“Nativity scene” Detractor Responses by MRFF Board Member John Compere, Advisory Board Members Marty France and Mike Farrel, and Founder & President Mikey Weinstein

Published On: December 20, 2024|Categories: MRFF's Inbox, Top News|4 Comments|
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On Dec 20, 2024, at 10:37 AM, (name withheld) wrote:

I’m not a big Christian fan but your crusade reminds me of a toddler tantrum. Find some worthwhile to do with your time.

Sincerely,

Someone who is way smarter than you


Response from MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein

From: Michael L Weinstein
Date: December 20, 2024 at 10:52:00 AM MST
To: (name withheld)
Subject: Re: Nativity scene

For someone who is “way smarter than (me)”, I think you meant to say“something“ instead of “some“ in your imbecilic email to me, sport… Perhaps consider going back to get that GED?…


Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Martin France

On Dec 20, 2024, at 11:07 AM, Martin France wrote:

Dear (name withheld), thanks for your short, but civil note.  I’m an advisory committee member of the MRFF and, in that capacity, I sometimes volunteer to respond to emails like yours.  BTW, I’d also like to thank you for sending your email from a traceable source (i.e., real email address) instead of some cowardly, anonymized site–which is what we regularly see.

First, Mikey and the MRFF are not on a “crusade.”  That word has religious overtones that many find distasteful and inaccurate in many ways.  The crusades were a gruesome anti-Muslim campaign that failed miserably and were responsible for deaths of thousands of innocents.  The campaign that the MRFF wages is in support of the Constitution of the US that states that the government shall take no steps that could be interpreted as the establishment or preferential treatment of any specific religious perspective–or no religion at all.  It also states that there should be no religious test for those holding public or appointed office within the government, including the military.

The incident to which I believe you are specifically addressing was the recent request by several veterans and members of the military to remove a Christmas nativity scene from the Walter Reed Hospital–a hospital run by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA).  Someone at Walter Reed inappropriately placed that display within the hospital–a move counter to the Establishment Clause of the Constitution because it could reasonably be interpreted to show preference for the Christian religion over, say, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and many other religions–or it could be displaying a preference for religion in general over no religion.  Especially if it’s the ONLY holiday religious display, one could interpret that to mean that only Christians are welcome at Walter Reed, or that only their holidays are important.  Walter Reed leadership, when alerted, realized the error in their ways and promptly removed the display.

Clearly, you would not have wanted the display to remain in place, knowing that a large institution like Walter Reed and the DoD are served by or have members that span the spectrum of religious belief and that ALL should be able to receive service (or serve honorably) without concern for religious bias–or be subjected to overt displays of sectarian religiosity in a location where it’s inappropriate..

I realize that defending the rights of veterans and service members may not be how you choose to spend your time.  That’s your right.  However, for folks like me that have suffered from religious bias during our careers, it’s VERY important to me that the MRFF exists and that it and Mikey take our rights seriously, spending their time to defend us.  So, you do you.  We’ll do what we do.

Finally, I’m pleased to know that you’re smarter than Mikey (and, presumably me).  In my 65 years of life, I have noticed a lot of similar “projection.”  Why is it that the people that have to say, “I’m not racist, I have Black friends” or, “I don’t have a racist bone in my body,” always seem to turn out to be racists?  Maybe it’s for the same reason that people who SAY they are smarter than others are really just insecure and feel like they need to project a sense of superior intelligence over others to feel that way.  We see similar projection in politicians who call others liars, when they are convicted frauds.  We see it in religious hypocrites who preach family values and turn out to be predators.  Projection is a very common compensating/coping mechanism.  You’re smart.  I accept that.  You’re probably smarter than me.  I hope that makes you feel better.

Thanks again for your note.

Marty France, PhD
Brigadier General, USAF (Retired)
MRFF Advisory Board Member. 


Response from MRFF Board Member John Compere

On Dec 20, 2024, at 1:40 PM, John Compere wrote:

Dear “Someone who is way smarter than you”,

Your sanctimonious communication reflects only on yourself and reveals only your own ignorance of the United States Constitution, Department of Defense directives, Department of Veteran Affairs directives and Armed Forces regulations prohibiting military endorsement of religion and requiring military neutrality regarding religion. At military installations and facilities during this winter holiday season, religious displays are authorized only at chapels.

For your information, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is an American non-profit civil rights advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the religious freedom of present and past military personnel. We are composed of 900 volunteer and paid staff (85% Christians) and have represented over 91,000 military men and women (95% Christians) who requested their right to religious freedom guaranteed them under the Constitution be protected. For that advocacy, we have been nominated 7 times for the Nobel Peace Prize. We represent the religious freedom of all faiths and beliefs of military members when requested to do so by them. Be assured we will continue to do so with pride and patriotism.

For your additional information, attached is my recently published article on our winter holiday season which can be found on our website (www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org).

John Compere
Brigadier General, US Army (Retired)
Disabled American Veteran (Vietnam Era)
Board Member, Military Religious Freedom Foundation


Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Mike Farrell

On Dec 20, 2024, at 8:55 PM, Mike MFO wrote:

Hi (name withheld),

Claiming to be “way smarter” than someone you don’t know isn’t a wise thing to do.  Attached are some words from someone else who thought the work we do to be “worthwhile”.

Mike Farrell

(MRFF Board of Advisors)

________________________________________________________

On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 6:11 PM (name withheld) wrote:

You need to read the entirety of the Federalist Papers.  Start there.

________________________________________________________

Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Mike Farrell

From: Mike
Date: Sun, Dec 22, 2024 at 1:02 AM
Subject: Re: Nativity scene
To: (name withheld)

Have done so. And I remain convinced that the separation of church and state is a fundamental necessity to the maintenance of a healthy democracy. Reading comments like yours, condescension and all, only supports our commitment.

Mike Farrell

(MRFF Board of Advisors)

___________________________________________________________

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4 Comments

  1. J.P. December 20, 2024 at 10:53 am

    Do I smell smoke? Was that just the burn (Name Withheld) suffered, or was it the gears grinding in (Name Withheld)’s head without sufficient lubrication?

  2. Oscar December 21, 2024 at 7:21 am

    Yup in typical form, Mikey responds like a fucking toddler.

  3. Gunther December 21, 2024 at 5:02 pm

    Nope Oscar, That was (Name Whitheld).

  4. Synergy December 21, 2024 at 6:35 pm

    Speaking of toddlers, how’s Twump doing? He getting ready to sit in a big fire truck on inauguration day. You know, get him a fireman hat, let him toot the horn a few times.

    Maybe a garbage truck too! Gets to wear a safety vest. Show everyone what he really wants to be when he grows up? :-)

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