Persecution.

Published On: May 23, 2015|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|0 Comments|

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Hi there,
I’m a Catholic, I believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and if you have a problem with it, just let me know.
You and your organization are stepping on the wrong toes in going after the Air Force officer or anyone else who openly believes in Jesus.  Why aren’t you going after radical Islamists or Satanists?  Maybe you’re just one of them in disguise?
The American flag is not a religious symbol or icon, the Constitution is not a religious scripture, and American patriotism is a way of life, regardless of your religion.
Y’all need to get your facts straight before posing as some legitimate organization, understand me?  You sound and look like fools, and if Judaism is your religion and you feel persecuted by Christians, deal with that another way, not this way, and move back to Israel to push your anti-Christian beliefs, they’ll set you straight there too.
You’re a disgrace to this country and the men and women who have fought and died for your freedom that you are currently abusing.
Keep it up and you may as well join Islam, and fall with them.
Have yourself a nice day.
(name withheld)

Dear (name withheld):

I am writing in response to your May 20, 2015 email to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (“MRFF”).  You clearly have a number of misguided opinions regarding the mission and work of MRFF.  I hope I can shed some light on these subjects for you.

 

First, MRFF has absolutely no problem with your belief in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as a Catholic.  MRFF is devoted to protecting and defending religious freedom of all soldiers, sailors, Marines, cadets, and veterans.  It does not oppose any particular religion, but has assisted thousands of service members throughout the country who have suffered religious discrimination or persecution at the hands of their superiors.  These individuals practice many different religions, and some practice no religion at all.  In fact, over 95% of MRFF clients are Christians!

 

Accordingly, MRFF has never “gone after” anyone who merely believes in Jesus openly.  MRFF recently demanded that the Air Force discipline Maj. Gen. Olson because he violated several mandates of the Constitution, Air Force Regulations, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  Although he committed these violations as a result of the time, place, and manner he chose to express his belief in Christ, MRFF did not demand discipline simply because he “openly believes in Jesus.”  As stated above, MRFF represents many Christian service members in order to defend their right to express similar beliefs.

 

You ask, “Why aren’t you going after radical Islamists or Satanists?”  The answer is because MRFF simply does not receive complaints from service members objecting to wrongful proselytizing by Muslim or Satanic superiors.  The overwhelming majority of religious discrimination and persecution within the military is done by fundamentalist Christians.  As stated above, MRFF does not oppose the right of anyone in the military to hold Christian beliefs, but it does object to the wrongful endorsement of Christianity over other religions, as well as any attempt to coerce other service members to follow the same religious beliefs.  The right of religious expression is limited by the mandates of the Establishment Clause, as well as military regulations, and one of the many ways MRFF ensures the freedom of religious expression for all service members is by preventing military leaders from unlawfully creating the impression that Christianity is the only acceptable religion among their colleagues and subordinates.  I guarantee that if fundamentalist Islam or Satanism were prevalent in the military, MRFF would fight just as vigorously to stop the wrongful endorsement of those religions.  However, that is simply not the case.

 

I also want to point out the hypocrisy inherent in your email: You are apparently deeply offended by the false notion that MRFF is anti-Christian, yet you find it perfectly acceptable to ridicule other religions.  For example, you assert that if “Judaism is your religion” we should move back to Israel and that we “may as well join Islam, and fall with them.”  Why is it that when MRFF challenges a speech endorsing Christianity in a manner that violates settled law, it is “going after…anyone who openly believes in Christ,” but you are permitted to declare that Jewish people should leave the country and anyone who disagrees with you should “fall” with Islam?

 

I assume that your statement that the American flag is not a religious symbol, the Constitution not a religious scripture, and American patriotism not a religion refers MRFF’s slogan displayed on its website.  You are correct.  The slogan is a metaphor, which is a figure of speech that identifies something as being the same as something else for rhetorical effect, such as, “His designer tie was a noose around his neck,” “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” or “Baby, you’re a firework!”  The point of referring to the flag as a religious symbol, etc. is to highlight the fact that the military does not serve the tenets of any particular religion, but the defense of the Constitution of the United States.  Perhaps you are the one who should get his facts straight before posing as someone who knows what he is talking about.

 

MRFF not only has the utmost respect for the men and women who fight for freedom, it strives to ensure that the freedom of those brave service members is also protected.

 

Blessed be,

 

Tobanna Barker

MRFF Volunteer


 

Tobanna,

Do you really feel that your response was good enough?  A wordy way to lie and and dance around the point that you obviously avoided like a true hypocrite.

I really don’t think you can see yourself outside of the box.  It is ok though, I’m not the one judging you, whatever your faith is.

Have fun, take care of yourself.

(name withheld)


Dear (name withheld),
Yes – I think my response was more than “good enough.” I could have simply dismissed your email as a “lie” and called you names – as you chose to do when replying to me – but, instead, I attempted to respond to each of your claims.
Moreover, I think I addressed all of your points. I don’t actually care for “dancing around” things – it’s exhausting and the shoes pinch my feet. If I overlooked anything in your email, all you have to do is tell me which point I missed and I will gladly address it.
Similarly, I would appreciate it if you would explain how my response is “a wordy way to lie.” Which facts did I misrepresent? I’m sure you understand that merely disagreeing with me does not make me a liar or a “hypocrite.”
Blessed be,
Tobanna Barker
MRFF Volunteer

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