“Have you lost your FUCKING MIND?????”

Dear Mikey,

Thank you for you service and that of your family. I can say the same of my own family. Our history goes back to the third man to scale the wall at Edinburgh Castle and direct blood line descendant to William the Conquer, Army, Navy SWCC, Marines so with respect KISS MY ASS!!!

So where did you you see anywhere that I pray to ANY GOD or BFF in the FUCKING Sky you fuckin Squib!! You just want to feel like a fucking enlightened liberal that has some knowledge that the rest of us don’t have. You can save your fucking liberal agenda for someone who gives a fuck. Finally figured out that the liberal chicks where freakier in bed? WOW, late for the game again!!! AND Your fuckin Rag head buddies can lick my fuckin sack, if they don’t want to fight for the cause then fuck em and if they did and got fucked in the ass then get in line like the rest of us and stop fuckin crying. If you think I give 2 fuckin shits about anybodies fucking religion then you’re more lost then you seem. I just don’t think that you have the right to tell somebody what they can believe and when they can pull it it out you worthless piece of shit!! Goddamn but you cry like a fuckin PUSSY!!!! Jesus FUCKIN Christ, you liberals are like a bunch of fuckin cockroaches when the lights come on, LOL. NO Atheist’s in fox holes, NOW THAT’S SOME FUNNY SHIT!!!!! FUCK YOU JOE BOB!!!! Death is prevalent in those situations and I fear NO EVIL, save the FUCKIN rhetoric for the fuckin recruits!!! You know good and goddamned well what I was fucking saying and you can kiss my fucking harry ass you FUCKING PUSSY!!!!!!! I have no fear and will complete all tasks assigned to me with extreme prejudice…… Blahh Blahh Blahh, you know the drill. Fog… or you liked it… been in the sand box, with BOTH hands. You are just defending a liberal piece of shit that is trying to limit soldiers social liberties SIR.

FUCK OFF!!!!!!!!

(name withheld)

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Dear (name withheld),

I would be interested to see your doubtless interesting genealogical chart, particularly which of your line was “the third man to scale the wall at Edinburgh Castle” and in which war of the many that swept over that fortification. As a Gael with both Scottish and Irish lines, I have an interest in such matters.

I see that you either didn’t read my response thoroughly or didn’t comprehend what you read. No surprise. Ignoramuses are generally not known for their literary comprehension abilities.

As to the rest of your scurrilous, less than literate, and increasingly foul and incoherent attempt at communication, I also see that your only M.O. remains attaque ad hominem and foul language. While it certainly doesn’t bother me (as a Marine, I have heard as bad or worse), it certainly doesn’t do much to advance your case. Judging from your poor spelling and grammar, I’d have to say that yes, I think I do have some knowledge you don’t have.

To respond to your comment about gods / BFFs, etc. — Pagans of my acquaintance follow a faith path which involves some form (or forms) of deity. While not necessarily “in the sky” they are (like the Abrahamic and all other versions of deity) invisible — but perhaps you follow some path I have not encountered that has no form of deity.

As to the comment re: “No atheists in foxholes” — due to your less than coherent ravings, I am unsure if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me here, but as I said, there are atheists (and agnostics) in foxholes. I was one.

As to “liberal cowards” — as I said, we cover all political bases here, but none of the MRFF people of any political stripe I know are cowards. I have mentioned my own service and that of our clients and staff, and the fact that many of us hold personal decorations through the MOH. We still don’t know what close combat service (if any) that you’ve seen, Mr. Dodd, but without bragging, I saw my share and have other men who stood with me in battle who saw me and know my mettle. YOU don’t, sir, and frankly, I don’t really don’t give a damn about you or your opinion. The respect of my comrades is all that matters, and I know I have that.

I have seen a great many bad-mouthing Net bravos as a volunteer correspondent for the MRFF. They are all incredibly brave from the safety of their computers. I have yet to see one show his face.

In response to your original question; “Have you lost your FUCKING MIND?????” I can definitely assure that we haven’t — but it is apparent that you have, judging by your increasingly crazed and incoherent ravings. I can only suggest that you seek competent professional psychiatric help and appropriate medication at the earliest opportunity before you do yourself or someone else an injury. You are obviously a disaster waiting to happen.

Now I must consider this correspondence at an end. There is obviously no point in corresponding with a lunatic. In the words of Samuel L. Clemens,

> “Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.”

I remain,

Sincerely,

F. J. Taylor
USMC (Ret.)

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Mikey Weinstein is the head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, and says Christians–including chaplains–sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in the military are guilty of “treason,” and of committing an act of “spiritual rape” as serious a crime as “sexual assault.” He also asserted that Christians sharing their faith in the military are “enemies of the Constitution.”

