MRFF Non-Religious Affairs Advisor Dustin Chalker’s Statement on Wreaths Across America’s non-consensual, non-Christian, pagan symbols on graves
keyboard-typing-1200×628
I am not a Christian, but Christmas is one of my favorite holidays! Winter holidays have always been an important psychological tool for helping populations survive the winter. Cold, food scarcity, and depression have taken a lot of lives throughout history. Societies that develop warm, hopeful, loving traditions to fortify their people have a better chance of surviving and thriving. My family has celebrated “Grinchmas” for over a decade, setting overnight traps with the kids, stealing presents and hiding them around the house or setting up a scavenger hunt, and other fun activities every Christmas morning.
See, Christmas is not a Christian holiday at all, but a low-effort adaptation of pagan solstice traditions. For example, Judeo-Christian scriptures explicitly prohibit cutting down trees and decorating them “as the pagans do.” Astrotheological analysis of the New Testament conclusively places the alleged birth of Yahushua squarely on September 11th of 3 B.C., not December 25th. I could go on, but the point is there is a massive gap between the Christianity of scripture and ancient tradition vs the “Christianity” of modern Western culture. Regardless, modern Christianity treats Christmas as if it were coherently related to their religion, and that can lead to some problems.
Imagine if some organization called Magic Across America decided to non-consensually place witch hats on the graves of US service-member for Halloween. Can you imagine the uproar of Christian offense? Most folks wouldn’t really care, but this would be desecration in the eyes of many denominations of Christians, who consider such symbols to be grossly against their values (like Harry Potter). Ironically, Wreaths Across America is doing the same exact thing: non-consensually placing non-Christian, pagan symbols on graves. Again, most folks don’t care, but some Christian denominations strongly oppose such pagan decorations, including Quakers, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others.
As for me, throw all the wreaths you want on my grave! That’s an individual choice. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation opposes this paganized “Christian” practice because there is no respect for individual choice. Wreaths Across America does not have the permission of families to do what they are doing. They do not know the beliefs of the deceased or their surviving family. They may be “honoring” them in their own eyes, but only degenerate narcissists treat other people the way they themselves want to be treated. Truly moral conduct requires considering how the other person wants to be treated, not just a self-absorbed reflection on what you want. They are grossly disrespecting some of these families, and it must stop.
Dustin Chalker
MRFF Non-Religious Affairs Advisor
Recent Posts
33 Comments
Comments are closed.
First of all, Christ may have not been born on Dec. 25th, but it is time that Christians celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, so yes it is a Christian holiday. Secondly, the scriptures you talk about cutting down trees and decorating them as the pagans, has absolutely has no relation to today’s Christmas trees, for that passage in scripture was from the Old Testament way before Christ was even born an thousands of years removed from when Christmas trees became popular. Finally, Jesus’ Hebrew name is not Yahushua, it is Yeshua!
First, no, it is a pseudo-Christian holiday. You and your little subgroup of SOME Christians (paganized Christians, specifically) do not speak for Christianity as a whole. Copying something and renaming it doesn’t make it yours. Second, I’ll let others judge your dishonest mental gymnastics for themselves, “Pastor”. Finally, no, Yeshua is a shortened form of Yahushua (Yah is Salvation), spelled yod-hei-waw-shin-waw-ayin. You want that in Proto-Sinaitic script or Ktav Ashuri? The closest correct English transliteration would be Joshua, not “Jesus”.
Just how moronic are you people? The intent of the people leaving the wreaths is a GOOD intent. It has NOTHING to do with Christianity, but everything to do with “doing something positive”. Perhaps you should emulate the groups that try and do positive things, and stop being so concerned about offending someone. No matter what a person may do, in a country with 350,000,000 people in it, someone will be offended.
Dustin, You are triggered! Hopefully you have never bred!
What does it hurt, leaving a wreath on a veterans grave? This is kindness, not hatred that you represent. With so much division in our country, let it be and let it go.
Dustin, great commentary and answers! Impressive! I’m not Christian but also agree, it’s a great holiday, in spite of the Christians like those you read here in comments to the MRFF.
I love Christmas and use this time to celebrate the birth of a man that, by the age of 30, had a very significant impact on the lives of all mankind – Sir Isaac Newton!!!
Whether or not “Hay-soos” actually existed is arguable but there’s no doubt in my mind that Christians posting comments here are usually devout MAGA heads with severely diminished intellectual capacity! They tend to spew pure vitriol and hatred and usually go to the Jesus closet in their heads where they pull out some debased sexual reference directed toward Mikey and the MRFF, resulting form their insecurity and very fragile belief system.
Regarding your “do unto others” comment, AC Grayling says don’t do unto others as you would have them do unto you – they may not like it! :-)
Anyway, Merry Christmas to you! Enjoyed reading your comments.
Mikey The hateful Jew of course doesn’t believe in Jesus…he just believes in his hatred of God and is an agent of Satan. I laugh at you non – believers, as Christ is such a threat to you, even while you claim He is not real. Unless you repent and find Christ, Mikey, you will surely meet your “god”, Satan, when you die. I pray for your eternal well – being, but otherwise, keep your large Jew nose out of things you are incapable of understanding. Happy Hanukah to you!
