We have written about Mikey Weinstein and his militant bullying via the legal system for years. It now seems the effort to stand up to the likes of Mikey and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is on the rise. Mikey and his ilk are anything but supportive of religious freedom in the military. The ACLJ has begun to push back. There is a great article over at christianfighterpilot.com.
One would hope most military leaders were aware of Mikey Weinstein and his disdain for Christian service members by now (guidance on dealing with Weinstein was published by the Air Force nearly a decade ago), yet there remain some who are blissfully ignorant — and who could therefore use some mentorship from their senior leaders. Then, of course, there are those in the military chain of command who support Weinstein’s bigotry; they could use a bit of “focused” leadership attention, as well.
The systemic problem with the MRFF has everything to do with Mikey Weinstein. I firmly believe he is little more than a charlatan who found a niche to get some people whipped up into enough of an emotional fervor to throw money in his direction. Even Seth Andrews of thethinkingatheist, who attacked me for trying to bring some balance to his discussion on religion in the military, has recently dimmed his view of Mikey. He now states that Mikey is no longer his “cup of tea” and how he is a bit too much “in your face”.
All hucksters like Weinstein paint themselves as the protagonist defending their flock from a generally fictitious and hysterically inflated evil. It is about time the military and veteran community at large begin to push back. Jesse Duplantis, the televangelist, says God wants him to have a new jet airplane but at least he is honest about what he is going to do with the money. The bulk of what the MRFF collects goes to Mikey insofar as I can tell.
Most of our regular readers know I am an ardent Atheist. However, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone who is having their right to free religious expression trod upon by the likes Mikey Weinstein. Being an American requires its citizens to stand and defend the right of their neighbor to prose on about that which they themselves have spent a lifetime in opposition. The notion that I, as an Atheist, have been burdened in anyway by being exposed to the religious expression of others is ludicrous. I bow my head during public prayer and stand silent out of respect for my brothers with whom I serve. The vast majority of those I served with were Christians and the finest men I have ever known.
I have come to believe Mikey Weinstein has crafted his cause to do nothing more than stuff his own pockets by bilking the gullible out of money. He and the MRFF do not represent the interests of veterans be they Christian, Muslim, Jew or Atheist.