REALLY??????????????????

I am not CHRISTIAN I’M A PAGAN!!! They don’t even have anyone to represent us in the service, and you want to talk about being ostracized for your beliefs, even Muslims don’t catch as much shit as we do but I didn’t CRY LIKE A FUCKING PUSSY LIKE MIKEY!!! I remember going to to services in boot and shit, but REALLY?? So if I’m in the shit with someone bullets all around and explosions and snipers everywhere I am supposed to turn somebody in for praying to whatever god they have?? I don’t give 2 shits if you atheist cowards don’t like someone else having faith but keep it to your fucking self like we all had to.

Question for you though, What about the Fort Hodd shooter, why have we given him so much leeway? Is it because he is Muslim? Yes it is and nobody wants to offend the Muslims even though they have a caliphate and a jihad against America. What a bunch of fucking hypocrites you all are.

I agree that people should not have any one faith shoved down their throat but if you don’t believe the way they do then what the fuck difference does it make. If you are that weak willed of an individual then your gonna fall for anything. But to say that you should court martial someone and ruin their career because they simply talked about their faith is absolutely ridiculous.

It is really to bad that a fucking coward like Mikey should not have to undergo such harsh punishment for expounding his beliefs. Oh yeah I read the articles about what poor poor Mikey and his staff have to endure about what you are trying to accomplish, BUT NOBODY IS THREATENING TO THROW YOU IN JAIL FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE!!!!!! Oh yeah I read the crybaby article in that fucking RAG “The Suck My Post” about the hero Mikey is trying to make sure that the children get their Christmas presents, Cry Me a Fucking River, From some fucking Jewish guy REALLY? You should leave the propaganda to someone who actually knows how to do it properly , like the bleeding heart coward liberals.

You can tell Mikey for me that after serving my country and being so proud to be an American that this act of cowardice on his behalf is extremely disheartening.

I have the bible that my grandfather carried through WWII, through battle, prisoner of war camp and liberation to capture the commander of the western Nazi front. I have read all the pages that he wrote in and things he marked just hoping and praying to his god that he could return to his family and you are saying that if someone else heard him praying or talking about his god that he should be thrown in jail……………what a sad time in the world this is that we are living in and if that is what Mikey wants…………..Then he is a traitor to this country, he should be prosecuted for treason and IS IN NO WAY AN AMERICAN, HE IS A COWARD AND A TRAITOR!!!!!!!

You people are trying to ruin our country and I just don’t know why. How sad and pathetic your lives must be to spend all your time and energy trying to force people to obey you and your agenda.

You say their is is no war on Christians, what a load of SHIT!! I don’t even give a fuck about their religion but what is your fucking problem. How about they all come to your house and tell you where to put shit and tell you to clean that nasty fucking toilet of yours, they don’t because ,OH YEAH, IT’S NONE OF THEIR FUCKING BUSINESS!!!!!

I’d tell Mikey to rot in hell but I don’t believe in it!!

P.S. What kind of a grown man goes by Mikey, LMFAO, what a fucking PUSSY!!!

(name withheld)

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Dear (name withheld),

First, thanks for your service, and for sharing your concerns.

Mr. Weinstein tries to answer as many letters as he can personally, but in this case has asked me to do so. I will try to clear up some of your misconceptions of the MRFF, its mission, and its personnel, and then try to answer your specific questions and statements.

By way of introduction, I am a retired Marine SNCO whose service included close personal ground combat. Like you, I come from a military family who have served the country for over 238 years from the Revolution forward to the present.

My story is not unusual. Most of the MRFF clients, staff, and volunteers are veterans, often from multi-generational families like mine. They include active, reserve, and retired, from all branches, holding ranks from enlisted through flag officer, with MOSs in all fields, including combat arms, and representing eras from WW II, Korea, Viet Nam, on through Gulf I, and the present GWOT.

Awards and decorations held by MRFF clients and staff are numerous, and include; the Purple Heart, Bronze Star w/ V, and Silver Star, as well as Army, Navy, and AF Crosses, and one Medal of Honor.

Mr. Weinstein is also the son of a Naval Academy graduate, and is a veteran himself, being an Honor Graduate of the USAF Academy. He served for 10 years a JAG officer, including service in the Reagan White House as a Special Counsel. His family has over three generations of service that include likewise distinguished service academy graduates, and members of the US Armed Forces. His nephew is a GYSGT in the USMC in a Combat Arms MOS, who recently returned from another tour in the Sand Box. He is also a member of and supporter of the MRFF.

I think you might agree that we are very familiar with the military services and can understand and relate to their needs.

