Travis

Dear Military Religious Freedom Foundation,

Sorry guys but you sound more like an anti-religious group than what your name implies. The display at Travis does not support one religious group. It has a nativity scene and a menorah. They are not establishing any state religion. It’s just the time of year.

Get real and stop being scrooges.

(name withheld)

Dear (name withheld),

It is the season for displays for some religions, that is true. But – positioning these displays at the entry gates of a government funded military base is more than celebrating the season, it is a statement of preference and endorsement that clearly signals to all who pass through those gates that their differing faiths and beliefs are disregarded. This is not a simple isolated event – it is intentional. We fully support the erection of these displays on Base at the respective Chapels and places of worship which is the appropriate setting. The insistence that our military is synonymous with a biblical worldview is dangerous on many levels.

Many of us at MRFF are mainstream Christians who honor the beliefs of others and recognize the inequity of having religious displays up front and center on the grounds of an institution that is as much theirs as everyone else. Imagine the outrage that would erupt if displays were erected during holy seasons for other religions. For example, a display that coincides with the 29 or 30 days of Ramadan? It would be met with fierce opposition!

This is not about objecting to Christianity or any other faith, quite the contrary…it is about protecting freedom of religion for all our Armed Forces personnel. Merry Christmas, (name withheld).

Leah Burton
MRFF Board Member