Recent Comments
Re: “UPDATE: Air Force called out for homophobic link”
@ Sharon,
I am an MRFF volunteer coming up on nearly a decade. I see that your support for MRFF and its policies and your support of Gay rights are both solid and that your current displeasure with Mikey is probably more a misunderstanding than a response to significant fault.
May I suggest that your impression of Mikey's attitudes and quick judgement are based on the norm when, in fact, there is not a normal day that ever goes by for Mikey. The number of violations concerning oppressive and coercive Christian proselytizing undertaken by those in command positions and chaplaincy in the armed forces is staggering. The number of client case complaints currently being addressed by MRFF are 31,416 with 96 percent from practicing Protestants and Roman Catholics and the rest non-believers or other religions.
As you might guess there is a certain similarity to many of these cases as the religious doctrines employed by the bulk of the proselytizers are very similar. It has become a rather common practice for Mikey to determine the authenticity of the complaint and render a judgement as to its remedies rather quickly which can and often does result in the ability to spare the complainant the uncertainty and dread of reprisal.
Of course, the perpetrators don't always respond directly but rather use channels and other personnel as diversions.
I can tell you this, however. Dominion Christianity (Google this and Christian Reconstructionism if you are not familiar with the term,) is an insidious and controlling brand of Christianity and is popular with many senior military officers that are used to command positions. The Officers Christian Fellowship, an Armed Forces wide Christian organization is a great supporter of Dominionism. Mikey's ability to sniff out and counteract many of these operatives gives him a unique perspective which is tantamout to a sixth sense. So when he sees, reads or receives a complaint about something like this most recent dust up at the AFA, it is not difficult for him to quickly and acurately pinpoint the source of trouble and the illegal acts undertaken by those who feel relatively immune to discovery and correction.
Try to take the whole process of complaint, disclosure and remedial action as SOP. For the thousands of our young men and women in the armed forces who Mikey and MRFF have assisted his M.O. has proven effective. Your association with MRFF is important to us and I hope you will continue to support us.
Rick Baker
Former Air Force Officer and Rescue Pilot
MRFF Volunteer.
Posted by
richardbk8
on 02/15/2013 at 1:23 PM
Re: “UPDATE: Air Force called out for homophobic link”
Every major medical, psychiatric and psychological association in America has repeatedly released peer reviewed reports proving beyond a doubt that Homosexuality is a naturally occuring inborn state no different than Heterosexuality. It may not be cured medically or with prayer and it is not a choice.
Religion's institutional discrimination against GLTB Americans is and has been a debilitating effect on this community. Like so many other religious biases such as bigotry against women, African Americans and other people of color, the intense and cult-like discrimination against Gays is a broad and all encompassing blow against human rights.
Religion, Christianity Islam and to some extent, Judaism, must come, kicking and screaming if necessary, into the 21st century. It took the church 500 years to admit the world was round.We cannot allow it to do the same thing with Gays.
For an institution such as the AFA to tolerate relgious discrimination is a crime against humanity. Let us be thankful that irrespective of baseless charges against it, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and Mikey Weinstein are in the forefront of the war against religious hegemony.
Posted by
richardbk8
on 02/14/2013 at 10:19 AM
Re: “UPDATE (No. 2): Academy dean of faculty to retire”
After reading and posting remarks on this forum I have come to the conclusion that we are a bunch of guys with differing opinions, none of whom is a bad guy but only with divergent feelings. I gather from the writings that there is number of patriots included in the bunch, former service men, even former cadets whose opinions bear weight.
There is, in fact, not a bummer in the bunch. As an Air Force Vet I appreciate those who have served and those whose sons and daughters are taking on the challenge of four years of rather difficult education mixed with military requirments. They are up to it and as parents you are up to it. Let's agree to disagree on Gen. Born and undertake to support and monitor those who will currently be in ccharge of our young men and women's education and career. And God help them if they aren't straight with your
sons and daughters because we all will be fighting for them.
Posted by
richardbk8
on 11/11/2012 at 5:23 PM
Re: “UPDATE (No. 2): Academy dean of faculty to retire”
fact or fiction - I am not questioning your integrity. I am saying that you are acting on bad or at least skewed information. I have seen documents and other pieces of information, including testimony which place Gen. Born in the midst of long and damaging reign of command centered and coercive Christian proselytizing.
Were I at liberty to share confidential information, much of which originated from MRFF's clientele at the AFA and more from past graduates and even more from permanent party and faculty, you would be more inclined to at least be more objective.
Didn't you realize that when she signed that exclusive Christian promotion in the "Spirit" that she did so in direct violation of the US Supreme Court ruling on Lemon Vs. Kurzman, (1971) which expressly prohibits government, including the armed forces and public education from favoring, promoting or proselytizing one religion over another or religion over non-religion? That alone is a clue into the disregard she has for constitutional provision and the UCMJ which confirms it.
Posted by
richardbk8
on 11/10/2012 at 3:22 PM
Re: “UPDATE (No. 2): Academy dean of faculty to retire”
fact or fiction....your feeble attempt to cover up Gen. Born's glaring deficiencies simply doesn't work. Those in a position to make accurate observations have done so, intelligently, fairly and conclusively.
Born goes to her retirement with the knowledge that she violated the trust placed in her to help guide the young minds of our cadets in the direction of honorable service.
Hers was a massive betrayal of that trust.
Posted by
richardbk8
on 11/10/2012 at 11:22 AM
Re: “UPDATE (No. 2): Academy dean of faculty to retire”
As a volunteer with the Military Religous Freedom Foundation, I have had many opportunities to speak with the principal players in Command, Chaplaincy, Communications and other high positions at the AFA.
Many, of even the highest echelons and who were entrusted with maintaining religious neutrality at the Academy, violated that trust and placed our young cadets in compromising situations in which command centered and coercive Christian proselytizing were employed to upgrade existing Christians or convert non-Christians to a level of abject obedience to extreme Christian docrtines and to make the armed forces an all Christian force.
Gen. Born was complicit in this cabal and used her position frequently and effectively to maintain an active level of Christian-based awareness in the Cadet Wing, permanent station staff and faculty.
Gen. Born's religious convictions were intertwined with others of high rank and centered on what we determined was "The Great Commission" as put forward in Matthew 28:16-20, which requires Christians to make a concerted effot to "go forth and MAKE disciples."
The key word here is "MAKE."
Gen. Born's term at the AFA has indeed been a betrayal of the Armed Forces constitutional requirement not to favor, promote or proselytize one religion over another or religion over non-religion. She individually and in concert with others of similar bent made what was America's premier service academy a living hell for many of our top young men and women who for the most part simply had to bend to her will and that of her command and faculty cohorts.
Gen. Borns actions stripped one of the Academy's leading intellects, Prof. David Mullin of his job because of his honesty and willingness to place himself in harm's way by opposing her. Revenge through command procedure is an ugly prospect.
Gen. Dana Born is scheduled to retire and will be gone next summer; but certainly not forgotten.
Posted by
richardbk8
on 11/08/2012 at 1:39 PM
Re: “UPDATE: Air Force called out for homophobic link”
@Lt. Frank, methinks you need to do some leg work and get the real scoop. Then, walk up to the Protestant chaplains at the AFA and simply inform them that you have been thinking that the US should change its name to the United Christian States of America [UCSA] . . . and then await what the chaplains have to say about that. You could then say to the chaplain(s) that you sure hopes some of the higher command at the AFA also think changing the country's name to UCSA is a good idea (& again await the chaplain response). Note: the chaplain "response" may be couched in confidential tones, or it might simply be stated matter-of-factly. t will be a revelation.