MRFF’s Mission and Position on Faith

The MRFF supports the Constitutionally and legally mandated requirement that there will be no established religion (i.e., no official state religion), and no religious test for office, as clearly intended by the Founders both in their words and documents, and as supported by subsequent decisions of US courts through the Supreme Court.

“. . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” (Article VI, Section III)

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . ” (extract from the 1st Amendment)

Neither Mr. Weinstein nor the MRFF are “for” or “against” Christianity, Islam, Judaism, or any other religion. On the contrary, as the name implies, the MRFF supports religious freedom and pluralism for service personnel of all faiths (or none), in accordance with the US Constitution and public law. Our founder, members, and supporters include people of many different faiths and belief systems, as well as free-thinkers and skeptics.

Mr. Weinstein, the founder of the MRFF, is of Jewish heritage, and his family circle of blended faiths includes observant Christians.

The MRFF staff is approximately 75% Christian (mainly Protestant, followed by Catholics), 15% Jewish, and 10% “other.”

While we have many people of faith among us, we are (like the US itself) strictly secular in nature, and we defend all US service personnel against violations of their Constitutional rights to freedom of conscience.

Who the MRFF Represents, and Why

ALL MRFF cases are filed because of complaints brought by active duty or reserve service personnel, or civilian employees of the services / DoD.

Currently, 96% of the over 30,000 MRFF cases are brought on behalf of professing Christians, mainly Protestants, followed by Catholics.

The 4% balance of cases includes Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs, as well as Pagans, atheists, agnostics, and others. The MRFF was largely responsible for the construction of a stone circle at the USAF Academy for Pagans, Native Americans, and other earth-centered faith paths.

The great preponderance of our cases involve abuses of authority and violations of the Constitutional guarantees of freedom of conscience by a specific sub-set of aggressive radicals who style themselves “Christians” and who are becoming increasingly entrenched and powerful in the military in all branches and MOSs at ranks up to and including flag officer ranks. They are known by a number of names, and come in several denominations, but we use the generic terms “Dominionists” or “Reconstructionists” for convenience. I attach some specifics re: Dominionism below.

We have a great many Christians among our clients, staff, and supporters — in fact, they constitute the majority. Many are evangelicals. However, they understand that mixing religion with politics and especially the military is a slippery slope. As James Madison (known as “The Father of the Constitution”) wrote;

“Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other sects?”

Who, indeed? But what is apparent is that a particular breed of religious extremist “Christians” known as Dominionists has serious plans to establish a “Christian” theocracy here along their warped lines. (See below for details) I, for one, don’t want this gang of warped yahoos in charge, or our Republic turned into a “Christian” theocracy that would make the most radical imams and mullahs green with envy.

Mr. Weinstein doesn’t care if the religion being forced is Christian, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Paganism or even atheism. Our Constitution was wisely designed to ensure that there would be NO established (i.e., official state) religion, and that ALL people would be free to practice their religion in whatever way they saw fit. (As long as it is in consonance with public civil law — for example, no human sacrifices allowed.)

However, the most common offenders have been Christians, particularly those espousing Dominionist eschatology.

You mentioned MAJ Nidal Hasan – the MRFF does not support or condone terrorism from any person or group. However, you conveniently ignore the fact that there are many loyal Muslims in the US Armed Forces, including many who have been in close personal ground combat, and many who were wounded or killed in defense of the Constitution and nation. (See the attached material below for details.)

As for their rights here, let me quote Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, on the subject of freedom of conscience. Writing in his Autobiography about the passage of the Bill Establishing Religious Freedom in Virginia, he said:

> “…a singular proposition proved that it’s protection of opinion was meant to be universal. Where the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by inserting the word ‘Jesus Christ,’ so that it should read ‘a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion,’ the insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo, and infidel of every denomination.”

(“Mahometan” was the then-current term for Muslim.)

James Madison, the principal author of the Constitution expressed a similar sentiment when describing the same incident.

How’s that for “original intent”?

Finally, I wish to address your egregious and patently incorrect statements about Mr. Weinstein and the MRFF personnel’s political leanings and supposed cowardice.

Politically, the MRFF staff and supporters range from conservatives to liberal, and every shade between. All, however, agree that the US is a secular Republic founded on the Constitution, and that there must never be an establishment of any religion.

As far as Mr. Weinstein or the staff, clients, or supporters of the MRFF being “cowards” — you won’t find anyone here who meets that description. Even our “church ladies” are tough.
Moreover, in addition to many of us having been tested in the crucible of combat, Mr. Weinstein and his family, as well as other MRFF staff receive numerous death threats on a weekly basis, many deemed credible by the FBI.

