your cause

Published On: May 23, 2015|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|0 Comments|

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Dear Mickey:

  Saw a photo of you recently. Apparently you haven’t missed many meals. You seriously need to get into the gym bubba.
  And as an Academy grad (72) I gotta say you and your undoubtedly miserable ilk are an embarrassment to us all of us who graduated from the zoo. 
  Get a real life.

(name withheld)


 

Dear (name withheld),

I’m a USAFA grad ’77 and was in the AF from ’77 to `12 with a 6 year break in service.  I returned to support GWOT after retiring in 2000 from active duty.  I mention this because I believe we are each committed to the United States, and both have sworn to defend our country.  This gives us a common bond.  I suspect your recent e-mail to Mikey was prompted by the General Olson speech controversy.

I watched the entire General’s speech and was astonished when he said “He put me in charge of failing programs worth billions of dollars. I have no ability to do that, no training to do that. God did that. He sent me to Iraq to negotiate foreign military sales deals through an Arabic interpreter. I have no ability to do that. I was not trained to do that. God did all of that.”

Then the General went on to say how he called his wife every night while deployed and they prayed together.

I’ve been married for nearly 38 years, and it isn’t because I called home every night.  Not to belabor things, but when I was deployed there was NO WAY I could have called my wife every night.  His maudlin “and we prayed every night” is a total improbability for most of the guys I knew while there.  I called home ONCE during DS/DS and during OIF for us to call home we had to get on a (find a) phone, call an operator to patch us to our home base, as a weekly or so “morale call”.

Really?, is this the sort of GO that can give good leadership?  He goes on and implies Christ should be leading the AF.  I think not.  What if you were on his staff and weren’t the right kind of “redeemed Christian?”  Would it be ok for you to ask the General to keep his ridiculous religious beliefs to himself?, probably not.

The MRFF was right on this one, and the AF has once again made a big error.  As far as grads being ashamed (I think that’s what you meant in context) of Mikey, rest assured there are many like me who are proud of him and support his effort to keep creepy religious stuff out of places where it doesn’t belong.  Those places are clearly operations briefing rooms and promotion boards.Your courage to use your real e-mail and name gives you authenticity and it is my hope we can discuss these matters in a respectful manner in the future.  I hope you reconsider your ad hominen attacks on him in the future and actually think about what you say.  There is a lot to be admired in what the MRFF does.

(name withheld)
USAFA ’77


 

Mark:
The class of 77 must have been a bizarre one. You stand with a fool and his cause. Your choice, albeit a miserable one. 

Perhaps you missed the US history class at the zoo where one is taught that God is mentioned in EVERY state constitution and is a part of every founding document of our great nation. But clearly that is part of an inconvenient truth that you and your group choose to ignore. Fortunately these great patriots and men of God stood up for what they believed in and ignored the small minded folks like you.
I will give your articulate, anger filled pal’s reply to my email. This is the clown that you associate yourself with. 

“Hi William. Fuck you you fucking fuck! ”

 Mickey

(name withheld)


 

Dear (name withheld),
Respectfully disagree.
I don’t think Mikey’s cause is a miserable one, and I certainly don’t think he’s a fool.  And, I’m NOT from the Class of ’77.
When you were in uniform, how would you have felt if a new commander came in and stated that Christianity was nothing more than a foolish superstition, and that anyone who practiced it should heave their judgment questioned?  How would you have felt if people were passed over for opportunities because of their deeply-held religious beliefs? How would you have felt if the only people moving up in the ranks were those who denied religious beliefs?
That scenario is completely and totally inappropriate, isn’t it?  Then, why is it reasonable when the roles are reversed?   Why is the defense of someone singled out for not being religious enough, or being the wrong religion, a miserable cause, led by a fool?  Mikey’ clients are men and women in uniform who are being singled out by their command structure because they don’t share the same religious beliefs.  Many are Christians themselves, but are being singled out for “not being Christian enough.”  And, Mikey has taken the often thankless job of standing up for these people.  Should a Jewish officer be passed over for a leadership opportunity just because he’s Jewish?  Should an atheist or agnostic be passed over for promotion just because she doesn’t have steadfast religious beliefs?  Well, it’s happening, and Mikey is the one that’s trying to make our military religion-neutral.
He has never tried to take someone’s religion away from them.  He simply wants it to be independent of the command structure.  He wants the term “…in Jesus’ name we pray,” to be left out of mandatory military functions where some participants might take offense to this phrase.  He wants the Constitution to be the overarching guidance to our military, rather than the Bible.  You might recall that oath you took.   The Constitution was pretty deeply involved.
Does Mikey go over the top?  Yes, he does.  Frequently.  If he didn’t, the leadership who thinks their first obligation is to their religion, and not the Constitution, would never hear the message.  If he wasn’t loud and flamboyant, his voice wouldn’t be heard.  Sadly, because of the way he MUST react to complaints, he’s deemed the villain and gets the most vile, un-Christian hate mail.  That Colonel who insists on duty-time Bible Study is never singled out as the inappropriate actor…only Mikey.
In your note, you gave thanks that the Founding Fathers ignored small minded folks like Mikey.  I suggest you look in a mirror.  Mikey’s “cause” is hardly small minded.  He wants religion to be a personal value, and not a command-directed requirement.  I, for one, certainly think the commander that holds someone’s religion (or lack thereof) against them is far more small-minded than anyone that supports Mikey.
So, count me among those who have made a miserable choice, but I choose to stand with Mikey Weinstein and his cause.  I choose to stand with the Constitution.  I choose to stand with the idea of religious freedom.
(name withheld)



