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Published On: March 13, 2015|Categories: MRFF's Inbox, Top News|4 Comments|

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Dear Mikey and MRFF,

I’ve been reading about the latest US Air Force Base kerfuffle in which airmen have complained about armed gate guards greeting base entrants (while checking IDs) with “Have a blessed day!” Not surprisingly the Air Force’s response has been, “Problem? We don’t have a problem!” and ignored the concerns of many while perpetuating a violation of the Constitution and their own published guidance. Here we go again…

In discussing it with well-meaning friends, I’ve heard things like: “They mean well” or “that’s their Constitutional right to express their belief” or “there’s nothing malicious or coercive in this, so let it be.” Well, allow me to retort.

1.       In my 30-plus years of service with the US Air Force, I’ve NEVER been greeted this way at an entry control point (ECP) by security forces at the dozens and dozens of bases I’ve visited—so I can only conclude that this is out of the ordinary.

2.       Unless one is to accept the Urban Dictionary definition of the phrase, I’ve only heard this within the context of a religious, specifically Christian, connotation at church or from someone who is overtly of the faith. In almost every case I can remember, the person wishing me a “blessed day” has also been a vocal Evangelical Christian who often is using the phrase as a self-identifying “code” to help them locate others of similar religious fervor.

3.       The fact that more than a dozen (mostly Christian) personnel complained about the statement tells me that this was probably NOT just the initiative of one junior airman, but based upon direction from someone within the Robins AFB security forces hierarchy—officer or enlisted.

4.       The fact that there is no indication that Robins AFB personnel made a complaint on this issue directly to local leadership—and felt they could only go to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation with their complaint—tells me that this is probably the tip of the iceberg in terms of subliminal and overt bullying by a Dominionist Christian leadership with the base’s hierarchy. The reporting officers, NCOs, and civilians clearly fear repercussions for reporting their concerns, negatively impacting future evaluations and promotion. I know this to be the case based upon anonymized e-mails I’ve seen from these same personnel. In fact, my bet is that the witch hunt has begun at Robins AFB to identify those who reported it in the first place to the MRFF.

So, why is the phrase “Have a blessed day” such an egregious violation of US Air Force policy and wholly inappropriate when delivered by an armed guard asking for two forms of ID before anyone enters a US government installation? It’s really quite simple: because Robins AFB is a US government installation operated under and dedicated to supporting a Constitution that guarantees that all citizens will be treated, evaluated, promoted, respected, and granted entry without regard to religious belief or the perception that they MIGHT be treated differently if they do not share the specific world views of the armed security forces and base leadership that command them.

The mental exercise needed to appreciate this is just as simple. We all know that several different greeting expressions exist that are just as well-meaning as “Have a blessed day,” and just as easily identifiable with a certain world-view or religious belief. “Shalom,” “Ma’asalama,” and “Namaste” come to mind for me, but there are others. All of these might be appropriate among friends or in a private setting directed to even a stranger, but they are not appropriate greetings at a military base.

I respect and defend everyone’s right to believe as they wish with respect to religion and have committed my career to defending that right. Outside of the workplace, they are free to share that belief with their friends and acquaintances. However, I hold steadfastly, that in the hierarchical military workplace, where status, rank, and power permeate almost every aspect of life, sometimes very subtle messages can have huge meaning and SOMETIMES negative consequences.

 The Secretary of the Air Force just sent out guidance on ways we can improve our mission effectiveness by increasing diversity and respect for airmen from a variety of backgrounds. I agree with her that this makes us better able to handle the wide spectrum of challenges the US Air Force and Department of Defense (DoD) will face in the 21st Century. That means that it’s mission critical that our US Air Force attract qualified and motivated Muslims, Asians, Engineers, Jews, Christians, Native Americans, Red Heads, Women, Lesbians, etc, etc, etc. I hope all agree that if someone is qualified, motivated, and can help us execute our mission better, then they should be welcome in the AF as officers, enlisted, civilians, and contractors. With that stipulation, I, as a senior officer MUST be very careful that I create an environment that facilitates exactly that–and it’s something I think about EVERY day. What am I doing and saying that MIGHT make my people feel like they’re being judged on something other than their mission accomplishment? If I identify it, then I stop/modify it. (Note: my wife helps me with this stuff a LOT). I ask my people individually and as a group what we can do to make our organization better and make everyone feel more welcome to work for us. To me, that means that I can’t and won’t judge my personnel negatively for their private beliefs. It means that we have an organizational policy to NOT discuss religion, politics, or sex in the workplace and to be VERY careful what unintended messages we send along those lines to subordinates AND peers AND superiors. One shouldn’t have a poster in their office that says “Religion is the Opiate of the Masses” any more than they should have a Bible or Koran on their desk or greet their subordinates each morning with “Shalom” or “Have a blessed day.” Armed gate guards shouldn’t parrot the same phrases that their leadership directs them to say if there’s a reasonable expectation that that phrase will be recognized as uniquely religious or sectarian.