Re: your characterizations of atheists and liberals as cowards; some of us here are atheists and liberals. My father (a Marine whom saw extensive combat in the South Pacific in WW II and was gravely wounded) was an atheist until the day he died. I never saw my father run from anyone or anything.

I personally am an agnostic leaning heavily towards atheism (the more so when I read letters from some so-called Christians or letters like yours). I have never prayed to any god, Christian, Pagan, or otherwise, even when in combat and in grave personal danger. IMO, praying when one is in trouble, but not when things are OK is hypocritical. I don’t believe there’s an invisible BFF in the sky is going to save your ass when the shit hits the fan. However I respect your Constitutional right, as well as the Christians and others, to believe that or any sort of fairy-tales or malarkey you wish to. I enclose some material on atheists in combat below to enlighten you on this matter.

As to politics, I am personally a liberal / progressive on a number of social issues. I can assure you that I have never run from any kind of fight, no matter the odds — a fact that I am certain any of my still-living comrades-in-arms and anyone who knows me will attest.

However, I must admit that I am curious to know how you came to the bizarre conclusion that having a belief in invisible best friends in the sky somehow makes one braver, or that the lack of such a belief makes one a coward. I would submit that it seems more logical that it takes more courage to stand on one’s own without hope of divine intervention, and continue to fight when the bullets and shells are flying thick.

Likewise, I am curious to know how you came to the equally bizarre conclusion that a particular political belief system makes one more or less brave.

Among my comrades-in-arms, there are men of many different political persuasions, ranging from extreme right to extreme left. I never noticed that their political affiliations made any of them braver or more cowardly.

Other than those who I know personally who were in combat, I can only judge from the actions of others. If one chooses to go by political persuasion as a measure of courage, it would seem that many on the right, particularly the far right, are lacking in this regard. Examining the public record, we can ascertain that many of the most blow-hard right wingers not only have never seen combat, but actively avoided service or combat duty, while many liberals have served on active duty, including combat. I attach a text file “Who Served” detailing those who did and didn’t for your examination.

I don’t know how much combat service, (if any), you’ve seen (name withheld), but unlike you, I am not going to brand you a coward based on your presumed theological or political beliefs.

I will only say that in my experience, people who sound off the loudest (particularly when they don’t know anything about the issues or people concerned) are often those most guilty of that which they preach against.

I remain, sir,

Respectfully,

F. J. Taylor
USMC (Ret.)

PS: Mr. Weinstein’s nick-name came from the Life cereal ad that had the catch-line; “Mikey likes it!” See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Mikey

Dominionism

The MRFF began in 2005 when Mr. Weinstein, an Honor Graduate of the USAF Academy and highly successful top-level business attorney (then working for Perot Enterprises), learned from his son (then at the USAF Academy) that there was a great deal of religion-based physical, verbal, and emotional harassment directed not just at his son, but at all cadets who were not Christian — or even just “not Christian enough” or the “right kind.” For Jews and others non-Christians, things were even worse. The Jews got the usual “Jesus-killer” and other ethnic slurs, and non-Christians who don’t wish to convert got even worse.

Having experienced similar abuse himself at the Academy while a cadet (including a brutal beating from ambush), Mr. Weinstein was very concerned that such egregious violations of the Constitutional right to freedom of conscience, which he had supposed eradicated in the modern military, were still on-going — and what is more, that they were even worse than in his own time.

Initially, he thought that with his service background and his own connections in the services, the government, and business that things could be set to rights with a few calls and visits. However, he was astonished to find that not even a man with his connections had enough clout to right the situation, and that indeed, it was far bigger, and far more wide-spread, than he had anticipated.

Instead of a few isolated religious fanatics acting as loose cannons, he found a network that spread wide and deep throughout the USAF and indeed the entire armed forces, in positions of great power and trust from enlisted and NCO through flag officer ranks. Sadly, even flag officers (those who weren’t personally involved as part of the problem) were and remain afraid to confront this issue.

As Mr. Weinstein probed deeper into the mire, he found that this was part of a long-running, well-financed, and well-organized operation by a group of zealots who follow an extremely radical theology.

In violation of the Constitution, public law, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, these Dominionists (a radical and militant subset of evangelical Christianity) aggressively seek converts. Failing persuasion, they harass, bully, and attempt to intimidate under color of authority service members under their command or control, in order to attempt to proselytize even service members who have expressed their unwillingness.

When in command positions, they use tactics ranging from denying good assignments and promotions to those they don’t consider Christian or “Christian enough” to giving poor performance reviews, and difficult, dirty, and dangerous tasks – including potentially deadly tasks in combat. (One of our clients was assigned as “permanent point” in a combat unit!)