You are f-ing Nazis
Mikey, are you related to Harvey? You sure seem to share a lot of personality traits. You are a disgrace to the uniform
Wreaths on the grave for Christmas: What does it hurt? Who is being hurt? Are you (Mikey) trying to make a name for yourself here? Pick another cause such as BLM more meaningful to your line of thinking.
Your very first comment tells the story and because you are not a “christian” you feel it’s your right, maybe your duty to attack those who are. Very typical!!! Yes the origin of christmas is pagan, and yes it has nothing to do with the birth of Christ. But who are you to force your thoughts and beliefs on others? Those wishing to use Dec 25th in a manner to acknowledge their christian beliefs have the right to do so and those who your organization claims to defend, died fighting for the right of all Americans to not only believe but to worship and celebrate as they wish.
And…… I find it interesting you choose to “defend” the rights of those you can not speak for themselves and can not tell you how they feel about your “cause”.
Why do we need to be so down on an organization that is trying to be kind. Christmas may be a Christian celebration but Jesus was also a Jew. What does it matter, these soldiers fought for this country and this organization is thanking them and remembering them.
If you are worried about a Christmas decoration that has nothing to do with YOU and it is ruining your life, maybe you have too much time on your hands. Get a job and be a positive contribution to the world instead of a hateful one.
Wow…I am stunned so many have so much time on their hands with nothing better to do than criticize….
This organization has been around since 2005 and they just got to this now? Well, where have they been? the wreath group says that they don’t lay wreaths on graves with the Jewish star. Who exactly are you fighting this fight for?
Keep in mind that Wreaths Across America uses THOUSANDS of volunteers to place the wreaths every year. I know they do not intend to place them on Jewish graves but you cannot check every grave site. They are needed many more wreaths each year and I am sure the ones mistakenly placed on Jewish graves could be used to meet the needs of the organization. Do you even know the history of the organization? Stop turning a mole hill into a mountain and HELP fix the issue.
Sir, You and your organization are truly the “Grinch that stole Christmas”!
I’m a U.S. Marine. Every single member of the Armed Services swears an Oath, it ends with “so help me God”. Before we hit the rack we slap the mattress three times and scream “God Country Corps!” It’s the God of the Bible btw. Sure all religions or lack thereof are tolerated, but they are living in and serving in a Christian Nation with a Bible in every single Court of LAW for witnesses to swear on, God on our money, on every stone monument, in our Anthem and in our Pledge of Allegiance. Our President is Inaugurated with a hand on the Bible. Get over yourselves. You are in a Christian Nation that TOLERATES the rest, but even if technically everyone’s religion is equal under the law, the Unwritten part is to shut up and take the Jesus part even if you don’t agree. Stop being angry athiests and stop pretending the Torah or the Koran are equal to the Bible. Deep deep down you know it’s true. Military members who don’t like the Christianity WOVEN throughout the services are the pussies of the services. (Sorry, I know them personally, and they should’ve joined the Salvation Army instead). Stop crying about hand-made beautiful wreathes being lovingly placed in Honor of the dead. Even on the Jewish graves or the 14 Muslim ones. When they died they met Jesus too. I know I sound like a d..k, but Mikey, you’re BEING a dick. (You must’ve signed up for JROTC and couldn’t hack it huh?)
Every group in the world has its criminals, cokeheads and crackpots. Respect to the veterans in this organization. Disgust to those who disrespect the graves of those being honored with wreaths. Simply irrational to object to wreaths on graves. Childish behavior by people who aren’t of our world.
Instead of sitting behind your computer and writing some stupid article why don’t you guys get your act together send out representatives to make sure wreaths aren’t put on Jewish graves and then do something for those Jewish soldiers so that they can also be remembered. Quit putting down good deeds. Instead of complaining, go out and do something about it, honor the Jewish soldiers… People always have to be so petty these days…
Is this a Joke? This is absolutely the most 1st world, cry baby, grandstanding issue ever. I don’t even know how you kept a straight face in the interview. No one is going to object to a wreath. The second issue is that you need a history lesson. Wreaths are not born out of Christian tradition. Long before they became associated with Christmas, they served as a prominent symbol of victory and power in ancient Greece and Rome. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Apollo says, ” since you cannot be my wife, you shall surely be my tree, O laurel, I shall for ever have you in my hair, on my lyre and quiver.” This inspired the marble statue “Apollo Crowning Himself” with a green crown. Athletes in the Panhellenic games were crowned with wreaths of olives and pine. Yes they have been associated with Christmas since the 16th century (started in Germany) simply because of the practice of setting up and trimming a tree. Instead of throwing the pieces of greenery away, the Europeans wove the excess into Wreaths. The people lived in a time when everything in life was used until it was gone. Know your history before you take on a cause that is clearly just grandstanding.
