Reflecting on America’s Values on the Eve of July 4: An Open Letter to MRFF

Open Letter from Pace Lattin to Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation

As the 4th of July approaches and we reflect on the Founding of Our Country, it is important for us to also reflect on the Foundations of our Country. Currently hundreds of thousands of members of the Armed Forces are stationed all over the world with one main reason for their deployment: to protect the United States of America and the values of which this Country was founded on. This Holiday requires us to understand these values and put them in perspective, regardless of our personal opinions, views or religion.

As a Survivor of 9/11, I often think about what these values are, as many of my friends in Law Enforcement and Public Safety were killed on that fateful day. I wonder what they died for, and why thousands of members of our Armed Forces died since then. During the last 10 years my views have extensively changed and I’ve come to real conclusion that what has made this Country strong is our seemingly undying belief that this Country should protect the weakest of our population, the minority of the people against everyone from political tyrants to religious extremists.

I’ve also come to the conclusion that we currently face in this Country an enemy that wants to pervert the Founding principles of this Country in order to promote their religious extremism and hateful agenda. They have come together under a new banner, claiming to be Christian, claiming to be following the Founding Fathers’ principles, and have used the problems of this Country, the trials that we face as an excuse for their behavior. They ignore the weak, in favor of the strong, ignore the poor in favor of the rich and attack those who cannot defend themselves while using the name of God.

The Oath of Enlistment/Commissioning requires that all members of the Armed Forces declare that they will “Support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Now we are faced with a domestic attack from religious extremists who have infiltrated our Military in order to prevent the vast majority of our Armed Forces from defending the Constitution. While they are garbed in various manners of uniforms, they wear the uniforms of Crusaders, in a self-proclaimed war against anyone who does not follow their extremist doctrine. They believe that the US Constitution should be burned, destroyed and replaced with a new document that requires all Soldiers and Citizens to follow one belief and never have an opinion that deviates from that belief.
Mikey, I want to personally thank you for taking a stance, at an extreme personal toll to you, your family and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation to fight for what is right and fight for the Principles of the United States Constitution. This fight is not about what is popular, nor even what is “best” but instead what is Just, Right and Honorable. Continue your fight knowing that the vast majority of us support your cause to determine the future of Our Country.

Best wishes and Good Luck,

Pace Lattin
[email protected]