They have advocated in both words and writing the overthrow of the Republic and Constitution (by ballot if possible, but by bullet if necessary), and replacing them with an Old Testament style theocracy, complete with “Biblical” Sharia-like laws, complete with public executions by stoning, sword, or other “Biblical” methods, with mandatory attendance and participation by the whole community – including children.

Anyone not considered not “Christian enough” by these people if they gain power will be forced to either convert to or accept their warped version of Christianity – or die. They have been correctly described as “American Taliban.”

Some people might consider this some sort of tin-hat conspiracy theory, or that they are just far-right fringe loonies without a hope of achieving power, but these people have been operating “under the radar” for over 50 years, and are now firmly entrenched in every branch and MOS of our armed forces and government, at every level – and are getting bolder by the day.

To get a handle on their plans for the rest if us, let’s examine the words of the individuals who founded and control the movement, such as the late Rousas John Rushdoony who wrote that they intend to “…lead them (non-believers) to Jesus – in chains, if necessary.” (Rushdooney was not speaking metaphorically here!)

Rushdoony also wrote that democracy is “heresy” and that Christians must remember that “a monarchy (referring to “God’s kingdom on earth”) is not a democracy.” and “Democracy is the great love of the failures and cowards of life.”

Rushdoony listed eighteen capital “crimes” including blasphemy, witchcraft, astrology, adultery, incorrigible delinquency, homosexuality, promiscuity or unchastity before marriage, wearing a red dress (for women – though one must suppose these people would apply it to men too), and failure to keep a kosher kitchen.

Punishment for non-capital crimes would include whipping and indentured servitude or slavery (including for debt), and prisons would become temporary holding tanks while prisoners awaited sentencing. Women and children would again become chattel property of men.

Rushdoony and other Dominionists have been aptly described elsewhere as “the American Taliban” as noted above. This is true in more ways than just their morbid interest in cruel and unusual punishment. They are extremely retrogressive socially and politically, and share many more beliefs in common with the Islamic fundamentalists than they do with the average American.

Perhaps one reason they hate the Islamist fascists is that they have so much in common with them — battles between kindred are always the worst. One can only hope that they never recognize their true kinship, lest they join forces in a truly unholy alliance.

Rushdoony’s Chalcedon Foundation also helped establish The Rutherford Institute, a legal organization to promote their agenda through the very courts they plan to supersede once in power, so although Rushdoony died, his organization and legacy of theocracy lives on.

Gary North, Rushdoony’s son-in-law, espouses (publicly) a slightly less draconian version, stating, “I don’t want to kill homosexuals–I would be happy just driving them back into the closet.” However, he also espouses stoning for blasphemers and those who curse their parents, and has stated that public stoning of “malefactors” would be “a great way to bring communities together.”

The CFGC (Council of Full Gospel Churches) was founded and is run by retired Army COL “Jim” Ammerman. They have been one of the main chaplain accreditation agencies ending these stealth “Dominionist” chaplains into the military services.

One of their worst offenders is US Army chaplain MAJ James Linzey, who, with his CFGC cohorts have also denigrated Judaism and Catholicism, as well as mainstream Protestant churches. In a stunning example of their theology (and ultimate plans for everyone not of their belief), Linzey, in a 1999 video, described mainstream Protestant churches as “demonic, dastardly creatures from the pit of hell ” that should be “stomped out.”

The Council of Full Gospel Churches (Linzey’s accrediting agency) not only didn’t pull his accreditation, but supported this egregious violation of the Constitution, his mission and orders as a military chaplain, and of his oath as an officer. (Of course, Ammerman is as bad or worse.)

COL Ammerman and MAJ Linzey have also spread conspiracy theories about “Satanic forces” in the U.S. government for years aiding a military takeover aided by unnamed “foreign” (presumably UN) troops.

In 2008, COL Ammerman said that four presidential candidates (US Senators Obama, Clinton, Biden and Dodd) should be hanged for treason – for not voting to designate English as America’s official language. He also stated that President Obama would be assassinated as a “secret Muslim.” (In the late 1990s, he had also called for the execution of then-president Clinton for treason.)

CFGC and its chaplains have repeatedly and egregiously violated the Constitution and the laws and regulations regarding chaplaincies, including those on interfaith cooperation, bans on membership in organizations with religious or racial supremacist principles, especially those espousing violence, and that active military personnel cannot make disloyal or contemptuous statements about officials.

This problem, as stated, is very wide-spread and deeply entrenched, not only in the military but in many areas of government and indeed, other nations.

These people are very clever, subtle, well-organized, and well-funded. They are gaining ground in many areas – including the military and the Service Academies.

These people are our main opponents, and regular violators of the very Constitution which guarantees them freedom of religion and pluralism, which they call upon to defend themselves as they attack and undermine the very principles which allow them to exist and operate.

