant nature of who virulently supports hatred of his fellow Americans who happen to be Christians and believe in the Living God, Jesus Christ. He uses false terms like ‘homophobic organizations’ and engages in rhetorically-charged propaganda to curse and smear the wonderful, loving people who follow the Lord Jesus Christ. How many orphanages and hospitals have been built over the centuries by the godless life hating atheists? How many people have been rescued from the murderous, millions killing atheist empires of the former Soviet Union and Red China by atheists?

    Let’s call these ignoble actions by atheists what they are: the senseless and cowardly squalling’s of human monsters.

    Weinstein then endorses hate groups like the ultra-left Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and others.

    It was because of the inflammatory rhetoric of the SPLC that Floyd Lee Corkins—the first person ever convicted of domestic terrorism in federal court under the laws of Washington, D.C.—told the FBI that he chose his intended shooting spree targets from the SPLC website’s map. Corkins was arrested at the offices of the Family Research Council (FRC) after shooting a security guard in August 2012. His court documents state that Corkins intended to kill as many people as possible. This intent to murder was instigated by SPLC, the very organization that Weinstein promotes and relies on.
    Weinstein also supports Lt. Col. Jack Rich, the atheist Army officer who wrote to subordinate officers that soldiers who hold traditional Christian beliefs agreeing with organizations on SPLC’s “hate group” list are incompatible with “Army values” and should be carefully watched and excluded from military service. So, Weinstein’s hate speech and murderous rhetoric, like the big lies told by the Nazis, has infected military persons. Such persons are the ones who should immediately be removed from the military. Such intolerant, hate speech and thoughts should not be a part of a military that has so many Christians in it who love God and man and are deeply offended by this hate talk from one of their commanders.

    According to Weinstein, “We should as a nation effusively applaud Lt. Col. Rich.” However, we as a nation should resist Rich’s recommendations. IN reality, We MUST vigorously support the continuing efforts to expose pathologically anti-Christian, God hating, Christ hating, Christo phobic, and rabidly intolerant agitators for what they are: die-hard enemies of the United States Constitution. Monsters, one and all. To do anything less would be to roll out a red carpet to those who would usher in a blood-drenched, draconian era of persecutions, nationalistic militarism, and superstitious atheocracy.”

    Many media outlets are silent on this disturbing new alliance between fanatical secularists and leaders in the Pentagon appointed by President Barack Obama and Secretary Chuck Hagel, under which the U.S. military would officially consult with someone with such foaming-at-the-mouth passionate hostility toward traditional Christians, including Evangelicals and devout Catholics. The military—America’s most heroic and noble institution—includes countless people of faith, and this represents a radical departure from the U.S. military’s warm embrace of people of faith in its ranks.
    Atheist verbal assault and proselytizing are absolutely destructive of the bonds that keep soldiers together.’”

    Having someone attack the Christian gospel is akin to being raped. This is a national security threat. What is happening is spiritual rape by the Atheists and Weinstein in particular. And what the Pentagon needs is to understand is that it is sedition and treason. It should be punished.

    Violating a military person’s Christian beliefs is a workplace violation and must be stopped immediately. The perpetrators should be harshly punished for attempting to destroy someone’s Christian faith.

    In other words, it should be the official policy of the United States to decree that atheism is a hateful, treasonous mental disorder and should not be allowed to dictate what a human being’s Christian’s needs are. The Military should punish for violations by any military officer who is an atheist who attempts to spread atheism and to destroy the personal faith of another service member when discussing religious matters.

    If these atheist monsters of human degradation … and tyranny cannot broker or barter your acceptance of their putrid atheism and hatred of God and man, then they crave for your universal silence in the face of their rapacious reign of atheistic terror. Indeed, they ceaselessly lust, ache, and pine for you to do absolutely nothing to thwart their oppression. Comply, my friends, and you become as monstrously savage as are they. I beg you; do not feed these hideous monsters with your stoic lethargy, callousness and neutrality. Do not lubricate the path of their racism, bigotry, hatred and prejudice. Doing so directly threatens the national security of our beautiful nation.

    God help us now when someone with such visceral hatred of conservative Christians—literally tens of millions of Americans—who says sharing this gospel is “spiritual rape” is helping develop policies for how to deal with Christians in the military.