As a third-generation Jewish veteran of the United States military, Mikey Weinstein and his organization DO NOT speak for me or my Jewish family.. It’s misguided and obnoxious campaigns such as the MRFF’s complaints about something as innocuous and benign as holiday wreaths that INCREASE antisemitism. Perhaps Mikey’s Liberal echo chamber doesn’t include people who disagree with him, but I see and hear the effects of this kind of stupidity.
Jews today have more freedom than they have ever had before anywhere in the world. But it is spiteful idiocy such as this anti-wreath campaign that bites the hand of modern Christianity and modern Christians who CREATED this country in which we have been able to thrive and prosper in relative safety. Mikey Weinstein reinforces every stereotype of the Jew who betrays those who show him kindness and who is working to destroy the society which has done more for Jews than any other in history.
Thank G-d for Christians and the truly great civilization they have built. In the modern world, it is Atheist Jews who feed antisemitism much more than Christians. We Jews are less than 2% of the population of the US, but we keep making demands that affect the other 98+%.
Mikey, you disgust this Jew. Stop proving the antisemites RIGHT with your pettiness.
I never considered a Christmas wreath as other than a secular symbol of the holiday of Christmas. Just because you want to grow your outrageous salary of $314,000 per year is no reason to beat up on a good organization trying to show appreciation to those who served our country.
You apparently only have support from those who want to denigrate those who served in the military.
MRFF’s RESPONSE TO THE DETRACTOR’s COMMENT BELOW:
CHARITY NAVIGATOR RATES MRFF WITH A 100% PASSING “GIVE WITH CONFIDENCE” GRADE ON ITS FINANCES AND ACCOUNTABILITY. CHARITY NAVIGATOR IS THE LARGEST AND MOST-UTILIZED EVALUATOR OF CHARITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
SEE MRFF’s 100% PASSING RATING HERE:
https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/203967302
I’m shocked and disgusted that a Veterans organization of any nature would stoop to this level of hate and division concerning wreaths on graves! A wreath is a holiday gesture of peace and love and remembrance in holiday season. The fact that people took the time and effort to remember these soldiers should be something to cheer and applaud but not this organization! Only an evil vile organization would see it otherwise. Do you think the dead soldiers will mind the wreath or be offended in their afterlife or lack there of? Are you afraid the relatives will be insulted by the same holiday wreath that hangs in most stores and houses in America during the holidays, as opposed to being thankful that someone besides them remembers? A wreath is a holiday decoration!! What if they had put candy canes? That offensive also?? Stupid! You lack common sense or any sense of respect and all you are doing is looking for relevance by preying on kindness and love of other organizations!! Your idiocy and moronic ideology in this matter is disgraceful and as a veteran I am ashamed that THIS is what you choose to fight with so many issues in this world against veterans. Bless your hearts and you might look at finding God or at least common decency!! You would be the last organization for veterans I would donate or support if this is the best you got! ITS A WREATH NOT A “gang symbol”and you are idiots for making the comparison..
Even dogs know negative attention is still attention… You both have stopped me from donating to this vindictive org…. 5 minutes of shame…. Grow up. People like you divide Americans… We do not need this.
Wow Mikey, What a can of gefilte fish you opened on your non profit, I’m sure of one thing, Wreaths for America will benefit way more than your over paid a–!
Wait, you say Christmas isn’t Christian and call it a pagan sourced holiday, but that it’s been “paganized” by Christians. And youre against a non-Christian organization, placing, paganized “Christian” symbols of something that I think you’re saying is technically s not even Christian, on graves? Maybe, I can’t keep track. What a waste of time. Or a clever fundraising technique. Kudos for rousing up liberal donations. Mikey’s got to keep up his standard of living.
Since you are soooo concerned that there maybe families who do not want the wreaths placed on their loved ones graves, why don’t you provide Wreaths with their names and cemetery lots? That will save Wreaths the time and give them extra wreaths to place on other grave sites of Brave service people that would have appreciated the gesture!
You can tell half these commenters are illiterate buffoons who didn’t bother reading what they’re replying to. I appreciate all sincere comments (for or against) from those who actually read and pay attention. To reiterate: I take zero offense to Christmas or Christmas wreaths. I’ve got a tree up and lights on my house right now. But if I only cared about my own perspective and only defended people who agree with me, that would be unprincipled, unamerican, and self-absorbed. Unlike these so-called “Christians”, I care about everyone’s rights, not just my own. The point is that some families of deceased service-members ARE offended, for varying reasons. Doesn’t matter why. Some families see them as Christian and don’t like Christian stuff on their non-Christian relative’s grave, while some Christians see them as pagan and reject them for that reason. I don’t care why they feel the way they do, I care THAT they feel the way they do. I am defending them because other people are non-consensually interfering with their relative’s graves. The government (VA) should NOT be giving a sectarian group blanket access to all veteran graves. It is FINE if they put them out for families who want them.
Weinstein, as a Jew i am ashamed of you. These wreaths are a great gesture.
“You can tell half these commenters are illiterate buffoons who didn’t bother reading what they’re replying to”
You are BIG mad. Lol, we all read it, it’s as stupid of a premise now as ever, get over it.