Dear (name withheld),

I’m a ’77 classmate of Mikey Weinstein, and supporter of his MRFF.

Please consider these points, all of which are my opinion.

1. The United States stands as a secular nation. It may not advance ANY religion. Indeed, religion pollutes any national policy or agenda. At the same time, the US govt must NOT act, or appear to act, against any religion. For example, military action must not have even the appearance of any intention of having anything but political outcome. The US gov’t does not and must not have a Crusading agenda, i.e., advancing Christianity against Islam, e.g., or even against other less evangelical Christian sects, etc.. Such an appearance weakens the US, and/or its action to achieve political outcomes. So, the so-called Christian Dominionists, while apparently loving the United States, do fail to understand their government does not, and may not, carry the banner of their religion.

2. In my opinion, religion is a choice, and an Opinion. Some people believe a 2000+ year old collection of writings, is the written word of a god. That is their opinion, not mine. This book tells a lot of stories that contain for them, their chosen belief system. I hope our future national leaders, some who may come from USAFA, hold more personally honed personal strength than some ancient and well-financed belief system.

3. To the Dominionists. What small minded god do you believe in who takes sides, who favors one country or individual over another, or one belief system over another belief system? Your god is not my god. If your god rules the universe, all its billions of light years in all directions, who could believe that this god favors, oh, say, human beings on planet Earth? Or Martians over whoever? Your small-minded god is not my god. In my mind, He/She does not favor any human or human organization, government, religion, etc. A Universe-size loving god with the power you assign this god, could not choose favorites, and therefore choose against not-favorites.

4. What is truth, and what is opinion? A majority does NOT a truth make, it only makes for a lot of agreement within that group. I hold that very little concept has the status of ‘truth.’ Religion of any flavor does not fall under my heading of ‘truth.’

5. Military members, especially those in leadership positions, can believe ANYTHING they choose…PRIVATELY. Privately! In uniform, before their troops, before the public, they must not advance or advocate for any religion. Because, the US Government does not and must not advance any religion. That is our secular government’s policy. Those who represent the US Government, and uniformed general officers in public certainly represent the US government, must not create even the appearance of favoring one religion over another.

Mark Gray
USAFA grad 1977


Dear (name withheld),
Respectfully disagree.
I don’t think Mikey’s cause is a miserable one, and I certainly don’t think he’s a fool.  And, I’m NOT from the Class of ’77.
When you were in uniform, how would you have felt if a new commander came in and stated that Christianity was nothing more than a foolish superstition, and that anyone who practiced it should heave their judgment questioned?  How would you have felt if people were passed over for opportunities because of their deeply-held religious beliefs? How would you have felt if the only people moving up in the ranks were those who denied religious beliefs?
That scenario is completely and totally inappropriate, isn’t it?  Then, why is it reasonable when the roles are reversed?   Why is the defense of someone singled out for not being religious enough, or being the wrong religion, a miserable cause, led by a fool?  Mikey’ clients are men and women in uniform who are being singled out by their command structure because they don’t share the same religious beliefs.  Many are Christians themselves, but are being singled out for “not being Christian enough.”  And, Mikey has taken the often thankless job of standing up for these people.  Should a Jewish officer be passed over for a leadership opportunity just because he’s Jewish?  Should an atheist or agnostic be passed over for promotion just because she doesn’t have steadfast religious beliefs?  Well, it’s happening, and Mikey is the one that’s trying to make our military religion-neutral.
He has never tried to take someone’s religion away from them.  He simply wants it to be independent of the command structure.  He wants the term “…in Jesus’ name we pray,” to be left out of mandatory military functions where some participants might take offense to this phrase.  He wants the Constitution to be the overarching guidance to our military, rather than the Bible.  You might recall that oath you took.   The Constitution was pretty deeply involved.
Does Mikey go over the top?  Yes, he does.  Frequently.  If he didn’t, the leadership who thinks their first obligation is to their religion, and not the Constitution, would never hear the message.  If he wasn’t loud and flamboyant, his voice wouldn’t be heard.  Sadly, because of the way he MUST react to complaints, he’s deemed the villain and gets the most vile, un-Christian hate mail.  That Colonel who insists on duty-time Bible Study is never singled out as the inappropriate actor…only Mikey.
In your note, you gave thanks that the Founding Fathers ignored small minded folks like Mikey.  I suggest you look in a mirror.  Mikey’s “cause” is hardly small minded.  He wants religion to be a personal value, and not a command-directed requirement.  I, for one, certainly think the commander that holds someone’s religion (or lack thereof) against them is far more small-minded than anyone that supports Mikey.
So, count me among those who have made a miserable choice, but I choose to stand with Mikey Weinstein and his cause.  I choose to stand with the Constitution.  I choose to stand with the idea of religious freedom.
Dave Maher, ’78