    Weinstein says those guilty of this “treason” must be “punished.” Under federal law, the penalty for treason is death. And the Obama administration is sitting down to talk with this man to craft new policies for “religious tolerance” in our military. This tells you all you need to know about the Obama Administrations hatred for and intolerance of Christians.

  6. Geoff Thomas April 30, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    Mikey, Mikey, why do you persecute Jesus?

    Scripture References:

    Acts 9:1-19; retold in Acts 22:6-21 and Acts 26:12-18.

    The Conversion of Paul – Story Summary:

    Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee in Jerusalem after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, swore to wipe out the new Christian church, called The Way. He got letters from the high priest, authorizing him to arrest any followers of Jesus in the city of Damascus.

    On the Damascus Road, Saul and his companions were struck down by a blinding light, brighter than the noonday sun. Saul heard a voice say to him:

    “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4, NIV)

    When Saul asked who was speaking to him, the voice replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:5-6, NIV)

    The men with Saul heard the sound but did not see the vision of the risen Christ that Saul did. Saul was blinded. They led him by the hand into Damascus to a man named Judas, on Straight Street. For three days Saul was blind and did not eat or drink anything.

    Meanwhile, Jesus appeared in a vision to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias and told him to go to Saul. Ananias was afraid because he knew Saul’s reputation as a merciless persecutor of the church.

    Jesus repeated his command, explaining that Saul was his chosen instrument to deliver the gospel to the Gentiles, their kings, and the people of Israel. So Ananias found Saul at Judas’ house, praying for help. Ananias laid his hands on Saul, telling him Jesus had sent him to restore his sight and that Saul might be filled with the Holy Spirit.

    Something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He arose and was baptized into the Christian faith. Saul ate, regained his strength, and stayed with the Damascus disciples three days.

    Points of Interest From the Conversion of Paul:

    • After his conversion, Saul changed his name to Paul.

    • The conversion of Paul shows that Jesus himself wanted the gospel to go to the Gentiles and that it was no human being’s idea. That would quash any argument from the early Jewish Christians that the gospel was only for the Jews.

    • The men with Saul did not see the risen Jesus, but Saul did. This miraculous message was meant for one person only, Saul.

    • Saul witnessed the risen Christ, which fulfilled the qualification for an apostle (Acts 1:21-22). Only those who had seen the risen Christ could testify to his resurrection.

    • Jesus did not distinguish between his church and his followers, and himself. Jesus told Saul he had been persecuting him. This serves as a warning that anyone who persecutes Christians or the Christian church is persecuting Christ himself.

    • In one moment of fear, enlightenment, and regret, Saul understood that Jesus was indeed the true Messiah, and that he (Saul) had helped murder and imprison innocent people. Saul realized that despite his previous beliefs as a Pharisee, he now knew the truth about God and was obligated to obey him.

    • Saul of Tarsus possessed perfect qualifications to be an evangelist for Christ: He was versed in Jewish culture and language, his upbringing in Tarsus made him familiar with the Greek language and culture as well, his training in Jewish theology helped him connect the Old Testament with the gospel, and as a skilled tentmaker he could support himself with that trade.

    • When retelling his conversion later to King Agrippa, Paul said Jesus told him, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 26:14, NIV) A goad was a sharp stick used to control oxen or cattle. Some interpret this as meaning Paul had pangs of conscience when persecuting the church. Others believe Jesus meant that it was futile to try to oppress the church.

    • Paul’s life-changing experience on the Damascus Road led to his baptism and instruction in the Christian faith. He became the most determined of the apostles, suffering brutal physical pain, persecution, and finally martyrdom. He revealed his secret of enduring a lifetime of hardship for the gospel: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV)

  7. Harold MacDougall May 1, 2013 at 7:51 am

    A little over the top. “bloody monsters”, “well-funded gangs of fundamentalist Christian monsters”, “pitiable unconstitutional carpetbaggers”, “senseless and cowardly squallings of human monsters”, “those evil, fundamentalist Christian creatures”, “these bandits coagulate their stenchful substances”, “horrific hatred and blinding bigotry”, “the world class cowards they are”, “another free-range purveyor of fundamentalist Christian supremacy and exceptionalism”, “If these fundamentalist Christian monsters of human degradation, marginalization, humiliation and tyranny”, “do not feed these hideous monsters”. The kingdom of God is within you. Can a good tree produce bad fruit?

