Our next struggle for freedom
bobcr...@gmail.com
Military Religious Freedom Foundation:
"Rick Warren, My Cowardice and Your Bravery"
January 20, 2009
My name is (name withheld) and I am a (officer rank withheld) in the
U.S. Army currently stationed stateside at Fort (military installation
name withheld). I, my spouse and my children are Methodists attending
church regularly on both Wednesdays and Sundays. I will always
remember today as the low-point of my long (number of years withheld)
year career in the Army. I have only myself to blame. Today I firmly
established myself as a shameful person. Mikey, I write about 3
things; Rick Warren, my cowardice and your bravery. Today, I watched
President Obama's inauguration on the television set up in our Brigade
staff conference room. I attended as a member of (unit level
designation withheld) staff along with over 40 other senior officers,
senior enlisted an few senior Army civilian staffers. There had been
much talk here about Pres. Obama's selection of the evangelical pastor
Rick Warren to give the invocation at the ceremonies.
Our current Commander is a very intolerant and "serious and committed
born again Christian" as he always describes himself to all his
subordinates. At every military assignment I've ever been to it's
always the same thing; if you are not a born again "serious" Christian
you are branded as pretty much worthless. My current Commander is bad
but not the worst I have seen. I have served 2 combat tours; one in
Iraq and one in Afghanistan. I have seen those under my command killed
and grievously wounded. I was wounded twice. I have been awarded many
combat medals and decorations. I have also stood by silently while my
combat superiors have openly and repeatedly proselytized me and my
troops. I did nothing. I have stood by and watched them continuously
proselytize the Iraqis and Afghans. I did nothing.
Today, after Pastor Warren ended his invocation by praying in the name
of his personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Commander jumped to
his feet clapping and yelled "God Bless him for having the courage to
pray for all of the lost souls in the name of our Savior Jesus
Christ!" About a third of those attending also clapped. I did not.
That was until our Commander turned around to survey everyone's
reaction to his statement. When that happened, the officer next to me
started to clap and the one to my left clapped too. I felt like I was
in a spotlight as the Commander looked at me and the female officer in
front of me who had also not clapped. Then she clapped. And then I
clapped too. I tried not to but could not muster up the strength to be
the only one in the room not clapping in support of our Commander and
Warren. I know what I should have done but I just couldn't. Despite
the many fierce combat situations I have been in, including hand-to-
hand, I just couldn't. I hate myself for this failure. I hate myself
for my cowardice. I hate myself.
I have heard and read about all of the death and other threats being
made against you, your wife and children. I listened to the voice
recording of the death threat that you released made against MRFF
client Spc. Jeremy Hall. I heard about that church being burned down
when you spoke in that town. All of you show bravery especially when
the chips are down. I had my chance today and I showed fear and
cowardice. I can't stand what I did today. I have been a client of
MRFF for over three years now but no one knows it other than my
spouse. We are both afraid of anyone finding out. I have heard other
Army personnel talk of being MRFF clients but they usually try to keep
it very quiet. Everything you are fighting for, Mikey, is the right
fight. I'm not guessing and not assuming; I have lived it. I am living
it. I will continue to live it. Trying to complain up the chain of
command is as useless as filing an IG complaint or other
administrative action. No, it's far worse than just useless. It can
and will brand the complainer as a target for revenge.
I have seen it happen and fear it could happen to me if I stood up to
it. I have a family and am not that far from being able to retire in
peace and quiet. MRFF is the only outlet for military people like me.
I hope this e-mail message can help other people (there are so many of
us) be willing to contact MRFF and allow you to fight on our behalf
against the multitudes of "serious and committed born again
Christians" who control all of our careers and lives. Your lawsuit is
important to us all. Please don't stop your fight and please don't
hate me for not fighting. I hate myself enough for everyone.
(name and rank withheld)
Fort (military installation withheld)
(unit designation withheld)
A followup from Mikey:
"We can expect violence. The head cleric of St. David's Episcopal
Church of Topeka, Kansas came out to support me; five hours later his
church was burned to the ground. A synagogue where I spoke was
desecrated. My home has been targeted by feces and beer bottles; our
tires slashed; dead animals have twice been placed on our front porch.
The death threats come in ceaselessly. It is not convenient and safe
to confront and defy those in power; I know that but I refuse to back
down. They may try to harm me but I will not go quietly; I will be a
Jew from the Warsaw Ghetto, not Berlin. I will be an American from
Lexington and Concord, not an American from Halliburton and
Blackwater."