A Holiday Letter from the Family of an Air Force Academy Graduate
Chris Rodda printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Mon Nov 22, 2010 at 02:36:39 PM EST
Last week, on the heels of the release of the alarming statistics on religious harassment at the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Academy held a religious respect conference. Who wasn't invited to this religious respect conference? The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) -- the only organization representing service members of all religions as well as non-theists. Apparently, although now representing over 20,000 service members in their battles against religious intolerance and harassment, MRFF was not invited because, according to LTC John Bryan, the Academy's director of public affairs, "they are not involved in the process."

One Academy faculty member, who called the conference a "travesty," said of MRFF's exclusion, "I'm very disappointed that they would, at this time, not invite [MRFF] ... Why is it that a big supporter of religious freedom in the military is not here?"

The statistics on religious harassment, from the Academy's bi-annual "climate survey," were only made public after a demand from MRFF and a number of other organizations, both religious and secular, who signed onto MRFF's letter to the Secretary of Defense.

One of the most serious issues highlighted in MRFF's letter (an issue that would have been addressed at the Academy's religious respect conference if MRFF had been invited) is the problem of fundamentalist Christian ministries being given free reign over Academy cadets -- particularly a ministry called Cadets for Christ, described by the parents of several cadets recruited by this ministry as a "cult."

Under the influence of Cadets for Christ, one recent Academy graduate is now completely estranged from her family. Why? because they are Catholic, and therefore unsaved according to Cadets for Christ founders Don and Anna Warrick.

The havoc being wreaked on the families of cadets who fall under the influence of the Warricks can only be adequately expressed by one of the families ripped apart by this "cult." What follows is a "holiday letter" from the Baas family to the Warricks, with an introduction to Air Force Academy superintendent LTG Mike Gould, to whom this letter was also sent.

I, and everyone else at MRFF, would like to sincerely thank the Baas family for their courage in being willing to go public with their story.


From: Jean Baas
Date: November 20, 2010 10:19:07 PM CST
To: mike.gould@usafa.edu

Subject: Don and Anna Warrick - Cadets for Christ

As many families write annual holiday letters to update relatives and friends of noteworthy events over the past year, we have chosen to write on behalf of ourselves and countless others that have fallen prey to the fundamentalist Christian religious cult, "Cadets for Christ" at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). We are Peter, Jean, and Emily Baas. Lauren is 2010 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. To date, USAFA completely denies that unconstitutional proselytizing exists on their campus even though innumerable witness accounts and results of the recent climate survey irrefutably contradict their knowingly false and deliberately misleading public statements. We choose to share this letter with the public to give specific insight that this covert proselytizing operation is very much alive and prospering at the United States Air Force Academy.

Mr. and Mrs. Warrick:

As the holidays are upon us, let us give you an update of the Baas family. Lauren will not be coming home. Her presence will be missed enormously as we celebrate our holidays filled with love and rich in family tradition. Words cannot express the heartache YOU have caused. Do not attempt to trivialize these circumstances with the rationalization that we are merely a family that cannot accept the fact that their daughter has "chosen" to change religions and marry outside the Catholic faith. YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS WE, THIS STATEMENT IS SO FAR FROM THE TRUTH!!! You have taken Lauren's mind and soul and twisted it to your fundamentalist Christian liking. She was brainwashed to believe she was "unenlightened" and an "unsaved fool" in the Catholic faith. She now lives in fear of God and feels "shameful" if she does not continually stand guard against "ungodly people." You have trained your "soldiers of God" and now cowardly hide behind them. YOUR DESTRUCTIVE TEACHINGS OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE ARE INCOMPREHENSIBLE!!! May God truly have mercy on your soul.

Did you ever have the guts to ask Lauren about her career goals before squelching them? From birth she was a very determined individual. As parents, we taught her to work hard and be persistent in any endeavor she chose to undertake. She completed elementary and high school with great pride and high academic achievement. Her next goal was to graduate from the United States Air Force Academy and become a USAF pilot. Of course, being a female, you made sure that goal was extinguished. In your words, she is the sheep and her career is to follow the male shepherd. HOW DARE YOU PLAY GOD!!!