 We can, in fact, all get along, if we decide to treat each other as individuals worthy of respect and judged on our actions–not on some subjective, biased interpretation of intentions. That is why our guards should greet everyone with an enthusiastic “Have a great Air Force day, ma’am/sir!” “Drive safely, please,” or something similar. Anything more, stepping too close to the line of a specific religious or political viewpoint risks creating lines and divisions that weaken us all.

 Thank you for once again standing up for our Constitution and the freedoms I (and thousands of others) actively defend every day. It’s due to your diligent work and the brave personnel who report these violations to you that we continue to make progress towards the type of nation that inspires us and we all deserve.

 Sincerely,

A Senior Active Duty Air Force Officer and USAF Academy Graduate With More Than 30 Years of Active Duty Service.

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4 Comments

  1. Shannon March 13, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    This entire article is a non-sequitor and a false equivocation; both are philosophical fallacies. Blessed connotes three things according to the Miriam Webster Dictionary:
    : to make (something or someone) holy by saying a special prayer
    : to ask God to care for and protect (someone or something)
    : to provide (a person, place, etc.) with something good or desirable

    Given the definitions context will determine meaning. Were the guards making anyone holy or saying prayers? Were the guards asking God for the protection of the personnel, visitors etc…? Finally, were the guards providing something desirable to others? I am stationed at Robins AFB and have been greeted numerous times with “have a blessed day,” and at no time did it signify religious connotations. The greeting is tantamount to “have a nice day.” Thus, your argument fails sir.

  2. Connie March 14, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    Shannon,

    Your Domionist priveledge is showing.

    To be clear, if the officers had said Namaste you would be asking why the military honored pagan gods.

    The guards represent the military and government. They are forbidden to express their personal faith while doing their job. How is that hard to understand?

  3. John March 15, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    Nice Letter.

    “using the phrase as a self-identifying “code” to help them locate others of similar religious fervor.”

    Exactly.

    It’s hilarious. Out one side of their mouth Christians are defending this by saying it doesn’t reference any specific deity and is non-religious. Out the other side of their mouth they are saying their “religious freedom” is being impeded.

    Do we really need to state the obvious probability that the gate guards are referring to the Christian god?

    When I hear, “Have a blessed day” by a US service member, I know beyond a reasonable doubt that the person saying it is a Christian wishing that their God bestows favor on me and letting me know that they are a Christian. Hope this trickles over to my base guards… so I can ask… “Blessed by what?” Would love to have that conversation.

    The gal claiming this article is a logical fallacy, needs to get a clue. His premise is absolutely correct. If you feel otherwise, try to get some real world common sense. The next gate guard that says this to you… ask them “who is blessing me?” Ask if they are a Christian wishing their God favors you today. I’m sure you won’t be surprised by the answer. Or will you?

    Any who… I have no desire to be “blessed” by this Christian God character from the Bible. Instead of granting the blessing requests of random gate guards… how about do something worthwhile, like stopping a child from choking on a hot dog, prevent a tsunami, find a starving family some food, something tangible. That’d be great.

    So yes… just as some would be “offended” by being blessed by Satan. I would be offended by one wishing me “blessed” by their Christian god. I don’t want to be “blessed” by any fictional god character that supposedly drowned millions, condones rape and slavery, and can’t seem to “design” a human body with separate food and air holes.

  4. Lance March 16, 2015 at 12:07 am

    The answer to your question, John, of “who is blessing me”:

    “Whomever YOU think would do so.”

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