Veterans Bible law Suit in NH
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On May 20, 2019, at 3:54 PM, John Compere wrote:
(name withheld),The Military Religious Freedom Foundation opposes fundamentalist Christians putting their religious scripture versions in the middle of non-religious POW/MIA remembrance displays to publicly proselytize their private religious beliefs in government facilities for many valid reasons, but primarily because it violates the US Constitution & American law.All POWs, MIAs & military veterans are not fundamentalist Christians & exclusively promoting Christian scripture in government facilities is a violation of the 1st Amendment prohibiting our government from endorsing & promoting a religion & requiring government neutrality regarding religion (neither pro-religion nor anti-religion but religion-neutral). Religious scriptures can be placed in hospital chapels for those who wish to see them.We consider respecting & supporting our American Constitution & the law of our land to be neither a waste of resources nor a scam. Your willful ignorance of both just encourages us to do more.“Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained for it is the only safeguard for our liberties.” – LINCOLN
Brigadier General John Compere, US Army (Retired)Disabled American Veteran (Vietnam Era)Advisory Board Member, Military Religious Freedom Foundation (Composed of over 80% Christians)
Dear Brigadier General John Compere,
Thank you for your thoughtful email. I find your rational while well-intentioned missing the point and purpose of displaying the bible of a former POW in WWII. The display honors the POWs and MIAs sacrifices and represents a source of hope for them during trying times. That bible represents all religious faiths, for all the POWs and MIAs in all wars. Why is it your organization missed this? Pursuing a legal remedy for a non-issue MRFF invented is a waste of time and resources. MRFF should have been working with the VA and advocating for the display of other religious books over time or on a revolving basis. Perhaps, supporting the VA efforts to honor these POWs and MIAs would have been a more positive pursuit.
You and Weinstein resorting to name calling shows your shortcomings. Further telling me “Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution” is a poor attempt to suppress my first amendment rights. You can choose to share your opinion and we can agree to disagree. It is clear, you and Weinstein believe your voices are so loud others will buy in. Calling people ignorant of a “just cause” is just another example of your own ineptitudes. As you are encouraged to support your visions, I am more grounded in supporting mine.
Thank you for your service to our great nation. Just a quick note, I have supported veterans for over 30 years through participation in non-profits and providing housing. I have a great appreciation for all veterans in our country.
Have a great Memorial Day, as I will be honoring all Veterans on that day.
(name withheld)
Ps. Using bold and an over-sized Verdana font is considered by some as yelling in social media and emails
Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member John Compere
On May 21, 2019, at 7:54 AM, John Compere wrote:
As mentioned in my earlier response, there are many valid reasons why the Foundation opposes fundamentalist Christians putting their religious scripture versions in the middle of non-religious POW/MIA remembrance displays to publicly proselytize their private religious beliefs in government facilities – not only the lawful violations.
Originated in 1967 by a group of our Vietnam War combat pilots, the River Rats, without religious scripture and continued thereafter by the American Legion without religious scripture, the POW/MIA display purpose was & continues to be leaving a place at the dinner table for our missing comrades and not forgetting them. It is about their remembrance – not someone else’s religious beliefs.Altering the display to promote a religion instead of remembrance distorts its historic secular purpose & tradition, disrespects all POWs, MIAs & military veterans who are not fundamentalist Christians, & disregards common American dinner table settings that do not include religious scripture placed predominately in the middle of them.“It has been suggested that [the military chaplaincy] has a tendency to introduce religious disputes into the Army, which above all things should be avoided, and in many instances would compell men to a mode of Worship which they do not profess.” – 1st President & Commander-in-Chief GEORGE WASHINGTON
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