Trump’s Transportation Secretary Vows to Undo MRFF’s 2023 Victory Getting Merchant Marine Academy to Move Giant Jesus Painting to Chapel [WITH NEW VIDEO FROM MIKEY WEINSTEIN]
In January 2023, MRFF, acting on a complaint from a group of seventeen alumni, staff, faculty, and midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, New York, sent a demand to the Academy’s superintendent that a gigantic painting of Jesus hovering over a lifeboat be removed from its completely improper and Constitution-violating location in the Academy’s Wiley Hall administrative building, a demand that was successful in getting the painting moved to the Academy’s chapel.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when Trump’s new secretary of transportation, former reality TV star Sean Duffy, visited the Academy, which unlike the other service academies, which are under the Department of Defense, is under the Department of Transportation.
Speaking to a group of Academy midshipmen, Duffy whipped his audience into a frenzy when he asked at the end of his speech,“Can we bring Jesus up from the basement?”
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Perhaps someone who’s wiser than I can explain something that bothers me here: why would Transportation Secretary Duffy want to waste my taxpayer money losing a lawsuit over an action so clearly un-Constitutional as moving this painting from a wholly appropriate place — in the Chapel — back to the wholly inappropriate place from which it was removed?
I don’t get it. Can someone — anyone — make this make sense to me? Because if my funds are involved, I’d much rather they go to upholding the Constitution’s ban on the government establishing a state religion and supporting the individual’s right to free exercise of religion than on defending a position that is indefensible . . . .
But, on a different note, I have celebrated Passover with my Jewish wife — who is also an Air Force retiree — for 42 years now. Chag Pesach Sameach to all who celebrate Passover, wherever you may be — or whatever religion you celebrate!
J.P., The only reason I can think of is it’s performance theater. Placing the painting in the chapel, which is in the basement (?) is Constitutional. Duffy is saying out loud and proud that he isn’t following the Constitution. He’s 100% in the tank for Project 2025 and their “post constitutional era” pushing brethren.
Whatever religious denomination the NAR identifies with is the flavor of Christianity they are pushing. At least this week. Let’s go purity testing.
What gives me a spark of optimism in the here/now are the MAGA labeled factions breaking off from the MAGA tent. While each faction is of concern I guess the enemy of my enemy wasn’t the friend they thought it could be.
Grins. Someone didn’t read history. Lots of someones.
Thank you for the well wishes with returns to you and yours.
From the sound of the applause, your 17 people who weak woke Biden people succumbed to were greatly outnumbered. I’m sure a painting of Moses parting the Red Sea or Jonah and the whale would be welcome as well.
John1, I suppose they would — if you’re willing to have paintings that are both historically and Biblically inaccurate. First, Moshe did not part the Red Sea: God parted the sea when Moshe did as God commanded and one of the Israelites stepped into the water. Second, it was the REED Sea that was allegedly parted.
In the case of that whiner Jonah (something I didn’t realize until my Jewish wife pointed this out to me) was not swallowed by a whale: the Biblical text says he was swallowed by a fish. He might have been swallowed by a whaleSHARK, but not a whale. Of course, if Jonah had done what his God told him to do in the first place, that fish wouldn’t have had to endure three days with Jonah in its stomach. I mean, would you want to swim around for three days with Jonah kvetching in your gut? I’ll bet the fish was GLAD to hurl Jonah when they got to Nineveh!
Huh, if the FOTUS admin wants to bring Religion up from the Basement (which is where the chapel is located) then I guess it’s time for one of the many official religions to petition for representation. I mean it’s a First Amendment Right so if the NatC’s are going to push religion, lets push them all.
I’m all for Kali to have her portrait on the wall in the meeting area. Seems fair to me.