USAF Academy’s Operation Christmas Child!

I think that it is great that the Air Force Cadets fill shoe boxes with toys, school supplies, candy and hygiene items to send to children in need. These children could be children over seas, or children in our own country whose parents cannot afford Christmas/Chanukah gifts. Our poverty rate is rapidly rising. However, to prosletyze Christianity or any religious belief is patently wrong. Good will, charity, kindness, call it what you will, knows no particular religion. Please don’t try to “buy” these children so that they will be “won” to your religion.

Over and above the depressing fact that the Academy can’t seem to learn that endorsement of religion is unconstitutional, I, as a college professor, was amused yet disconcerted by the typos in Cadet Egli’s letter. I do have to admit to feeling a bit better than usual after reading one of these memos as it shows that my students, who are not at the Academy, seem fairly similar to the Academy’s students, at least when it comes to spelling and then checking your emails for errors before you send them.
Please keep up the good work MRFF.

also to comment on Carla Skidmore, does the government try to “buy” the population and “win” them over to support the government when it gives aid to those affected by natural disaster such as Katrina, the Alabama tornadoes, and nationwide flooding? Same concept as a religious group giving aid to the needy, so should the government stop social programs for America’s needy and elderly such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security?

As long as we have spineless Air Force leaders who are focused on PC, you guys will make the news. Gifts for children and somebody is offended by that? Are you kidding me? So, what rights do religious people have in the Air Force? You tout the constitution as the basis for your movement? Really? You should learn more about the role of God in America. You people are unreal and as for all you enlightened cadets, remember that when guys like my grandfather strapped their ass to a B-29 to make sure you had these freedoms, he and his crew held hands and prayed to God for their safety before every flight. I’d say 14 successful missions over Japan was not pure luck. How can you take up arms to kill people and defend America if you are not tolerant of religion? I’m sorry, but in spite of your exclusionary tactics, my Air Force will never be a secular Air Force. You people make me sick!

It’s “freedom OF religion”, people, not “freedom FROM religion”. Many charities (OCC, Marion House, Colorado Springs Rescue Mission to name a few) are Christian organizations. If a religious affiliation stops you from helping people in need, that is your call. If you do not want to participate, don’t participate. Nobody is forcing cadets to do this; it’s simply a volunteer opportunity. Yes, the boxes are distributed to children through churches in the receiving area. That in no way means that the Academy is establishing or preventing the practice of any one religion by encouraging cadets to take part in a charitable drive. The email above was simply sharing information so that those who CHOOSE to participate can do so. Those of you who take issue with this are the ones refusing to acknowledge the free practice of religion.