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Published On: December 24, 2015|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|0 Comments|

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Mike Weinstein’s an idiot!

“This outrageous internal administrative decision to allow its football team to engage in massive orchestrated sectarian Christian prayers right before kickoff for the world to see on television is a monstrous travesty and brutal breach of federal constitutional law and Department of Defense/Air Force regulations,”
Affording players who want to pray before the game the opportunity to do so does not breach federal constitutional law.
Little Mikey simply wants to do away with Christianity.  That’s it.
(name withheld)

Oh, (name withheld),

Please don’t be foolish. It’s Christmas Eve, for heaven’s sake. Where’s your Christmas spirit?

It is so pathetic to have to listen to pretend Christians who are so insecure about their faith that they assume this “war on Christianity” nonsense is more than a ploy used by fundamentalists to gain attention and power. Grow up!

Over 95% of those associated with the MRFF are Christians; they are just not “us versus them” Christians. They are the kind of Christians who believe in and practice the values Jesus taught, and who understand America is a land where people are free to believe what they choose to believe and won’t accept having someone’s religious perspective imposed on them.

Give it a rest, pal. Mikey is trying to protect your freedom to believe as you choose. The frustrating part is that he’s trying to protect it from people as narrow minded as you are.

Merry Christmas,

Mike Farrell

(MRFF Board of Advisors)


 

Throttle back, cowboy.
Who is Mike Farrell anyway!? Did I miss something?  Did someone invite you to the party? Is that Mikey’s MO – to bring in his ‘muscle’ to make some feeble attempt at criticism?
‘Foolish, pathetic, grow up, narrow minded.”  Good choice of words.  Did that email make you feel better?
(name withheld)

It did, actually.We get a lot of nonsense over the ether-waves from people attacking Mikey in just the way you chose to. And Mikey stays pretty busy protecting the religious freedom of the women and men in the military, so some of us volunteer to respond on his behalf to save time. And aggravation.

You launch your attack with a person insult, follow it with an assertion that fails to comprehend the facts of the situation, then conclude with an utterly stupid, if unoriginal, assumption.

Given the givens, the response you got is perfectly appropriate, in my view.

I’ve dealt with enough folks who play the anti-Christian card to be sick of it. If you don’t like my response, quit the ad hominem attacks, learn the facts and raise whatever questions you may have. If presented fairly you’ll get a proper response.

Mike Farrell

(MRFF Board of Advisors)


 

Alright, Mike.
For the sake of clarity, permit me to clarify.
All this that I claim, ‘or have been told about,’ or ‘that’s hard to understand ‘ is stuff that I’ve witnessed.  I’m a 20+ year veteran.  I was on the football team at the Academy.  I’m quite confident that I can speak about what I’ve experienced.
The proselytizing and promotion of one religion over another isn’t taking place on the football field.  It’s easy to lump that under that umbrella, just as it is to say that ‘Christian fundamentalists are trying to create an Army of Jesus Christ.’  That makes us feel better when we say things like that.  It makes us feel better when we say ‘it must be because you share the same views.’  The reality though, is that what is taking place on the field doesn’t violate constitutional law as your organization claims that it does.  Period.  A few players kneeling in prayer doesn’t equate to overt attempts at trying to convert someone from one religion to another.  A coaching staff that neither condones nor condemns a player from mentally preparing for a game through whatever secular /religious act they choose is not promoting that religion over another.
The problem with our ‘secular’ society today is that we’ve become so over-the-top hyper-sensitive to anything & everything.  One person decides that they’re offended by something and we have a lawsuit.  I’ve worked with/for Jews, Christians, atheists, Muslims, and Hindus.  Should I have filed suit against a commander who had the Star of David on his wall?  I didn’t feel threatened by that.  Should I have gone to court because my Muslim commander prayed 5 times a day at work?  I didn’t feel threatened by that.  Just seems that we’re only threatened by those fundamental Christian zealous crusaders.
Lastly, you’re quick to label me as narrow-minded because of a belief that I hold to.  ‘Pretend Christian.’  ‘Insecure in my faith.’  … says the non-believer.  What’s the point in believing something if you don’t believe that it’s right?  If you believe in spiritual truths, as I do, you believe that there is a right way and a wrong way.  That’s why people adhere to a certain religion – because they believe that it’s right.  That doesn’t make them narrow minded.
Perhaps my ‘idiot’ claim was a little strong right out the chute.  I’m fairly certain though that my claim was not inappropriate.
(name withheld)

Hi (name withheld),

 

No problem. Let me respond to your points in the body of your message. I’ll do it IN CAPS so you can differentiate my words from yours.

 

For the sake of clarity, permit me to clarify.

 

All this that I claim, ‘or have been told about,’ or ‘that’s hard to understand ‘ is stuff that I’ve witnessed.  I’m a 20+ year veteran.  I was on the football team at the Academy.  I’m quite confident that I can speak about what I’ve experienced.

 

GOOD TO KNOW. MAY I ASSUME, SINCE YOU’RE A VETERAN OF SOME YEARS, THAT YOU WERE AT THE ACADEMY AND ON THE TEAM A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO? IF SO, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED AT THE ACADEMY SINCE YOU WERE THERE?

 

The proselytizing and promotion of one religion over another isn’t taking place on the football field.

 

THAT’S NOT WHAT THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WHO HAVE COME TO THE MRFF WITH THEIR CONCERNS HAVE TO SAY.

 

It’s easy to lump that under that umbrella, just as it is to say that ‘Christian fundamentalists are trying to create an Army of Jesus Christ.’

 

I DON’T SAY THAT BECAUSE IT’S “EASY.” I SAY IT BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT THEY SAY QUITE OPENLY.

 

That makes us feel better when we say things like that.

