MRFF Grants & Database Administrator Andy Kasehagen splendidly responds to so-called supporter who writes “you might be losing me” over MRFF’s support of Muslim USAFA cadets

From: (name withheld)
Subject: Re: MRFF Addendum Analogy Re: USAFA’s Insensitive “Ramadan Remedy” for Their Muslim Cadets
Date: March 12, 2025 at 7:00:36 PM MDT
To: [email protected]

Is it a good idea to incorporate Ramadan into the army practices? It’s kinda backwards. No religion should be accommodated. Especially not ones whose many followers believe our demise is their life mission and have demonstrated so much.

Mickey, I’ve always supported you ever since we met (and dined in San Jose) but you might be losing me. Religions are oppressive (especially Islam) and accommodating them supports oppression. Acceptance of oppression does not bring freedom. It brings more oppression.

(name withheld)

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Response from MRFF Grants & Database Administrator Andy Kasehagen

From: Andy Kasehagen
Date: Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Subject: Re: MRFF Addendum Analogy Re: USAFA’s Insensitive “Ramadan Remedy” for Their Muslim Cadets
To: (name withheld)

Dear Mr. (name withheld),

My name is Andy Kasehagen and I have worked with Mikey and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) since 2010 as MRFF’s Grants & Database Administrator.  Mikey has read your email and asked me to respond on his and MRFF’s behalf.

Your email indicates that you have met and supported Mikey/MRFF for some time.  Our email records (Constant Contact) indicate you’ve been receiving updates of our activities in pursuit of our stated mission since at least July of 2014.  However, your email leads me to believe that your understanding of MRFF’s mission and personal definition of ‘support’ and ‘freedom’ is at odds with Mikey’s and MRFF’s at best:

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) is dedicated to ensuring that all members of the United States Armed Forces fully receive the Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom to which they and all Americans are entitled by virtue of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

While Mikey and/or MRFF may be “losing you”, I would suggest that what is being lost is uncertain based on the tone and demeanor put forth in your email.  Please feel free to correct me, but the level of religious control you seem to support (…particularly in regards to Islam) goes against our constitution and intent of our founding fathers (please see below with my emphasis added).  

James Madison (a.k.a. Father of the U.S. Constitution):

“The settled opinion here is that religion is essentially distinct from Civil Government, and exempt from its cognizance; that a connexion between them is injurious to both; that there are causes in the human breast, which ensure the perpetuity of religion without the aid of the law; that rival sects, with equal rights, exercise mutual censorships in favor of good morals; that if new sects arise with absurd opinions or over-heated imaginations, the proper remedies lie in time, forbearance and example; that a legal establishment of religion without a toleration could not be thought of, and with toleration, is no security for public quiet and harmony, but rather a source itself of discord and animosity.” (Letter to Edward Everett, March 19, 1823). https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/04-03-02-0015

I also find the singling out of Islam for your concern to be somewhat misplaced at this time in light of numerous events under the current federal administration’s drive to impose the perverted “Christian” ideology behind ‘Project 2025’ .  I am a lifelong Episcopalian with several ordained Episcopal ministers in my family and I can unequivocally state my higher concerns are currently based upon the blasphemous perversion of Christianity contained in ‘Project 2025’ than any supposed government mandate of ‘Islamic (Sharia) Law’.

While I do share your concern over “oppression of freedom” coming from religious beliefs (…as I think our founding fathers were concerned as well), my concerns do not focus on any particular religion but rather the fundamentalist element of any religion that believes in the blasphemous concept that they… and only they… know the one true word of any deity.  I am also equally concerned with a totalitarian secular approach as exhibited in predominantly communist countries.  While I am not suggesting you are proposing such a totalitarian approach, the straw man (…or ‘argument ad absurdum’) can lead to the following examples:

China: The Chinese government enforces strict regulations on religious activities. The constitution claims to protect “freedom of religious belief,” but in practice, the government closely monitors and controls religious groups. The policy of “Sinicization” requires religious groups to align their doctrines with Chinese culture and socialist values. This includes removing religious symbols from places of worship and restricting religious teachings. Additionally, the government has been accused of severe human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims, including mass internment and forced assimilation.

Vietnam: The Vietnamese government requires religious groups to register with the state and obtain approval for their activities. Unregistered religious activities are often suppressed, and leaders of unregistered groups can face harassment, detention, or imprisonment. The government also monitors and controls the appointment of religious leaders.

North Korea: North Korea is known for its extreme restrictions on religious freedom. The government enforces a state ideology called Juche, which emphasizes self-reliance and loyalty to the ruling Kim family. Religious activities are strictly prohibited, and individuals caught practicing religion can face severe punishment, including imprisonment, torture, and even execution.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/10/23/10-things-to-know-about-chinas-policies-on-religion

-and-

https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/communism-computing-china/censorship.html

Again, I do not believe you support such totalitarian controls on religious beliefs any more than I believe that Secularism=Communism or Christianity=Capitalism or any other equally absurd conflation of religious beliefs (…or lack thereof) with any economic and/or political philosophy.

Mr. (name withheld), I respectfully ask that you consider not only continuing your support of Mikey/MRFF, but actually increasing your support of our mission.

Sincerely,

Andy Kasehagen, Grants & Database Administrator
Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF)

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