While we accept their right to believe as they please, within the framework of the Constitution and public law, we balk at allowing them to proselytize unwilling service personnel under their command “under color of authority” and to undermine and work to destroy the Constitution that many of our members (most of whom are former or serving members of the US Armed Forces), swore to “uphold and defend.”

The Dominionists and their allied sects are committing egregious assaults on the Constitution and on the rights of servicemen and women daily. We expose to the clear light of day their violations, as well as those of any other individuals or groups who attempt the same. Unfortunately, this group constitutes the bulk of the complaints we receive.

Mr. Weinstein determined that this movement, far from being a few relatively harmless religious lunatics, had developed into a highly dangerous and credible threat to the Constitution and to the Republic itself. He determined that there was no way he could stand aside and let them continue their rise to power. He left his employment, and founded MRFF, using all his own money and mortgaging his possessions, borrowing from friends, family and anyone he could convince of the need to battle this threat. He quite literally has wagered his “life, fortune, and sacred honor” to defend the Constitution he swore (like all of us who have served) to “uphold and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” That is why he (and we) belong, and do what we do. In return, we are demonized, vilified, and daily threatened with death and violence to ourselves and our families.

FYI, some Online sources of information on Dominionism:

http://www.mainstreambaptists.org/mob4/dominionism.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominionism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion_Theology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christofascism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rousas_John_Rushdoony

http://www.religioustolerance.org/reconstr.htm

http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/TheDespoilingOfAmerica.htm

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Dominionism

http://www.publiceye.org/christian_right/cr_intro.html#dominion

http://www.theocracywatch.org/dominionism.htm

http://www.jewsonfirst.org/dominionism.html

http://www.rwor.org/a/033/dominionism-be-very-afraid.htm

Pat Robertson’s “The Secret Kingdom” outlines his own plan for a theocracy.

“Atheists in Foxholes”

While researching this, I spoke to LCDR Ray Stubbe, USN (Ret.), who was chaplain of the 26th Marines at Khe Sanh, and noted co-author of the most authoritative history of the battles for Khe Sanh “Valley of Decision.”

Ray is a long-time friend who remembers me from KS, and he informed me that not only was that statement untrue in his personal experience, but that he had made a statement to the news to that effect at the time of the Siege. He sent me a copy of the newspaper clippings of the statement. He reiterated that he stands by his statement, based on his extensive personal combat experience with wounded and dying Marines and other service personnel. I quote from the relevant parts of his letter dated 21 Nov. 2010 and attach his clippings in a PDF (below).
Ray wrote:

> “Your mention of “atheists in foxholes” evoked some memories, as I mentioned to you, and I’m attaching the documentation I mentioned along with a letter received in regard to the news item from Mr. John W. Webster. I think you’ll find this to be interesting. I’ve always tried to be completely honest about things, as you know. We have to be focused on telling the truth!”
>

CPT John Roberts, USMC (Ret.), was and remains a devout Christian evangelical, and a deacon in his church. In 1967 and 1968, he was a Navy Hospital Corpsman, assigned to our unit (O-2) at Khe Sanh. He was later with us on the lines of FOB 3 outside KSCB when our company was removed there following the assaults on the District HQ and CAP Oscar-1 and 2 in Khe Sanh ville during the initial assaults of the Tet Offensive of 1968. Doc later was commissioned in the Marines. As a combat Corpsman, he was personally exposed on numerous occasions to enemy fire, and cared for casualties. In an E-mail dated Nov. 21 2010, he wrote:

> The old saying is that there are no “atheist in foxholes” is certainly not a true statement. Some of the Marines I could not save from their injuries did not want me to pray with them. Some died quietly and others went out fighting for every breath and cursing. Most resigned themselves to their fate. Most of the time, when I asked if I could pray for them, they said “Please.”

I personally know several other men who were atheists who were awarded the Silver Star and Navy Cross, and other personal combat awards. In fact, some became atheists as a result of their combat experience. (My own father was one.)

One well-known soldier who died an atheist was the late CPL Pat Tillman. Though not a Marine, and not killed by enemy action, I think his actions in leaving a high-paid career in professional football and enlisting to serve his nation in combat were the mark of a highly principled individual.

Of course, I am aware that others got religion in combat. In fact, one of our Oscar Company men was converted shortly before his death in an ambush on Hill 689, several other Khe Sanh vets later became ministers – but that is not the point under discussion. It has never (to my knowledge) been said or implied that there were “no theists” or “no Christians in foxholes” – a statement which would be as untrue as the one I am disputing.

Research shows that those who are usually credited with the creation of the phrase did not in fact claim or acknowledge it.

