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Creationism: The Latest In
Military Suicide Prevention

Monday, December 1, 2008

By: Chris Rodda

Here at the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), we get countless complaints about religiously based mental health and counseling programs, which, over the past few years, have been systematically replacing proven psychological and medical approaches to a multitude of issues faced by military personnel. I've seen so many truly insane, not to mention blatantly unconstitutional, ways that the military is playing with the mental well being of our troops since I began working for MRFF that I really didn't think it was possible for me to be surprised by anything anymore. Then I was sent a PowerPoint presentation by an airman at RAF Lakenheath, the largest U.S. Air Force base in England. On the MRFF scale of classifying by various expletives the egregiousness level of things that are reported to us -- "holy crap," "holy shit," and "holy f..." -- this one, promoting creationism as a means of preventing suicide among our military personnel, was definitely a "holy f..."

Caught on Camera

MRFF has received hundreds of reports of Christian and anti-Islamic symbols and slogans being displayed on military vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The symbols range from simple crosses to the Islamic crescent with the universal red circle and line "NO" sign over it.

Bradley turret with crucifix
Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Tanks and other vehicles have been adorned with names like "Holy War" and "New Testament." In a number of cases, Christian supremacist and anti-Islamic messages painted on vehicles have been in Arabic.

M113 Armored Personnel Carrier Photo
M1A1 Abrams battle tank

An M1A1 Abrams tank, the "Apocolypse" [sic], with Task Force 2-69 Armor of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning Georgia stops in front of an Iraqi man laying on the road somewhere in Iraq after his vehicle was stopped for suspicious activity.

MRFF's Inbox

November 29, 2008

M113 Armored Personnel Carrier Photo

Hi, Mikey,

I'm attaching a picture from the Thanksgiving meal at the [unit withheld] Dining Hall at [base location withheld]. It's an ice carving of a cross. I didn't realize that Thanksgiving was a religious holiday, nor did I realize that a cross was a symbol of Thanksgiving. I would have expected a turkey or pilgrim or indian or something. There was also a cake made into the shape of an open bible with bible verse (it was a display cake and not eaten) and gingerbread houses made to look like churches with cross and steeple (again for display, not eaten). I thought it all was in poor taste. Just thought you would be interested in knowing this.

Keep up the good work.

[name and rank withheld]

November 29, 2008

Dear MRFF,

My husband is deployed in Iraq and sent me a message with a question to find an answer to. I'm hoping you can help me. He wants to hand out christian tracts in Arabic while he's out on patrols,but he wants to know if the Army can stop him from doing it. If you could help us we would really appreciate it. Thanks for your time and all that you do.

[name withheld]

Mikey Weinstein responds...

Dear [withheld], thx so very much for writing and for your good words of support for our Foundation work and, especially, thank you and your husband for your service to our country!!.....plz, PLZ advise your husband ASAP that any distribution of those "Christian tracts" (in Arabic, no less!!) to ANYone, let alone the citizens of Iraq or Afghanistan, would be an EXTREMELY serious Uniform Code of Military Justice offense of the highest order severely punishable by General Courts-Martial!!.........among many other laws, rules and regulations (to include our United States Constitution), it would absolutely violate United States Central Command's Standing General Order Number One for American forces assigned to the "AOR" ("Area of Responsibility"; ie. Iraq and Afghanistan) which specifically prohibits "....proselytizing of any religion, faith or practice..." and, in point of fact, includes even soldier to soldier contact!!.....has your husband NOT been so apprised already by his military chain of command of this most basic prohibition?!......frankly, we would not at all be surprised if he had NOT been so informed!!........despite such behavior by U.S. troops being COMPLETELY disallowed and strictly prohibited by the aforementioned standing General Order Number One, our Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) has received quite literally countless reports for several years now of American military personnel openly distributing Christian bibles, tracts, coins, comics and related Christian proselytizing materials, IN ARABIC, to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan......shockingly, [withheld], this prohibition seems rather to be more observed by its breach than by its conformance.......It is, thus, a sad fact that your husband has quite likely already repeatedly seen his fellow soldiers illegally distribute these prohibited Christian proselytizing materials while "out on patrols" as well as other situations....but, of course, that doesn't make it legal at all..........FOR IT IS NOT!!...........however, you and your husband are, [withheld], the very first EVER to inquire to MRFF ahead of time as to the legality of so distributing those Christian proselytizing materials and for that, we at MRFF salute you and your husband for caring enough to reach out and ask for the answers..........should you have any additional queries, plz do not hesitate to inquire again.............

With gratitude and respect,

Mikey Weinstein
President and Founder, MRFF

Caught on Camera

MRFF's Inbox

November 26, 2008

Subject: More issues at [base installation withheld]

Dear Mr. Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation,

On [date withheld] the entire [group withheld]--around 300 students [active duty Air Force officers]--had a MANDATORY briefing at 3PM in a large auditorium. Without any introduction a video began playing in the movie theatre-like environment. It began with the "Old Testament" verse from Ezekiel 25:17, delivered by Samuel L. Jackson's character from the movie "Pulp Fiction." The verse described G-d bringing vengeance upon enemies. Then there was a quote from the "New Testament" from "Revelation." A fellow [rank withheld] and I looked at each other in puzzlement and awe. Why would they include such quotes?? We felt extremely uncomfortable. Then the video began playing clips and photos from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. There were buildings, bridges, cars, people, and anything else you could imagine being blown up by US Forces. At the end we were left to wonder whether the actions the US is taking are in pursuit of a religious war. Are we fighting a war of Christianity versus Islam? Why do we put on this face? It makes us look bad. Also, the Colonel, that's right, COLONEL who delivered the presentation made us feel extremely uncomfortable with the video. Is the next war going to be a war of Christianity versus Judaism? Should I fear for my life in the military??? Unfortunately, they wouldn't release the video, otherwise I would give you a copy.

Thanks for all the support.

Be well,
[name and rank withheld]

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The constitutional violations occurring in our military are so numerous and widespread that we can't possibly find all of them ourselves. MRFF counts on its supporters and volunteers -- the indispensable "eyes and ears" who alert us to everything from the most egregious of constitutional violations to articles we might be interested in.

So, keep the emails coming, and never think that anything is too insignificant or assume that we might already know about it. You never know -- you might have stumbled into the next bombshell of a story and not even realize it.