  8. Just Me May 1, 2013 at 10:06 am

    Unbelieveable rhetoric from someone claiming to be “tolerant”. This man is not tolerant, he isn’t even nice. Mikey Weinstein obviously hates Jesus Christ and is going to take it out on him under the guise of “tolerance”. Everyone can see what a lie this is. I am very sorry to know that a bigoted, hateful, hostile person is involved with “tolerance”. So sad that a person of a race that has been persecuted for hundreds of years for their faith would follow in the foosteps of the hateful. You, Mikey Weinstein, are the hater. That’s very obvious for all to see…except maybe, for you.

  9. Holy Pig May 1, 2013 at 8:50 pm

    WOW a Jewish HITLER. You make me sick. Stop calling yourself a Republican, you are just a Christaphobic BIGOT

  10. Trinity May 1, 2013 at 9:22 pm

    Many of you are all up in arms about Christianity, the LORD will deal with you soon enough. In the meantime, why don’t you put yourselves to real use and focus on the real enemy that is hell bent on converting/killing you because you are an American or live in America.

    WAKE UP!!

  11. BC May 1, 2013 at 9:44 pm

    It isn’t “putting power behind the speech.” It is insulting. It is demeaning. It is dehumanizing. It makes you seem nuts and it turns away people who otherwise are going to support your principles. I’m one. I’ve met Mikey in person, and he’s a great guy. But this was extreme. It was inexcusable. No matter how much you defend it you all just look like school yard bullies.

  12. john michaels May 1, 2013 at 10:19 pm

    human rights violations
    United States of America
    Obama Administration
    DOD scientists/DARPA/Illegal/nonconsenual human experimentation
    Dr Jun Chen (DOD research grant),Dr Richard Berk(Precrime),Dr Martha Farah(neurology)university of pittsburgh
    Dr. Arati Prabhakar(DARPA),Dr. Geoffrey Ling(DOD),Dr Walter J. Koroshetz(Department of Health and Human Services)
    Army Col. Charles Engel, M.P.H., M.D.,Demay psychology pentagon,USPHS Capt. Janet Hawkins, MSW, MPA, Navy
    Captain Paul S. Hammer (DCoE),
    genocide/murder and assault of adults,babies and children
    Drones/satellites/elf-vlf towers/cell towers
    equipped with MEDUSA and like technologies
    Microwave/electromagnetic radiation (neurological manipulation/torture/rape)
    voice to skull (V2K) mental torture/rape
    —they are also raping children and adults in jewish synagogues and christian sanctuaries
    THIS IS PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE AGAINST YOUR OWN PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    major general jeffrey jacobs commander army reserve psyops-
    lt gen william caldwell, major general jeffrey jacobs army reserve psychological operations
    is raping rabbis,preachers,priests,christians,jews, and their children with psychotronic warfare-
    drones/satellites and other military equipment-
    in their synagogues,cathedrals, and churches….IN THE UNITED STATES
    they use v2k(voice to skull) to be the voice of god (the Torah says no man may claim deity!)
    the obama administration condones this in the united states-
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_weapon
    wired.com/dangerroom/2007/12/the-voice-of-go/
    Please contact the aclj/aclu/the hague/the u.n./preachers/teachers/evangelists/rabbis
    or anyone who can to stop this blasphemy!!!
    Where is our constitutionally protected freedom of religion!

  13. HippieHatemonger Watch May 2, 2013 at 8:30 am

    This is great! SO many Rad Libs just can’t operate in stealth mode. For example Big Mouthed Radical Enabler Van Jones was ousted before he was really inside.
    Don’t worry Constitution lovers, just because this fat cube is ignoring the
    “or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” part of the 1st Amendment, doesn’t mean the bureaucrats or the desk jockeys with the stars on their suits are going to stick their behinds out to get it swatted by the Supreme Court, Congress and the American citizen down the line. Unconstitutional Laws are NUL AND VOID.