The three candidates from WW II were: Fr. William Cummings, a Catholic priest who served as a Transport chaplain, Lt. Col. Warren Clear, and an unnamed Army sergeant, all of whom were in Bataan in April of 1942. However, neither Fr. Cummings nor LCOL Clear claimed to be the author of this, and indeed, denied it. (The sergeant’s claim is as unknown as he is.)

Some newspapers published at the end of WW I stated that an “unnamed clergyman” had (supposedly) remarked that “during the Great War one could find no atheists in the trenches.”

As a young man, I personally knew men who were in the trenches during that particularly ghastly war on both sides (two had been German soldiers), and several were atheists. Some had gone into the war as true believers – both in god and the righteousness of the cause. They emerged from the other end of the meat-grinder with quite a different set of beliefs.

Possibly someone at Bataan or elsewhere was influenced by these earlier remarks. If anyone said that, they either weren’t in the trenches (where there most certainly were some atheists, as is plain from their writing both during and after their time in combat) – or they were just lying – a trait not unknown among some people who loudly profess faith.

Nobody can identify the speaker or speakers in either WW I or WW II with any degree of certainty or accuracy, or their rank, clerical status, or military affiliation (if any), let alone their combat experience (if any).

The most anybody can say about this remark with any degree of accuracy is that someone (who may or may not have even been in the military, or had combat experience) may have made this or a similar statement in WW I and / or WW II.

In addition to LCDR Stubbe’s and CPT Roberts’ remarks (above), at least one WW II chaplain stated clearly that there WERE atheists in foxholes, and indeed, they were rampant. Here is a reprint from Time, dated July 18, 1945, found in the Time archives on the Net:

> Religion: Atheists & Foxholes
> Monday, Jun. 18, 1945
>
> http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,775935,00.html
>
> Despite pious rumor, there are atheists in foxholes. So writes Transport Chaplain Lewis A. Myers in the current Arkansas Baptist: “Foxholes are not valid agents for making Christians, for destroying atheists or for driving men to God. … If you desire a man to come out of a foxhole with something, you had better send him in with something.
>
> “In load after load of returning soldiers … we find 80% of them listen to the gospel with more scepticism than ever … stay away from religious services . . . with less scruples . . . curse more and with a finesse unbelievable . . . gamble with more avidity and defend it with more vigor . . and find it difficult to hold an extended conversation without defaming womankind, even though unintentionally.”
>
> Chaplain Myers believes that his plain speaking should act as a challenge to churchmen: “There is no need for our churches to fear the truth. Frankness in this matter is not against the war effort, and it isn’t expected of churches that they should surrender their idealism. We should understand now, before the great discharge of soldiers begins, that foxholes are not now and never will do the work of our Christian institutions.”

Muslim and Arab-Americans in US History

During the years of the slave trade, as many as 20% of West African slaves brought to North America were Muslim.

Some of the Black servicemen in the Continental Army were Muslims, the first known being Peter Salem (aka Salem Poor), a slave who earned his freedom by enlisting. He took part in the battle of Concord, and later enlisted in Captain Drury’s company of Colonel John Nixon’s regiment of the 6th Massachusetts Regiment. He served with his regiment in the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he is said to have fired the shot that killed British Marine Major John Pitcairn. Salem reenlisted in 1776, and fought at Saratoga and Stony Point.

Private Nathan Badeen, a Syrian immigrant, became the first Arab-American to die for this country on May 23rd, 1776.

Other soldiers of Muslim origins who fought in the Revolutionary War, including Yusuf Ben Ali (aka Joseph Benenhali or Benhaley), who served with General Sumter in South Carolina. After the war, General Sumter took Yusuf with him inland to Stateburg, and his name appears in the 1790 census of Sumter County. There was also a “Bampett Muhamed” who was a Corporal in the Revolutionary Army, from 1775-1783 in Virginia. Francis Saba was listed as a sergeant with the Continental Troops in roll 132, 1775-1783, and Joseph Saba was listed as a Fifer in the Continental Troops roll 132, 1775-1783.

More than 12,000 Muslims served in World War II, including:

Hassein Ahmed, KIA (Army, WWII)

Ibrahim Muhammad KIA (Navy, WWII)

Mahir Hasan KIA, (Army, Korea)
Abul Fateh Umar Khan, KIA (Air Force, Korea).

Today, nearly 15,000 Muslims serve in the US Armed Forces, under situations of conflicting loyalties and misunderstanding both by their non-Muslim colleagues as well as other Muslims. “We don’t have to prove anything,” said Imam Ghayth Nur Kashif, a Korean War veteran and former counselor for the Muslim American Military Association. “Many of us were born here so it’s really kind of an insult for people to question are you an American.”