Did you know that Lauren never experienced the thrill of dating someone? Growing up, she was always quiet, shy and spoke of getting her feet on the ground before entering the dating arena. Of course, you instructed her that God sent a USAFA Cadet over 2 years her junior, to be her life long partner. They never had the opportunity to date, as it would interfere with their "Bible study." Five months into their relationship you were shoving "Biblical" marriage preparation materials down their throats!!! Don't tell us that you had no part in orchestrating their engagement. YOUR SELFISH GOAL WAS TO PERPETUATE THE FUNDAMENTALIST EVANGELICAL MISSION!!!

Did you know that we speak for many families that have been destroyed by you? We know you are very aware that many parents do not come forward because they fear irreparably severing a now very fragile relationship with their child. You have taught our children to tolerate us so long as we do not question your "teachings." If we do, we are to be cast aside and treated as if we are Satan himself. You have no regard for the family that has loved and nurtured these USAF Academy cadets into young adulthood. THEY BECOME EASY PREY WHEN THEY ARE RELIGIOUS, TRUSTING, AND FAR AWAY FROM HOME......DON'T THEY?!!!

For the above reason, we have joined forces with the only entity willing to selflessly assist us and the only organization that understands the oppressive evil you perpetrate; the civil rights fighters at the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF). Together with MRFF we will FIGHT FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION at the United States Air Force Academy. We are keenly aware that Lauren must now denounce us because your "teachings" are being questioned. You cannot continue to destroy young USAF Academy cadets' lives and the lives of their families. We have always taught our children to stand up for what is right and we will not let them down now. We will NEVER stop fighting against your vile, calculated and cold efforts to subvert the U.S. Constitution and teach our precious daughters that they are designated by your twisted version of Jesus to be a second-class citizen "sheep" consigned to doing the will of their assigned male overseers.

Peter, Jean, and Emily Baas



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A Holiday Letter from the Family of an Air Force Academy Graduate | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)
MRFF not involved? (5.00 / 2)
>>MRFF was not invited because, according to LTC John Bryan, the Academy's director of public affairs, "they are not involved in the process." <<

There wouldn't BE a process if MRFF had not been 'involved'. What a joke! The USAF deliberately snubbed MRFF. They're not going to give an inch more than they have to to Mikey.

To the Baas family; it may be worthwhile to find some good material that refutes what your daughter is being taught; put some doubts in her mind. There's always more than one side to scripture. Maybe your local church can recommend some that address some specific issues she has been taught. If you can crack the belief system just a little, it might help down the road. As a taxpaying American, I deplore the way the USAF has treated your daughter.

And I'm glad to see Chris back! Really would like to see some more guitar playing videos:^)

by COinMS on Mon Nov 22, 2010 at 03:21:05 PM EST

I've never really been away (5.00 / 1)
It's just that some of the things I've been writing about recently didn't really fit the topics we write about here. My most recent Glenn Beck battle has more to do with politics than religion, so I've only been posting about that on Huffington Post, and not cross-posting here like I do with my Beck history revisionism/Christian nationalist stuff.

I'll be getting back to my "No, Mr. Beck" video series soon (but can't promise any more guitar videos).

by Chris Rodda on Mon Nov 22, 2010 at 03:54:39 PM EST
Parent



Heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking... (none / 0)
... this is horrible and I've seen so many sad stories lately.  Every day I see more young people being trained to be end times warriors, trained to hate others, trained to live in an alternate reality where they are longing for the end of the world as we know it.  I think about the heartbreak of so many parents whose kids get caught up in this, perhaps many of them thinking that these are religious activities, so how can they be bad?

by Rachel Tabachnick on Mon Nov 22, 2010 at 08:46:13 PM EST

There MUST be someone... (none / 0)
 ... someone "up the ladder" who will listen and try to undo the damage those b*st*rds have done - or set things up so that if she ever comes to her senses, she can try to regain what they're trying to steal from her (or at least part of it).

I would hate to see what happened to me (and to others I've talked with) happen to her.  In my case, I was somewhat lucky in that I found my way back to the right path (even though I still haven't found employment in my field and my true dream is now highly unlikely) over two decades after they convinced me I was "only good enough" for manual grunt labor and working as a convenience store night clerk for minimum wage.  (I had two years of college and highly valuable skills at the time - they insisted that I needed to "get a real job!".)  I know people whose dreams and promising future were permanently crushed and where they don't have the chance to try to regain a tiny bit of what was stolen.  Even more still have too much of the programming yelling in their ears, and cannot conceive of trying to take back their future (or are too scared to try).

