Update: Mikey Weinstein says the phrase “Have a blessed day” is proselytizing, or an attempt to convert people to a religion.

Michael “Mikey” Weinstein, crusader against anything remotely religious within the US military, recently proclaimed his most recent victory: He got a gate guard at Robins AFB to stop saying “Have a blessed day.”

I am an active-duty Air Force member…On no less than 15 occasions over the last two weeks, I have been greeted by the military personnel at the gate with the phrase “Have a blessed day.” This greeting has been expressed by at least 10 different Airmen ranging in rank from A1C to SSgt.

How such vile, contemptible things could be permitted in the US Air Force is inconceivable. Weinstein leapt into action and called the commander of the Security Forces Squadron directly, bypassing the wing leadership he normally tries to engage.

Without reference to any instruction, guidance, or policy — including leadership guidance on how to deal with Mikey Weinstein — the squadron commander agreed to change what his troops were saying.

In an interesting coincidence of timing, another institution nearby had a similar “scandal.” Turns out a Wal-Mart greeter in Blue Ridge, GA, was asked by the company to stop saying “Have a blessed day” — until customers complained in force, and Wal-Mart reversed the ban.

The phrase is very common in Georgia, as well as other parts of the south.  It’s hardly a violation of “church state separation” or an indicator that Christians are trying to take over the world, which is Weinstein’s normal complaint.  It seems Weinstein’s “client” could use a little more tolerance himself.

Still, if that’s the extent of the “impact” Weinstein is having, his organization has become more impotent than imagined.

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