Tired
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This post was created on the previous version of the MRFF website, and may not be fully accessible to users of assistive technology. If you need help accessing this content, please reach out via email.You know what Mikey the world is tired of you. We are tired of people like you violating our right to worship the only God. It’s people like you who have the spirit of accommodation which Jesus never had and we are weary of your ranting and raving. This country was borne out of a belief in God and if that doesn’t sit well with you – please leave. Your ideology is tiresome and antichrist – so why don’t you take your atheistic views and see what happens to you when Jesus comes and your eternity is in hell. We have a right in this country to have religious freedom and just because a few atheists can’t bear the name of Jesus or the view of a real God – we are all suppose to crumble at your feet. We won’t. And if you died today would you go to heaven? One must think about that – because you will die and your eternity is marked for heaven or hell. Lord help you.
(name withheld)
Hi (name withheld) –
Thanks for writing to the MRFF. Mikey Weinstein has read your email and asked that I provide a response, which I’m very glad to do. I’m a lifelong, active, and committed Christian, a USAF Academy graduate (’85), and a veteran USAF officer… in addition to being a staunch MRFF supporter.
And I have to say…. I’m tired, too, (name withheld).
I am tired of the insistence by some of my fellow Christians that being Christian in America entitles them to preferential treatment. I am tired of hearing about Christian military leaders who are unwilling to accept that they have an obligation to balance the expression of their own personal beliefs with their obligation to respect the Constitutional rights of their subordinates.
But even though I’m tired, I still think there is value in sharing accurate information about the MRFF generally, and about the Maj Gen Olson situation specifically… so let’s go there now —-
First, you should know that the MRFF is neither anti-God nor anti-religion. Many, in fact a majority, of MRFF supporters and clients are people faith, including me (as I’ve already mentioned). We do not oppose any particular religion beliefs.
Second, you should know that we fully support Maj Gen Olson’s right to his religious beliefs, as well as his right to express those beliefs in an appropriate time, place, and manner.
Our mission as an organization is to ensure that all members of the United States Armed Forces fully receive the Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom to which they and all Americans are entitled by virtue of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Part of that focus is to expect that all military leaders, especially those at the most senior level, are cognizant of their professional obligations and that they act appropriately.
So if both of the above points are true (which they are), then why have we objected so strongly to Gen Olson’s speech?
The key issue with Maj Gen Olson’s participation in the NDP Task Force event is that he did it in an inappropriate manner, one which I believe is a pretty obvious violation of Air Force Instruction 1-1, Section 2.12 which governs the actions of all USAF leaders in this area. It may help to read the specific guidance in that AFI:
“2.12. Balance of Free Exercise of Religion and Establishment Clause – Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for their own free exercise of religion, including individual expressions of religious beliefs, and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. They must ensure their words and actions cannot reasonably be construed to be officially endorsing or disapproving of, or extending preferential treatment for any faith, belief, or absence of belief.”
There are two important things to take away from that paragraph. First, military leaders do not possess an unfettered right to free expression of their religious beliefs at any time, in any place, or in any manner. So, all of the commentary that is flying about claiming that Maj Gen Olson has an absolute First Amendment right to do so is uninformed and incorrect.
Second, the final sentence of Section 2.12 is critically important. Please take a moment to read that sentence, then reflect upon the particulars of the General’s speech at the NDP Task Force event
— He appeared in full uniform
— He did not make any statement to suggest that he was speaking strictly as an individual and not as a USAF leader
— Most seriously, at the end of his speech he expressed a belief that the Defense Department, and all US troops, all should “depend on Christ” (as an aside… how do you think that went over with the many non-Christians in Maj Gen Olson’s chain of command?)
Put it all together, and he was over the line that is plainly described in AFI 1-1 for all USAF leaders.
So again, the issue is not that he spoke about his faith — it’s that he did so in a manner that conflated his personal views with his official position, and that was inappropriate. Most of the static that we’re hearing in emails, and that I’m seeing on websites where this issue is being discussed, is driven by the misconception that the MRFF is opposed to Olson’ s Christian beliefs. That is NOT the case. As a Christian and former USAF officer myself, I understand very well the sentiment that he expressed in his speech — but again, the specific content of what he shared is not the issue.
Personally, I’m glad that Maj Gen Olson has such strong, heartfelt beliefs. But I’m sad that he didn’t take the time to consider how the manner in which he appeared at this event might be construed, and that he didn’t take more care to ensure a clear delineation between his personal religious beliefs and his professional obligations.
Thanks again for writing.
Peace,
Mike Challman
Christian, USAFA graduate, USAF veteran, MRFF supporter
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