There has been precious little justice in this world against monsters like those who are trying to destroy the future of that young lady, as well as almost none for their victims.  I just hope they can stop her from becoming another one of the casualties, and prevent it from happening to others.

by ArchaeoBob on Mon Nov 22, 2010 at 09:17:06 PM EST


It seems to me... (none / 0)
that there are two different issues here. One is the outrageous situation in the Air Force Academy of the rampant proselytizing, and the other is the battle between two religious traditions for the mind of a young adult. I am totally in support of MMRF's work against this obvious violation of the separation of church and state, however,  I'm not sure that MMRF or any other entities really should get into the argument between the Catholic family and the Protestant Cadets for Christ over which set of theologies should occupy this young woman's mind. Yes, the heavy handed cult like proselytizing of this woman on the part of the CfC is wrong, but she is old enough to have made this decision to forego all those dreams her parents had for her, and now SHE must face the consequences of that choice. One COULD argue that anyone raised in a any certain faith from childhood has already been proselytized to the extent of having their mind turned toward that faith. Isn't this more a war between theologies for "control" of young woman's belief system? Just some food for thought...... and, to Chris Rodda- keep up the excellent work. You have no idea how valuable it is to many of us who follow your work.

by monarchmom on Wed Nov 24, 2010 at 08:56:57 AM EST
Do you have children? (none / 0)
Would you want to see a "coercive religious group" destroy their future and their lives?  Maybe even physically - as in committing suicide?  Think about how you'd feel if it was your children.  IT IS A LOT MORE COMMON THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE!!!

Would you want to have your relationship with them destroyed by some other group who thinks that their religious ideology is more important than people (or truth, or right and wrong, or ...)?

Would you REALLY blame them when they get hoodwinked and brainwashed into doing things that harm them?  That's what a lot, if not most of the churches like to do - do you have any concept of just how wrong and painful and harmful such an attitude is, especially if the person was tricked into making those decisions?  Do you understand how callous and heartless such an attitude is (or how it's being misused and abused in this culture)?

Would you do that to your own children, if you have any?  Even if they make a minor mistake and it costs them dearly?  Or if they actually do something right and end up suffering for it?

Think about it.  PLEASE!

This is reality.  Groups like that use brainwashing AND deceptive and outright fraudulent techniques to gain members.  People think "Oh, but it's a church, it can't be that bad!!!" or "But it's a church, it must be relatively harmless!!!", and this LIE is why we have the Tea Party (and the rich behind them) gaining as much power as they have - and why our freedom is under such a dire threat.  People aren't willing to face the fact that "Good Christians" are seeking destruction (if not enslavement) for them.  That they can be and almost always are as harmful and destructive as walkaways know them to be.

The young woman got involved in that "coercive religious group" (we're not supposed to use the more accurately descriptive term) because of the violation of church and state at that place.

So, the support of the young woman's parents is logical and valid.

I for one refuse to turn my back on the young woman (or her family) because she made a mistake.  Remember what Jesus said: "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her!"???


by ArchaeoBob on Wed Nov 24, 2010 at 11:59:54 AM EST
Parent

I assume you are (none / 0)
responding to my post, but I am not sure what all the capital letters and exclamation marks are all about. I didn't throw a stone at anyone, and I believe that this site frowns on getting into theological discussions. I said that I was totally against ANY proselytizing at the Air Force Academy and I also vehemently criticize and personally work against any violations of separation of church and state. BUT, this incident, while agonizing for the parents, does not only relate to the church/state issue. It is also an inter-family problem over which religion this young woman is "supposed" to follow.  I am sure that there are many students who also were exposed to this group's pressures and managed to avoid being sucked in the way she seems to have been. We also don't know anything about this family's personal lives. For all we know, this girl left Catholicism because she never really accepted it as an explanation that suited her.  I know many parents whose kids went to college and became atheists after taking a comparative religion course. For those parents, their child might as well have joined a cult, as atheists are considered the lowest of low in our culture. I am a non-believer. If either of my children (who at this point do not seem interested in religion either) decided to become evangelical Christians, I would be a bit alarmed at that. I would try to present arguments against that choice, but I would have to recognize at some point that this choice is theirs.   I don't feel that getting in the middle of this family's issues over this is the proper role for MMRF, other than to offer a forum for the parents to voice their concerns as it relates to the Academy's violations of the Constitution.
Also, the "cult" issue is a touchy one, as it is quite possible to view all religions as being cultish because they infuse their ideas into young children who are not able to sort out for themselves what it all means and have no abilities at a young age to apply the kind of thinking and comparison of knowledge to really know what they "believe".  Christianity was considered a "cult" for a long time in history and many Protestants have accused Mormonism of being a cult and even Catholicism before that.  One man's "cult" is another man's religion, so to speak.  

