Mikey Wienstien

‘Religious  Freedom’  That’s right, COMMUNISTS always use the words they are actually at war with to cushion their cause. If you called it ‘The TAKE DOWN OF RELIGION’ or ‘THE DESTRUCTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN AMERICA’ it wouldn’t get any where, would it?? You are a despicable ‘man’ and you need to get out of the Military. If ‘men’ like you are in our Military I can see  why our Military is becoming weak in some areas. Take your JIHAD IDEAS and SHARIA LAWS motivation and join AL-QUEDA. You are forgetting that the REASON WE ARE FREE AND STRONG is because GOOD MEN WHO TRUST IN GOD!! THAT’S RIGHT G-O-D!! THEY are the reason we are a COUNTRY. Not COWARDS! Not TRAITORS! Not WICKED MURDERERS! Not PERVERTS! That’s not what built this COUNTRY!! YOU will stand or cringe in Front of GOD!  SIGNED,  (name withheld)

Dear (name withheld):

I am writing in response to your May 17, 2015 email to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (“MRFF”).  From your letter, I can tell that you clearly know many political and religious “buzz” words, such as communist, Jihad, and Sharia law.  However, you failed to use any of these terms correctly and demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of MRFF’s mission and the right of religious freedom in this country.

First, you state, “COMMUNISTS always use the words they are actually at war with to cushion their cause.”  You then allege that MRFF seeks the destruction of religious freedom, rather than its protection.  As an initial matter, communism is an economic system based on common ownership of a country’s means of production.  MRFF’s mission has nothing to do with ownership or economics.  Instead, MRFF works to protect the religious freedom of all soldiers, sailors, Marines, cadets, and veterans by ensuring that those in their command adhere to the mandates of the Constitution.  These mandates are embodied in the First Amendment, which prohibits the establishment of any religion, as well as in Article VI, which states, “No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust.”

The mission of MRFF is to protect and defend the rights of the brave men and women in uniform who sacrifice so much in order to protect our rights.  It receives numerous complaints every day from service members who are discriminated against or persecuted due to their religious faith or their choice to practice no faith at all.  MRFF works tirelessly to correct the wrongs suffered by these individuals.  You may be surprised to learn that more than 95% of MRFF clients are Christians!  I cannot fathom how anyone could view this work as “despicable” or seeking to destroy religious freedom.

Second, you state, “Take your JIHAD IDEAS and SHARIA LAWS motivation and join AL-QUEDA.”  Again, I must point out your erroneous use of these terms.  The terms “jihad” and “Sharia law” are both religious terms in the context of Islam.  “Jihad” refers to a religious duty of Muslims regarding internal and external conflicts with Islam and its precise definition is a subject of dispute among scholars and practicing Muslims, while “Sharia law” refers to Islamic law based on commands found in the Quran and Hadith.  MRFF has many clients who practice many different religious faiths, including, as stated above, many Christians.  Further, it does not seek to establish law based on any religious text – it only seeks adherence to the Constitution, which is the clearly established secular law of the U.S.  Consequently, it clearly does not have “jihad ideas” or “Sharia Laws motivation.”

Third, you claim that the reason this country is free and strong is because of good men who trust in God.  I agree that our freedom and strength is the result of brave men and women (though, you only give credit to men) who diligently protect and defend our rights.  However, their service and bravery is not dependent on trust in God.  Instead, they protect the Constitution, which protects the religious freedom of all U.S. citizens regardless of which deity, if any, they choose to trust.

Finally, you imply that Mikey Weinstein and MRFF’s board members and volunteers are “cowards,” “traitors,” “wicked murderers,” and/or “perverts” as compared to the “good men who trust in God.”  Even if you disagree that the right of religious freedom for service members should be protected, it is quite a leap to assume that those working to protect this right are cowards, traitors, murderers, or perverts.  You should know that Mr. Weinstein is the subject of many death threats and, therefore, requires full-time armed security as a result of his desire to protect the Constitutional rights of all men and women in uniform.  His wife and children have received similar threats.  If he were a coward, as you claim, MRFF would have closed its doors long ago.  Similarly, if he were a traitor, he would sit quietly and allow thousands of service members to suffer religious persecution.  The idea that he or anyone else involved with MRFF is a “wicked murderer” or “pervert” is so outlandish, I can only conclude that you either do not know the meanings of these words or chose to use them solely due to some juvenile attempt to shock and offend.  Either way, I sincerely suggest that you reflect on the impact your words will have when you “stand or cringe in front of God.”

Blessed be,

Tobanna Barker

MRFF Volunteer