    Christophobic Hatemongering, on the other hand is a Constitutionally protected right.

  14. Child of the One True King May 2, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    I am a Child of the One True King!

    Our Great Teacher walked with children, talked with children, and was interested in each indiviual soul. So shall I!

    God Almighty Be Glorified!

    “Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.” Psalm 5:11

    “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad and I rejoice.” Psalm 16:8-9

    “May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.” Psalm 20:5

    One day you, too, shall be judged. Our Great God Almighty will one day be back to rule over everyone in this world, even you. I will rejoice in the day that you, and all others like you, are proven wrong. Yes, our soldiers defend the American flag and abide by the American Constitution, but the very first soldiers (the ones who fought for your independence in this country) also battled for this land and did it in the name of THE LORD!!

    May your family be blessed with the righteousness of the Holy Father who lives within each of us. You can be saved and live a new life among us Christians.

    Godspeed!

  15. glenn May 2, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    Mr. Weinstein,

    First I want to say, I honor the Jewish people. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is also my God, for He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. As such, everybody has incredible worth and value. It is their right as those created in the image and likeness of God to have the dignity to choose whoever or whatever they want to worship.

    With that said, I can’t imagine the pain you must have gone through to have your kids accosted when they were in the AF academy. To hear people say, “Your family will burn in hell,” must have been tough for your kids to take.

    On the other hand, sir, I question and challenge you: why all the hate? Why all the bitterness? Can’t your kids take care of themselves? They are grown people. Also, the very motto of your website is a direct contradiction. Religion was mentioned 3 times. Religion and patriotism, religion and flag, religion and the Constitution as scripture. To claim that your organization is upholding the so-called separation of church and state is actually establishing a religion, seeing how your religion is the flag, patriotism and the constitution. I thought that your understanding of the constitution is the SEPARATION of church and state. A flat out contradiction here.

    Second, sir, please, please tell me where even the CONCEPT of the separation of church and state appears or is even alluded to in our Constitution? And please let me remind you, sir, because I KNOW you researched this, that our Supreme court, over the course of our country’s history, declared THREE TIMES that our country is a Christian nation. (but I’m sure you know that). The most recent time was 1954. Also, let me remind you, since I KNOW that you know this, that the First and Second Charters of the state of Virginia, has, as part of its purpose, the propagation of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.

    You are free to engage me anytime, sir. I’d be glad to talk to you. And yes, the Jewish Rabbi, Jesus, did say, that if you don’t repent, you will perish. I pray, Mr. Weinstein that you turn to Jesus before it’s eternally too late for you. And yes, sir, I’m am seeking to proselytize you. And in our country, the last time I checked we ARE allowed to do this. You don’t have to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, but that does not mean that I am forbidden from telling you about Jesus. Just like YOU are free to give your opinions to anybody you choose.

    Oh, and just so you know, I saw MANY people come to faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior over the course of my 29+ year military career, with over a decade being that as an active duty chaplain. I engaged people who had spiritual needs and sought to bring them to faith in Christ, whether in the workcenter, the flight line, the counseling office, the chapel. In fact, when I was in Technical School, a red rope befriended me and was instrumental in my coming to Jesus; I had a minimal religious background growing up.

    However, for those who didn’t want to hear it, I backed off. I’m not into coercing people. Neither was the Lord Jesus. And having spent a lot of time on the inside from first hand experience, I never met one chaplain, or for airman that matter who in any way resembled the “monsters” that you have so recently caricatured–and I met all kinds of people, to include Norse Pagan religion members, Orthodox Jewish rabbis, Wiccans, Catholic priests, Independent Baptists, etc. Some of them were actually on the same chapel staffs I was privileged to serve. I engaged them, knowing I would never change their minds, but I didn’t push the gospel on them, either.

    And spiritual rape? Really? Sir, if that’s how you really feel, you have serious issues. I would suggest you get some help. I do care for you, as a human being. But your ideas need some serious overhauling, as far as I’m concerned.

    Again, you have the freedom to promote your ideas. More power to you. Just don’t stymie my freedom to promote mine.

    Sincerely,

    Glenn Hawkins
    Chaplain, Major, USAF, Retired

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