You say you "refuse to turn (your) back" on this woman. What actions do you actually intend to take on her behalf, especially since she is a consenting adult and has essentially traded one religion for another? Are you going to tell her that her former Catholicism is the only "true" religion for her and that she has joined a "false" religion? They are both bible based. How do you, or her parents, present that argument?  Any why would MRFF want to get into this any further than the separation of church and state issue?  

I believe it is best to concentrate on the rampant violations of the Constitution occuring daily at the Air Force Academy and leave it to individual families to deal with the personal effects of the proselytizing.

by monarchmom on Wed Nov 24, 2010 at 05:28:54 PM EST
Parent

This group uses "cult" tactics ... (none / 0)
... to brainwash the cadets who fall in with them. We're not talking about the historical definition of "cult" meaning any religion, and that Christianity was once considered a cult. We're talking cult in the modern sense of a group that brainwashes people and separates them from their families and other parts of their life that might interfere with the brainwashing process, and preys upon young people when they are in a vulnerable situation. It is the families who are calling this group a cult. The Baas family is not the only one. There just the only one that has decided to go very public with their story.

by Chris Rodda on Wed Nov 24, 2010 at 09:41:29 PM EST
Parent
Hi Chris; so what exactly (none / 0)
is MRFF planning on doing about this young woman? I understand being upset with the alleged tactics used by this group, but I'm confused as to what MRFF's role in this is other than publicizing the parent's letter as it relates to the violations of separation of church and state at the Academy.  Is this woman's life in danger? If so, then it is a matter for other authorities. Was this woman removed physically from the academy by this group to achieve their "brainwashing" or did it occur on the campus?   Was she subjected to a Patty Hearst type situation? What "vunerable situation" was this cadet in that others were not?  I am not in any way defending this group, and particularly upset that they have access to a government facility, but "cult" is a very blurry line, no matter how many families or parents judge it to be so. And again, if someone is being held against their will, drugged or otherwise convinced to join in an unnatural way, this is a matter for the authorities.

My understanding of MRFF is that it is a group dedicated to exposing violations of church/state in our military. I don't criticize exposing this religious group for what it is, or for the role it has been allowed to play out at the Academy. In fact, I abhor that.  But there is really nothing MRFF can do about the personal side of this story between this girl and her parents, and my response in this area was to the other poster who basically went into a tirade on the topic as if I was defending the Cadets for Christ in my original post... which I was not.

I have the utmost respect for your work, Chris, so I sincerely hope you are not also mis-reading me.

by monarchmom on Wed Nov 24, 2010 at 11:02:01 PM EST
Parent

You ARE defending (none / 0)
By separating the young woman's fall into that group from the unlawful actions of the group itself and insisting it's a "take consequence for your actions/decisions" situation, you ARE defending the group.

In essence, you are removing the real responsibility for the situation from the people who are GUILTY, and placing the 'blame' on their victim (and yes, she IS a victim).

There is little difference between someone being defrauded of money and someone being defrauded of their freedom.  Both usually walk into it not realizing what is really going on.  That is what happened when I fell into the Assemblies of God "Coercive Religious Group".  It is the normal story for anyone trapped by those groups.

by ArchaeoBob on Wed Nov 24, 2010 at 11:29:41 PM EST
Parent

You obviously had (none / 0)
a personal experience which explains your inability to separate this woman's personal/family story from the role of MRFF. It is also contributing to your over-reaction to my post, AND, your extremely erroneous accusation that because I view this whole thing from a different point of view that I am defending the Cadets for Christ. No one so far has shown any other evidence of this woman being physically forced to subscribe to this religion. As far as being psychologically forced to believe something that is contrary to her former beliefs, I can't explain the psychology of that. Maybe you can. All I see here in this article is the story told by the parents. For all we know, their claims of what their daughter wanted to be may be just what THEY wanted her to be. Point is, WE DON'T KNOW the whole family story, at least based upon this article.