 

ON THE CONTRARY, IT SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME WHEN APPARENTLY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE COME TO THEIR DEFENSE.

 

It makes us feel better when we say ‘it must be because you share the same views.’

 

I TRUST YOU’RE NOT PRETENDING TO QUOTE ME. WHAT I SUGGESTED WAS YOUR COMFORT WITH OR APPRECIATION OF THE EXPRESSION BY THE TEAM MAY HAVE BEEN “BECAUSE YOU SHARE THE BELIEF YOU ASSUME IS BEING PRACTICED BY THOSE ON THE FIELD.” AND THEN I POINTED OUT THAT SOME OF THOSE ON THE FIELD ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT IS GOING ON.

 

The reality though, is that what is taking place on the field doesn’t violate constitutional law as your organization claims that it does.  Period.  WHILE THAT’S THE POSITION THE INSTITUTION HAS TAKEN, IT DOESN’T MAKE IT SO.

 

A few players kneeling in prayer doesn’t equate to overt attempts at trying to convert someone from one religion to another.  THAT’S NOT THE MRFF’S CLAIM. AS SUGGESTED BY THE COMPLAINING TEAM MEMBERS, IT IS PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO ASSERT THE PRIMACY OF ONE FAITH OVER OTHERS.

 

A coaching staff that neither condones nor condemns a player from mentally preparing for a game through whatever secular /religious act they choose is not promoting that religion over another. WHETHER THIS IS BEING DONE AT THE BEHEST OF OR WITH THE TOLERANCE OF THE COACHING STAFF IS NOT THE QUESTION. THE ACT ITSELF IS CERTAINLY DOING THAT, GIVEN ITS PUBLIC NATURE.

 

The problem with our ‘secular’ society today is that we’ve become so over-the-top hyper-sensitive to anything & everything.  AN INTERESTING OBSERVATION, BUT YOU MAKE AN INAPPROPRIATE CONNECTION BY TYING THE “HYPERSENSITIVITY” YOU PERCEIVE TO THE SECULAR NATURE OF OUR SOCIETY.

 

One person decides that they’re offended by something and we have a lawsuit.  I’ve worked with/for Jews, Christians, atheists, Muslims, and Hindus.  Should I have filed suit against a commander who had the Star of David on his wall?  THAT’S UP TO YOU. IF YOU’RE MAKING REFERENCE TO YOUR MILITARY EXPERIENCE IT MIGHT DEPEND ON WHETHER IT WAS FELT HE WAS DOING THINGS IN ADDITION THAT WERE PROMOTING HIS BELIEF SYSTEM.

 

I didn’t feel threatened by that.  GOOD FOR YOU.

 

Should I have gone to court because my Muslim commander prayed 5 times a day at work?  ONLY IF HE REQUIRED YOU TO JOIN HIM OR OTHERWISE TRIED TO SUGGEST IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO YOU TO DO SO AND YOU GOT THE INFERENCE THAT IT WOULD BE HARMFUL TO YOUR CAREER IF YOU DID NOT.

 

I didn’t feel threatened by that.  GOOD FOR YOU.

 

Just seems that we’re only threatened by those fundamental Christian zealous crusaders. ONLY WHEN/IF THEY ARE INSISTING THEIR BELIEFS ON OTHERS AND/OR THEY DISPLAY THE INTENTION OF CONVERTING THE MILITARY TO THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM.

 

Lastly, you’re quick to label me as narrow-minded because of a belief that I hold to.  ‘Pretend Christian.’  ‘Insecure in my faith.’  … says the non-believer.  WHO TOLD YOU I WAS A NON-BELIEVER?

 

I LABELLED YOU AS NOTHING. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF SELF-DESCRIBED CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE EITHER FORGOTTEN OR NEVER SEEM TO HAVE TAKEN IN WHAT CHRISTIANITY IS ABOUT. YOUR INITIAL BLAST, INSULT ASIDE, INCLUDED THE NONSENSICAL ASSERTION THAT MIKEY AND THE MRFF WANT “TO DO AWAY WITH CHRISTIANITY. THAT’S IT.”

 

IF WHAT YOU GET FROM THE WORK OF THE MRFF IS THAT IT’S ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY, YOU’RE EITHER LEAPING TO AN ASSUMPTION BASED ON WHAT I CAN ONLY ASCRIBE TO IGNORANCE OR INSECURITY OR BUYING INTO THE LIE BEING PITCHED BY THE VERY ZEALOUS FUNDAMENTALISTS THAT YOU APPARENTLY DON’T WANT TO BELIEVE EXIST.

 

What’s the point in believing something if you don’t believe that it’s right?  If you believe in spiritual truths, as I do, you believe that there is a right way and a wrong way.  THAT’S TRUE IF IT’S PART OF THE BELIEF SYSTEM.

 

That’s why people adhere to a certain religion – because they believe that it’s right.  FOR THEM. SOME CAN EVEN HOLD A BELIEF SYSTEM AND MANAGE TO NOT BE THREATENED BY THOSE WHO BELIEVE DIFFERENTLY.

 

That doesn’t make them narrow minded. IF IT MEANS THOSE WHO HOLD TO ANOTHER BELIEF SYSTEM ARE NOT ONLY WRONG BUT DANGEROUS, OR THE ENEMY, OR MUST BE CONVERTED TO THE “ONE TRUE” BELIEF, IT CERTAINLY DOES.

 

Perhaps my ‘idiot’ claim was a little strong right out the chute.  IT WAS.

 

I’m fairly certain though that my claim was not inappropriate. BECAUSE I HAVE ASSUMED A CERTAIN INTELLIGENCE ON YOUR PART DUE TO THIS EXCHANGE, THAT’S A DISAPPOINTMENT. I SUSPECT IT’S BENEATH YOU.

 

Brian  MIKE

 

 

 

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