Dear Mr. Maher :

  Despite the smoke screen and lofty platitudes your buddy stands behind, if you are truly honest with yourself, you have to know that at his core he simply hates Christians. And he makes a career out of trying to hurt folks that have Never done anything to him. If that is not the definition of evil, I don’t know what is!
  It is often been said that that for evil to flourish good men need to stand aside. Well I don’t stand aside; and I have called it like I see it.
  Weinstein gives all graduates a bad name by his vile, profane antics and is deservedly despised by a not inconsiderable number of military men and women. As a grad I hope that he knows that I don’t consider him to be an honorable man and don’t appreciated him identifying with us.
 For Christians, you cannot separate one’s core religious beliefs from service to our nation.  Christians, including me, certainly did not give up that right when we entered service.  I ndeed faith in God has been a part of service life from the beginning. Reflect on the fact that there is a magnificent chapel at every service academy (which I am confident Weinstein would like to see torn down) and at every military installation in existence. Reflect on the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic or the sea of crosses and Stars of David at national  cemeteries worldwide. The se men and women  were not ashamed of their faith .  It was an important part of who they were and  they died to give mean spirited folks like Weinstein the right to be who he is.
  It is curious to me that Weinstein chooses to have his cheering section write me-mostly in a profane manner. Where I come from a man stands up for himself and fights his own battles. But not Weinstein. He must be very insecure to go down this route and clearly needs the affirmation of his buds. 
 As one of them consider this-you, by lending your support to him, are helping to hurt and destroy the careers of kind folks who have committed any greater offense that standing up for their faith. As Jesus said: “If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you in front of my Father”. I am NOT ashamed of my faith and I doubt that the folks that Weinstein attacks are ashamed of theirs.
  Mr. Maher it is your choice whom you befriend and support, but you might honestly consider your association with Weinstein and his radical hate-filled atheist cause. Your choices mark you as a man.
Regards,
(name withheld)

Dear (name withheld),
While Mikey’s actions are despised by many, they’re applauded by many, as well.  If he was reacting on his own, it might be different, but there are thousands….yes, thousands…..of people in uniform who are reaching out to him for help.  Isn’t that an indicator that there are problems out there?
I have no issues with men of faith leading our military, and I honestly don’t believe Mikey has issues here, either.  He takes offense when that faith crosses the line and becomes either a religious test or even approaches a violation of the establishment clause.  There’s a difference between “standing up for your faith” and thrusting your faith onto others.  I don’t believe there’s a place for proselytizing within command channels.
Please don’t ever be ashamed of your faith.  Don’t hide from it.  Use it to bless the lives of those around you.  Weinstein isn’t trying to outlaw faith within the military.  He really isn’t.  He’s just trying to keep it at the chapel and within a person’s soul, and keep it out of the command structure.  Is that really so bad?  Using Christian values as a blueprint for how you interact with people is wonderful.  Assessing a person’s performance through an equation using someone else’s faith as a variable, is not.
But similarly, I will not be ashamed of my association with Mikey Weinstein.  I respect what he’s doing, even if I occasionally question the vitriol with which he does it.  Like you, he won’t stand aside, and he’s calling it like he sees it.  If that choice marks me as a man, so be it.  Because, for every person who has their career destroyed by standing up for their faith, I suspect far more have had their careers destroyed by having the wrong faith, or not enough faith, or no faith at all.
One of us is missing Mikey’s message.  Respectfully, I think it’s you.  He’s not trying to tear down the chapels, and he’s not trying to purge the military of Christians.  It’s not an atheist cause, but a fairness cause.  He believes that there’s room in our military for Jews, and Buddhists, and atheists and agnostics, and all manner of beliefs.  And I, for one, think no American, in uniform or not, should be discriminated against because of what they believe in.  And that, too, is something the heroes in those cemeteries fought for.
Cheers.
djm

 

 

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