Colonel Douglas Burpee is the highest ranking Muslim officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Now in his 23rd year of military service, Colonel Burpee recently returned from flying helicopters in Afghanistan.

“Everyone knows I’m a Muslim. When I fly, attached to my dog tags, I wear a pendant with a passage from the Koran,” he says. “I try to set a good example based upon what I believe…. I can be a soldier and a Muslim at the same time. I have no problem with that. These people who commit terrorism have just adopted the face of Islam – nothing they say or do have anything to do with Islam. The Taliban is a terrorist organization – they are bad people doing bad things and they’ve attached religion to it. They are ruthless when it comes to killing people, but that’s how you move helpless people around – you use fear.”

Sergeant Youseff Mandour of the U.S. Army immigrated to America from Morocco at the age of 17 and joined the army at age 22, and did 12 months in Iraq.

“I’m fighting for a better life and a belief in freedom,” he says. “I had a chance to get involved. I learned the English language and appreciate everything this country has given to me. That’s why I joined the Army. The U.S. is doing great things.”

Sergeant Mandour takes special offense at the terrorists who murder in the name of his faith. “The war on terror is not about Islam. This is a war against criminals who use religion to say they are good people, but they’re no better than the Mafia. They’re just common criminals, many with criminal records … It was great that I got to use my training against people who tried to kill us and who tried to give a wrong idea about my religion.”

(From an article in the NY Sun By John P. Avlon, April 21, 2006: http://www.nysun.com/opinion/muslims-in-the-military/31393 )

Gordon England (Dep. SecDef), with APAAM (Association of Patriotic Arab-Americans in the Military) founder Marine GYSGT Jamal Baadani.

Mahmoud El-Yousef, a retired technical Sergeant with the Ohio Air National Guard, sent an open letter to America. “Dear America, I am an Arab American, but a proud American just like you. Like anybody else, I don’t always agree with our government polices, but don’t be quick to judge me and call me names. On that dreadful day, September 11th, my duffel bag was already packed and I was waiting to answer the call of duty. Why was I ready? I also want a better and safer America just like you. When it comes to patriotism and loyalty, I am red, white and blue, just like you.”

El-Youssef recalled how his life totally changed after he came to America as a Palestinian refugee in 1977. He says he was treated with dignity and respect and felt he had to show his gratitude to his new country.

He fought a legal battle to join the U.S. military in 1984 after an argument with an Army recruiter. When El-Youssef told the recruiter he was a U.S. citizen, but was born in Palestine, “He said, ‘I am sorry, you have to be born in the U.S.'” El-Youssef recalls the recruiter told him to ask his representative in Congress, so he did – and was enlisted shortly thereafter.

El-Youssef speaks fluent German, English, and Arabic, and served for ten years before joining the Ohio National Guard. Two years ago, shortly before he retired from the Guard, his eldest son enlisted in the U.S Army and served in Iraq.

Army Spc. Omead Razani, son of Iranian immigrants, died in Iraq.

Marine Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Waters-Bey, killed in a helicopter crash on his way to duty in Iraq.

Army Spc. Rasheed Sahib – Died May 18, 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom

CPT Humayun S. M. Khan, USA (Muslim), KIA by an IED June 8, 2004, Iraq. Bronze Star, Purple Heart

On June 8, CPT Khan died in a suicide car bombing at the main gates of his base. CPT Khan was an ordnance officer with the Germany-based 201st Forward Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. His unit was charged with the day-to-day security and maintenance of the camp.

When an orange-colored taxi drove toward them, Khan, suspecting a possible bomber, ordered his soldiers to “hit the dirt,” said his father, who received details of his son’s death from his commanding officer.

Khan then walked toward the car, motioning for it to stop, his father said. A makeshift bomb inside it exploded, killing him and two Iraqi civilians in addition to the two suicide bombers. Ten soldiers and six Iraqi citizens were also wounded.

SSG Ayman A. Taha, USA (Muslim), KIA Dec. 30, 2005, Iraq. Bronze Star, Purple Heart

Major James M. Ahearn, USA (and a Muslim, by conversion). KIA by an IED July 5, 2007, Baghdad. Bronze Star, Purple Heart

Major Ahearn was 43 years old and on his third tour of duty. He fought in Gulf I and rose from enlisted man to officer. During the battle to secure Baghdad, he received several medals for bravery. When he was KIA, he had been charged with developing relationships with Iraqi civilians. He was a mature soldier who was convinced that he understood what was at stake in the war. He left his wife, Lena, and a daughter, Kadi, and his father, Jim, a retired FBI agent who headed the Phoenix office.