Travis affair

Published On: December 23, 2011|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|1 Comment|

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Dear Military Religious Freedom Foundation,

Are you planning to install a similarly sized presentation along the lines of “Solstice: The Reason for the Season”? It would be a sincere review of the long history of solstice celebrations throughout history and across cultures. It would seem to me that the justification provided invites this response.

(name and location withheld)


Dear (name withheld),

Thank you for your email to MRFF. As a Christian (Episcopalian in fact) volunteer for MRFF, please allow me to respond.

“Are you planning to install a similarly sized presentation along the lines of ‘Solstice: The Reason for the Season’?”Actually no, but you make MRFF’s point for very well.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…”
Within the military, the free exercise of religion is accommodated by the Chaplaincy. MRFF’s stand is that religious displays within the military belong within this very well funded accommodation. The military steps over the line from accommodation to establishment/support of a religion when it allows preferential religious displays such as the case at the Travis AFB main gate. At what point, was the decision made that only Christianity and Judaism would be displayed? Did I happen to miss the Travis AFB religious holiday displays for Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Shintos, Sikhs, etc.? If I did miss mention of the Travis AFB main gate displays for Mawlid an Nabi on February 15th or the Krishna Janmashtami on August 22nd, I truly do apologize for my unforgiveable ignorance as I am sure of your support of those displays, and others, in the interest of prayer and speech freedoms we all enjoy.

In the Interfaith Calendar of Religious Holidays for 2011 (http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/Fullyeararchive2011.htm) there are 186 days pertaining to 185 observances. When any arm of government chooses such a small sample from this calendar for recognition, the line from religious accommodation to religious support has clearly been crossed. Rather than suggesting that Travis AFB provide accommodation for religious displays at its main gate year round for the entire Interfaith Calendar (a daunting and expensive task for any military unit), MRFF has taken the reasonable and measured stand of requesting the relocation of religious displays to its existing location for religious accommodation, the Base Chapel.

Your consideration and understanding of MRFF’s position is greatly appreciated. If, on the other hand and in the interests of our shared constitutional protections that are a shining beacon throughout the world, you would like to initiate an effort for main gate displays at all of our military installations, I can’t speak for MRFF on this one, but I would support you 100 percent. Please keep me informed of your efforts should you chose to undertake such an endeavor.

Sincerely,
Andy Kasehagen

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One Comment

  1. freeman December 23, 2011 at 5:59 pm

    Hello Andy. Did the Buddhists, Muslim, Hindus, Buddhist, Sheiks, etc request or provide a display? There are at least 185 religious preferences according to another post here. Which shall we choose? Which shall we exclude. The Jewish, Protestant, and Catholics provide the displays not the command. This was all voluntary. No one forced anyone to display or prevented anyone either. Why do New York, California, Florida, and Texas get more congressman in the House? Isn’t that unfair according to your line of reasoning? Everyone has free access to provide a display if they want. Case closed.

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