ANTICIPATED RHETORIC

Hi (name withheld) –

Mikey Weinstein has read your email and asked if I’d be interested in responding.  I’m a lifelong, committed and active Christian, a USAF Academy graduate and veteran Air Force officer… in addition to being a staunch advocate and supporter of the MRFF.

I’m having a bit of a tough time replying to your note, though, as you don’t indicate what rhetoric you’ve anticipated, or where it is that you believe we have “wasted time”, or on what “meaningless bullshit” you feel we’ve wasted it. But I’m going to guess that your note was prompted by reports about concerns we’ve raised about the manner in which a “Gospel Explosion” event was promoted at Cannon AFB. But whether it is that issue or another Constitutional violation, my comments to you would be essentially the same in any case.

In the matter of the “Gospel Explosion”, we’ve raised no objection to the event itself, only the manner in which it was promoted on-base.  The rules and regulations governing the promotion of this type of event could not be more clear, or more simple. The US military as an organization, and its leaders in their professional capacity, are prohibited from promoting any particular religious belief or non-belief. Pretty straightforward in my view, and so I’m surprised that Air Force leadership at Cannon AFB would have any difficulty seeing the problem in promoting a sectarian religious event through regular military channels.

You may have read or heard the statement by the base spokesman, who said the “Gospel Explosion” event was promoted ‘in the same manner as one for any activity at the base, like a standup comic or a golf tournament.’  Interesting perspective, yet entirely mistaken.  there are no rules, and no Constitutional protections for military members, related to comedy or golf.  But there is for religious activities, and so it simply cannot be treated in the same manner.  This particular event should have been promoted through the chaplaincy, and not through the line NCO’s and officers.

You may feel that this is nothing but “meaningless bullshit” and you are certainly entitled to your opinion.  I disagree, and I don’t believe that my Christian beliefs are compromised by expecting that our military must provide all service members, including those whose beliefs differ from my own, the Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom to which they and all Americans are entitled by virtue of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.  Ideally, our military organizations will do this without outside input… but when they don’t (as in the case of the “Gospel Explosion”) then it’s important for an advocacy group like the MRFF to speak up.

Peace,

Mike Challman

Christian, USAF veteran, MRFF supporter

(MRFF Board of Advisors)

WITH ALL THE INCREDIBLE PERIL THIS COUNTRY FACES,  CAUSED  BY THE ACTIONS OR  INACTIONS OF AN ULTRA LIBERAL SOCIETY CHOCKED FULL OF PROGRESSIVE WHITE GUILT, THE FACT THAT YOU ALL ARE USING A HARMLESS RELIGIOUS  ANNOUNCEMENT (REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT

OCCURRED) AS A MAJOR THREAT TO OUR CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS,  IS TOTALLY INCREDIBLE AND DANGEROUSLY NAIVE.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND RELIGION ARE IN NO WAY IMPACTED BY THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS INFORMATION. MOST PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF MAKING THEIR OWN DECISIONS. AND THE INFO CAUSED NO HARM.

YOU HAVE TRIVIALIZED YOUR BACKGROUND AS MILITARY ACADEMY GRADUATES AND PREVIOUS OFFICERS WHO SHOULD BE PREDISPOSED TO UNDERSTANDING SOMETHING OF SOCIETY.

YOU HAVE TAKEN UP THE TORCH FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE SOME KIND OF RETRIBUTION.

 MICKEY W.  AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE MRFF DO VERY LITTLE OTHER THAN INFLAME RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC HATREDS.

IT WOULD BE MEANINGFUL IF YOU ALL PUT YOUR EFFORTS INTO SOMETHING THAT MOST PRACTICAL PEOPLE GIVE A DAMN ABOUT. YOU HAVE MISUED WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN EXPENSIVE ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS.

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

(name withheld)