Therefore, the important thing for MRFF to do based upon this letter is to act on the separation of church and state issue only. I just can't picture them wanting to get involved in a tug of war between these parents and their daughter. If that was the organization's desire, then I would think they would make an effort to get the girl's side of the story. And in doing that, the organization would get pulled into a role that I do not think they would desire, or would be good for the goals of MRFF. It is not MRFF's job to rescue people from religious "cults", at least I didn't think it was. They are effective because they stick to the church/state/military issues. If they get drawn into "good religion/bad religion" issues, that will certainly undermine their mission.  I did not get the impression that was their intent by publishing the letter. But maybe you did.

And finally,  I really don't see the point of continuing this conversation if you are intent on continuing to mis-characterize my comments by saying that I support this ridiculous group, or am saying that this girl is "guilty" of anything, as that is NOT my position.

by monarchmom on Thu Nov 25, 2010 at 02:03:03 PM EST
Parent

I'm not understanding the concern ... (5.00 / 1)
... about MRFF getting involved in this. How is this not a MRFF issue? MRFF has been the watch dog of these military ministries since its inception -- at basic training installations, at the service academies, and at bases around the world. MRFF's investigations of these ministries almost always begin with complaints from service members, cadets, and sometimes the parents of young service members and recruits. This one happened to be brought to our attention by the parents of several Air Force Academy cadets. What these "parachurch" ministries are permitted to do at military installations is absolutely a separation of church and state issue, as well as a personal issue for the families who are affected. We at MRFF do get personally involved with the people who come to us for help. We are who these people are turning to when nobody else will listen to them, and there is absolutely a personal side to these stories. You just don't usually see this side of what MRFF does for our service members and their families. You only see it in cases such as this one, when we think the stark reality of a situation can much better be described by those involved than by us, and someone who has come to MRFF for help is willing to go public with their story.

by Chris Rodda on Sun Nov 28, 2010 at 01:34:38 PM EST
Parent
I am wondering if (none / 0)
you read my posts carefully, Chris. I totally agree that MRFF should be involved in church/state violations and support those families that bring these violations forward. What I am talking about is getting involved in negotiating with the young woman to get her to change her mind and go back to her family. Does MRFF take their involvement that far?

by monarchmom on Sat Dec 04, 2010 at 12:57:15 PM EST
Parent
You're reading something that's not there (none / 0)
MRFF has not been doing any kind of "negotiating" with this young woman. We would never do something like that. Our only contact has been with her parents. What MRFF wants is an investigation of this ministry, and to prevent what happened to this family (and others who have contacted us) from happening to anyone else.

by Chris Rodda on Fri Dec 10, 2010 at 12:06:58 PM EST
Parent







Agree... mostly (none / 0)
I mostly agree with monarchmom's take on this issue.

She writes >>'  I don't feel that getting in the middle of this family's issues over this is the proper role for MMRF, other than to offer a forum for the parents to voice their concerns as it relates to the Academy's violations of the Constitution.<<

This thorny family problem is tied up with the church/state issue at the Academy. The Air Force here obviously has allowed an evangelical environment, a culture, to flourish. This CULTure has strained at the (largely ineffective) leash that it is on, so much so that there are almost no constraints on it. As a consequence, the overly zealous missionaries are allowed full access to these young recruits, and they are adept at playing on young, impressionable minds with their pseudo christian teachings.

Is it legal? Yes. Is it good for the Air Force? No. At this point, the parents need to not give up. Even if she is of legal age, she is still their child and they have every right to try and counter influence her. There are good resources available to help in these situations. The MRFF does tread a fine line here, and I can't blame it if it errs on the side of caution and advocates for these parents. I do think that monarchmom makes a compelling and valid argument.

