Fighting against Christmas Toy Drive

Dear MIckey:

I am disappointed to see that you have underhandedly deprived children of “would be participants” in a Christmas Toy Drive because it is Christian and two people complained! Only someone with a chip on their shoulder would look at this as Christian, Jew, Muslim, or Pink spotted alley cat. PLEASE!!! I find this extremely distasteful that you would take this particular cause to make a name for yourself over two persons complaining.

I fail to see this extra curricular activity of a “cadet with a heart” whose thought was of disadvantaged children would be offensive to anyone. What was it? A letter, something posted in the lunch room, an email? PLEASE!!! I stumped my toe and a Pink spotted alley cat was nearby. Let’s blame it on them!!

Sorry to hear that your children were approached in such a non-caring way by someone that apparently cared about them or they would not have said anything. If something that someone says to me is offensive, I tell them politely that I am not interested. Were your children too young to do this on their own? Did they need Daddy to fight their battles, or did you get money for your lawsuit? Are they traumatized by the event? Is there not free medical care in our military for them to get over their disappointment that someonemight care about them?

Seems to me that you have found a niche’ way to make money and make a name for yourself and you are exploiting a Christmas Toy Drive to further your agendas. I feel sad for you, your “cause”, and the Children that missed out on a gift. Will you be replacing these gifts?

Most sincerely,

(name withheld)

---

Dear (name withheld),

I am a Christian (Episcopalian in fact) who fully supports Mikey’s and MRFF’s attempt to protect members of the U.S. Military from unconstitutional religious influence in relation to their training, assignment, advancement and retention.

The Christmas Toy Drive you refer to, Operation Christmas Child, is still functioning at the U.S. Air Force Academy under the supervision of the Chaplain rather than the Command; exactly as demanded by MRFF and as it should have been from the beginning. This is the relevant official press release from USAFA regarding this issue:

11/4/2011 – U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — The Academy recently received questions regarding an e-mail sent by cadets to cadets calling for volunteers and donations for “Operation Christmas Child,” a toy drive sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian-affiliated organization.

Per Headquarters Air Force direction, the Chaplain Corps is responsible for advertising faith-based programs and events.

Upon realizing the oversight, Brig. Gen. Richard Clark, the Commandant of Cadets, immediately asked the Cadet Chaplain Corps to work with the cadets who sent out the e-mail. When brought to their attention the cadets decided to retract the e-mail and work with the Cadet Chaplain Corps on the toy drive.

“This was an oversight by me that has been addressed and forwarded through the proper channels,” General Clark said. “The cadets’ had nothing but good intentions, but this was something that should have started with the Chaplains, not the Cadet Wing. That doesn’t mean the cadets can’t volunteer for the Christmas toy drive, they can participate through the Cadet Chaplain Corps.
(source: http://www.usafa.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123278819)

MRFF contacted USAFA leadership after being contacted by 120 cadets and 12 faculty from USAFA (132 total of which 118 were of the Christian faith) on 11/2/ 2011 to rectify this situation. What ridiculous source have you relied upon to make the petulant claim/lie that only 2 complaints were received?

Sorry to rain on your attempt to perpetuate and spread a clear and blatant lie. As a Christian, I find your ready willingness to perpetuate and spread such lies to be an extremely un-Christian act. I would say you should be ashamed of yourself, but I tend not to supplant Christ’s judgment with my own.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (ESV)
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Matthew 15:18-20 (ESV)
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.

MRFF has participated in toy drives. However, unlike Operation Christmas Child, MRFF has provided toys as an actual charity with no strings attached to the recipients. Operation Christmas Child is a blatant child evangelism project:
The Greatest Journey is the follow-up discipleship program used by Operation Christmas Child to help children become faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

I feel equally sorry for you if you think OCC provides actual charitable gifts. Will you be providing gifts with no expectations of reciprocal action by the child?

Peace be with you,
Andy Kasehagen

---

Dear (name withheld),

I understand Mr. Kasehagen has responded to your obvious and ignorant claims. I am responding to what — or, rather, who — you left out: all the “Children” whose families serve in our military and who don’t celebrate Christmas, including those of certain Christian sects (like that of my best friend) as well as non-Christians. Do you have no heart at all for those children? Seriously?

I personally believe all children deserve something to brighten their long, dark winter nights, whether they’re Christian or not, and who believes they certainly don’t deserve to feel left out in the cold by any program on base, whether chaplain-mediated or not. Children have feelings! Anything base-wide should acknowledge this, while anything chaplain-sponsored and exclusionary should not be base-wide but merely widespread to that chaplain’s voluntary congregation.

MRFF and I agree on one clear thing: That congregation MUST be voluntary, not forced or ordered through command structure. I would hope you, too, could agree with this.

Signed,
A staunch MRFF supporter, military veteran, and outspoken advocate for children everywhere

---

Dear Andy and whoever you are that would not sign your name,

I am concerned for someone that assumes that I am attempting to “perpetuate and spread a clear and blatant lie” as opposed to someone that feels that I am asking and expressing my concern! I am a concerned citizen that feels the need to go to the source rather than run around drumming up support for something I feel may be unjust. I am not aware that this organization only reaches out to “Christians” and not to parents of the children of other faith. My “obnoxious and ignorant claims” are just that, my opinion, just as your opinion matters to you and can be called “obnoxious and ignorant claims” as well. Thank you for clearing up some of the misconceptions.

As a Bible scholar, you should know that the Bible teaches that “All liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone.” If I lead you to the wrong opinion, is that a lie? Since you are a Bible scholar, you will know where to find that scripture. As you well know, we all have rights to speak our truth-sadly in the military it is hardly possible to have moral views anymore. I believe that is the way the Founding Fathers intended it to be. It is not freedom FROM religion; it is freedom OF religion. I won’t try to degrade and demoralize you with further Bible scriptures because you apparently know what I am talking about.

So if all children cannot participate, your view is to have NO children participate? I realize this is an extreme expression but where will it end?

Answer me if Mickey has received funds on any of his law suits relating to his “cause”? Or never mind, I know the answer to that.

And yes, being unemployed for two years — I will be participating. Feel free to forward me ALL CHILDREN information that are in need. I believe I can do something to assist the cause. It seems as though you have never been in need and are having difficultly looking outside your box.

Please do not respond, other than children information, as I don’t have time for ideocentric opinions.

Most sincerely,

(name withheld)