Michael Weinstein, frequent critic of religious freedom in the US military, has often tried to lend weight to his vitriolic attacks by saying he served “10 years as an Air Force JAG.” (In fact, his website still carries the assertion.) As has been noted here before, given the dates he entered and left the Air Force, that claim takes a bit of creative math. Weinstein finally felt the heat and recently began qualifying Read more
The North Dakota National Guard’s newest helicopter, the UH-72A Lakota, was dedicated in a ceremony in September that included a blessing by a “Native American spiritual leader:”
As part of the dedication ceremony, two Lakota helicopters were blessed by Native American spiritual leader and elder, George Ironshield of Standing Rock, and officially named “Eagle” and “Turtle” respectively. The Eagle symbolizes spirituality and hope while the Turtle is honored as a protector and healer.
Naming a helicopter “Turtle” is a bit awkward, but the meaning is understood.
Fortunately, George Ironshield wasn’t a Catholic Priest Read more
Continuing the theme of the US military putting a proactively positive face on the end of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” US military academy professors are contributing to studies and journals virtually singing the praises of repeal.
US Air Force LtCol (Ret) James Parco should be one familiar name, as the former USAFA instructor was one of the “scholars” interviewed for the Palm Center report, and he has also vocally defended religious freedom critic Michael Weinstein.
David Levy is a current US Air Force Academy professor in the Management Department. He, too, has been mentioned as a contributor to the biased Palm Center report.
In the Armed Forces Journal, the two co-authored Read more
Normally, if Military Religious Freedom Foundation founder Michael Weinstein is at a loss for words, he fills in the space with alliterative adjectives. Yesterday, it seems he filled in the space with someone else’s words.
Michael Weinstein plagiarized a section of his passionate demand for an apology from Governor Mitt Romney for his “untruthfulness” about Glen Doherty. From Weinstein’s piece, as published on the Huffington Post:
Romney did not mention the man’s name during the Read more
One of these Bibles has been declared a “national security threat.” Can you guess which one?
The controversy over Michael Weinstein’s assertion that a Bible was a “national security threat” doesn’t seem to have abated even with their dwindling supply. From the Air Force Times:
Air Force Sergeants Association CEO John “Doc” McCauslin said the Defense Department allows each service’s insignia to be Read more
Despite Chris Rodda’s claim that highlighting the US military’s support for all of its troops — including atheists — is somehow bad, Jason Torpy of the one-man Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers recently praised Fort Bragg for doing just that:
Ft Bragg chaplains showed openness to nontheists in allowing the [Niose] event at Watters Family Life Center on Ft Bragg. This is a positive step forward, showing openness from the chaplaincy and community-building by the local humanist community.
While it undermines the MRFF narrative that the US military is a coercive Christian complex, it remains true that the military supports all of its servicemembers, without regard to religious belief, to the extent the mission and resources allow.
Unfortunately, Torpy went beyond that topic and attempted Read more
This is an updated version of the regular discussion of the Combined Federal Campaign.
Whether or not you believe in the concept of the exact tithe, charitable giving remains one of the basic tenets of Christian living. Besides “passing the plate” on Sunday, the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is one of the more popular means through which members of the military have an opportunity to give.
What is the CFC?
The CFC, which has been announced through a variety of official releases, is a government-sanctioned means of collecting charitable contributions from federal employees. It runs every year from September to December (CFC-Overseas runs a slightly different schedule), during which volunteer representatives make “100% contact” with their fellow employees to inform them of the charitable giving campaign. Military members (and other government employees) are given the opportunity to make one-time contributions or give monthly deductions from their paychecks to any of thousands of approved charities.
Why should a Christian use the CFC? Read more
NBC recently updated the controversy of Bible references being inscribed on the side of Trijicon’s ACOG weapon sites sold to the US military (as well as other nations).
Nearly three years later — despite the military’s assertion that is making “good progress” — the code remains on many rifles deploying to Afghanistan…
For those unfamiliar with the original story, Trijicon makes industry-leading sights for weapons and has sold them by the hundreds of thousands to the military. (They’ve reportedly increased marksmanship in the Army.) On the side of the scope, the identification number is followed by an abbreviation that refers to a Bible verse.
As is Trijicon tradition, every verse makes some reference to “light,” as their sights use a form of ‘light enhancing’ technology.
Michael Weinstein complained in 2010 Read more