I too thank Chris and the MRFF for their work.

by COinMS on Sat Nov 27, 2010 at 12:38:01 PM EST
Parent

I disagree (none / 0)
Don't forget that if it wasn't for the violation of the separation of church and state by those jack###es, they probably wouldn't have had success in brainwashing her.

Also, the culture and structure (as I understand it - I've never been in the military) lends itself very well to religious coercion.  Based upon what a couple of people have said, that is one environment where such groups should especially be unwelcome.  They can provide their services off base, but I would argue only those clergy who can promote tolerance of difference should be allowed on base (in other words, decent chaplains).  Off-base 'ministries' should be vetted very carefully before being allowed to even advertise, because of the environment.  The whole argument misses this point - that the young woman was in an atmosphere where choice WAS limited and where coercion did occur (and where young people were in a position where they were unusually vulnerable) - and the very people complained about were abusing that situation.

Finally, my 'take' on monarchmom was that she was just another concern troll (especially after her reaction).  It also really irritates me when people start the blame game: "Gotta take responsibility for everything that happens to you!!!".  That in essence is what she was saying to the young woman... or as I've also heard it "You made your bed, now lie in it!"   It's only a tiny step from that to "If you didn't want to get raped, you should have been dressing more conservatively!" and statements along those lines (something women I've met and talked with HAVE heard recently from "good" -conservative- "Christians").

MRFF has been supporting people who have suffered because of the militant "Christian" attitude in places like the Academy.  The young woman's family is suffering because she was brainwashed against them and against anyone not toeing the dominionist line.  So it is only right and logical that they support the family too.  When someone falls afoul of a "coercive religious group", the whole family suffers.   The young woman may be an adult by modern American standards, but as many walkaways can and DO relate, the dominionists target young adults.  I just hope she gets away before her future is destroyed.


by ArchaeoBob on Sat Nov 27, 2010 at 02:22:30 PM EST
Parent

Your continued.. (none / 0)
mis-characterizations of my comments, over the top accusations and flights of fancy (I condone rape for the mis-dressed???) clearly demonstrate that it is YOU who is having an over-reaction to this whole topic.

I am seriously of the impression that you have not successfully rid yourself of your Pentacostal traumas.

Who is going to "vet" off base religious groups? You?

Do you know how ridiculous the term "concern troll" sounds?

You might want to find someone in your real world to talk to about this topic and stop trying to make people you don't even know online scapegoats for your frustrations.

Your posts feel alot like personal attacks, which I believe are not permitted on this site.

by monarchmom on Mon Nov 29, 2010 at 06:21:25 PM EST
Parent







Time To Take Out A Mosque... (none / 0)
or an abortion clinic because God says it's time for the final battle to begin.
My point is that we need to keep a close watch on Cadets for Christ and others of their ilk who have already graduated from the service academies and are now serving in positions within the American military that give them access to lethal high tech weaponry.  
When there are people within the military who believe that "the Law of God supersedes the Law of Man" then, IMO, they need to be dealt with. This form of praetorianism needs to be nipped in the bud.

by Frank Frey on Wed Dec 01, 2010 at 09:24:29 AM EST
Absolutely right, my friend! (none / 0)
The idea of programmed "soldiers for Christ" in the military is terrifying, although I also live in fear because the ordinary run-of-the-mill churchgoing "foot soldiers" are getting more and more militant and violent as well.

I've been forced to cut back my political activities because my friends think they are the reason why we've repeatedly suffered vandalism (and someone torched my electronics workshop a few months ago, although the fire department didn't investigate and wrote it up as "unknown cause").  We were forced to put up a "No Trespassing" sign because of the proselytizers and people sneaking onto our property (supposedly to leave tracts on our cars, but one person we caught had suspiciously oily hands and no tracts we could see).  They've harassed members of the church we attend and just last week, verbally (violently) attacked and harassed an atheist group that was having a friendly, private get-together.  Shoot, if I just go outside, I run a risk of having a fundamentalist/dominionist neighbor start ranting at me from across the fence or from the street!!!  (It's happened two or three times in the last year.)

There was an interesting article this week about a regular letter writer to the St. Pete Times.  She experienced harassment and stalking because of her views... and that area is positively liberal compared to our county (and most of this state).  I just wish that those people would see themselves as other (non-brainwashed) people see them.  Maybe they'd do that very thing they like to prattle: Repent!

