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From: (MRFF Client’s/U.S. Army member’s E-mail Address Withheld)
Subject: Fort Liberty Christian store
Date: August 29, 2023 at 5:02:14 PM MDT
To: info@militaryreligiousfreedom.org
Team MRFF -
I'm an Army member at Fort Liberty, NC. This week, I popped into the Mini-Mall PX at Bastogne Drive and Rock Merritt Avenue for a quick bite to eat.
After grabbing my chow and taking a seat, I looked up and noticed the 'FAITH2SOAR Christian Bookstore and More' on the other side of the Mini-Mall, complete with a little kiosk selling T-shirts reading "Salvation is Found in JESUS" and other very exclusively Christian messages. My first thought was, "You gotta be shitting me, right? Is this really allowed in an AAFES facility?"
After staring in disbelief for a minute or two, I decided it was time for a closer look and a couple of photos. As I walked toward the store and kiosk, I realized that MRFF needs to hear about this, rapidly. I sent the images to Mikey Weinstein, and he wasted zero time in getting back to me - we're talking within eight minutes. Apparently this has been an issue for a while, and he's on the case.
I'm an atheist who was raised in a nominally Christian household, but I realized by the time I was 16 that I do not believe in god. Goodness and character is not tied to religious beliefs. It has to come from within a person who is capable of self-reflection and constantly analyzing his/her beliefs, morals, and ethics to develop a strong set of standards.
As a Soldier, I definitely steered clear of church services and religious events, but I also believe that there IS a place in the military for the Chaplaincy - many of my brothers and sisters maintain their religious faith in garrison, in the field, and downrange. Our Chaplains are there to ensure the faithful can exercise their religious freedom, as well as being available to talk and counsel during the darker times.
Should AAFES host this particular store? Emphatically, NO. This clearly amounts to DoD endorsement of one specific religion, which I will never agree to. Is there a Jewish, Buddhist, or Muslim store? No. Agnostic. Atheist, or Humanist kiosk? Nope. There would be a mass conniption fit - especially from the far-right - if any of those faith or non-faith groups were represented in a similar fashion.
Let the Chaplains handle the religious materials - stores like this have no business being authorized to operate on our military installations.
I've been following the recent attempt by Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, to specifically bar American service members from contacting MRFF when one religion is being favored over another, OR if a person is being prevented from exercising their Constitutionally protected right to practice their own faith. Rep. Turner's fascist amendment to the NDAA is absolutely outrageous and unconstitutional on its face. This old Soldier is firmly in MRFF's corner, and I'll refer any service member to MRFF if the need arises - Turner and his ilk be damned.
Thank you, MRFF, for what you do on behalf of ALL of us - faithful or not. This is America, and MRFF understands the real definition of "religious freedom," not the bastardized version bandied about by the theocrats on the right.
(MRFF Client’s/U.S. Army Member’s name, rank, title, and unit all withheld)
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