Requested Response.

Published On: February 25, 2012|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|0 Comments|

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Mr. Weinstein,
I just read the article in Air Force Times talking about a General who used “god” in a Commanders Call. Then I went on to read your comments about the subject and I couldn’t believe the ignorance contained in your statements. I had to look you up on the internet to even find out who you were and I was appalled that as an educated man and a prior Air Force Airman, you would call for a courts martial of this General! You call yourself a patriot, but your statements are most un-patriotic.
Now don’t get me wrong… I don’t pretend to be an educated man. I have never attended college and I only have my HS diploma to show for my academics. I am not a religious man, I am very spiritual, but I don’t lean towards one religion versus the other. Also, I don’t judge people. According to most popular religions, judgment is a task meant only for one. And that one, is not you or me.
So I ask you this: based off of the ppt presentation, what religion is General Hawkins advocating? All I see is that it says, “God”. I’m pretty sure there are over a hundred different world religions that reference “God”. I’ve read a lot about world religions in the last 10 years, as I find the subject fascinating!! I find it amusing that most christian, jewish, and islamic people argue about whose god is better than whose… when they are all talking about the same thing.
How about instead of inciting negative emotions in the thousands of people you “represent”, you try to spread a message of “ACCEPTANCE”!!! But then I guess you would have to find another hobby to keep your time occupied. I suggest picking up a few good books and spending some time reflecting. I think that would be a better investment of your time.
Have a nice day, and I hope my words sparked some inspiring thoughts. Please don’t hesitate to write back. I would love to hear your comments.

MRFF’s founder and president, Mikey Weinstein, is calling for Hawkins to be court-martialed for violating his oath to the Constitution. He said he is representing 21 employees at DISA.

(name withheld)


Hi (name withheld),

Rick Baker here. I’m a long time supporter of MRFF and I often volunteer to make sure everyone gets a response to their letters.

I am answering your E-Mail as Mikey is up to his armpits in correspondence.

Nice to hear from an Air Force NCO as I am a former Air Force Officer and Rescue Pilot with two combat tours of duty in Vietnam.

Gen. Ronnie Hawkins is the new Director, Defense Information Systems Agency and in his initial presentation to his staff he posted a slide presentation entitles “Ronnie’s
Rules.” In this presentation he instructed all his subordinates to “Always put God first, and stay within His will” and “Always remember God is good — all the time!”

This would be fine advice person to person but as a presentation to troops in general was a violation of constitutional provision.

The Supreme Court has held in (Lemon Vs. Kurzman 1971) that government, including the armed forces, may not elevate, recommend, prefer or proselytize one religion over another or religion over non-religion. The General, in his presentation favored religion over non-religion.

For folks like you and I this seems to be a minor violation but it unwittingly raises the hackle s on a goodly number of outstanding personnel who wish the SCOTUS ruling to be honored.

MRFF is concerned with the religious freedom of all armed forces personnel. Therefore they must respond to such a display of religion, irrespective of its unintended consequences so that lower ranked personnel of differing belief systems
are not inadvertently denigrated by unthinking religious demonstration.

I hope this answers your question and I can assure you MRFF is not anti-religion. They are just pro religious freedom including freedom FROM religion, if you get my drift.

Let me take a moment and thank you for your service to America and I invite you to see MRFF’s web site at militaryreligiousfreedom.org where much more information about MRFF can be found.

Rick Baker
USAF 20th Special Operations Group
Phan Rang RVN
1964-66

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