They think they're in the right, just as the "coercive religious group" that got it's claws into that young woman thought they were in the right.  They also think that the violence they promote is right, and I think that unless the military roots out these "warriors for Christ", they will pose a real threat to freedom and peace - if not to life itself.

(By the way, it horrified me to hear of the young man's desire to kill innocent people, and it broke my heart at reading about the burning of that Mosque.  At the same time, reading that several of the churches in the area rallied in support of the Muslims there was heart-warming.)


by ArchaeoBob on Wed Dec 01, 2010 at 11:11:11 AM EST
Parent



Hello (none / 0)
It's with great pride that we share the news that our beloved son, John, has graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy.  best place to buy diamond jewelry online After four years of dedication and hard work, John has achieved a milestone that will have a lasting impact on his future. We are so proud of him and all he has accomplished. We know that his journey is just beginning, but we are confident that he will continue to succeed in all his endeavors. Congratulations, John!

by isabelladom on Mon Feb 27, 2023 at 10:36:38 AM EST

A Holiday Letter from the Family of an Air Force Academy Graduate | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)

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Today, Donald Trump appointed C-FAM Executive Vice President Lisa Correnti to the US Delegation To UN Commission On Status Of Women. (C-FAM is a......
By Frederick Clarkson (126 comments)
Controlling Information
     Yesterday I listened to Russ Limbaugh.  Rush advised listeners it would be best that they not listen to CNN,MSNBC, ABC, CBS and......
By wilkyjr (118 comments)
Is Bannon Fifth-Columning the Pope?
In December 2016 I wrote about how White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who likes to flash his Catholic credentials when it comes to......
By Frank Cocozzelli (251 comments)
Ross Douthat's Hackery on the Seemingly Incongruous Alliance of Bannon & Burke
Conservative Catholic writer Ross Douthat has dissembled again. This time, in a February 15, 2017 New York Times op-ed titled The Trump Era's Catholic......
By Frank Cocozzelli (65 comments)
`So-Called Patriots' Attack The Rule Of Law
Every so often, right-wing commentator Pat Buchanan lurches out of the far-right fever swamp where he has resided for the past 50 years to......
By Rob Boston (161 comments)
Bad Faith from Focus on the Family
Here is one from the archives, Feb 12, 2011, that serves as a reminder of how deeply disingenuous people can be. Appeals to seek......
By Frederick Clarkson (177 comments)
The Legacy of George Wallace
"One need not accept any of those views to agree that they had appealed to real concerns of real people, not to mindless, unreasoning......
By wilkyjr (70 comments)
Betsy DeVos's Mudsill View of Public Education
My Talk to Action colleague Rachel Tabachnick has been doing yeoman's work in explaining Betsy DeVos's long-term strategy for decimating universal public education. If......
By Frank Cocozzelli (80 comments)
Prince and DeVos Families at Intersection of Radical Free Market Privatizers and Religious Right
This post from 2011 surfaces important information about President-Elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. -- FC Erik Prince, Brother of Betsy......
By Rachel Tabachnick (218 comments)

Respect for Others? or Political Correctness?
The term "political correctness" as used by Conservatives and Republicans has often puzzled me: what exactly do they mean by it? After reading Chip Berlin's piece here-- http://www.talk2action.org/story/2016/7/21/04356/9417 I thought about what he explained......
MTOLincoln (253 comments)
Fear
What I'm feeling now is fear.  I swear that it seems my nightmares are coming true with this new "president".  I'm also frustrated because so many people are not connecting all the dots! I've......
ArchaeoBob (109 comments)
"America - love it or LEAVE!"
I've been hearing that and similar sentiments fairly frequently in the last few days - far FAR more often than ever before.  Hearing about "consequences for burning the flag (actions) from Trump is chilling!......
ArchaeoBob (216 comments)
"Faked!" Meme
Keep your eyes and ears open for a possible move to try to discredit the people openly opposing Trump and the bigots, especially people who have experienced terrorism from the "Right"  (Christian Terrorism is......
ArchaeoBob (166 comments)
More aggressive proselytizing
My wife told me today of an experience she had this last week, where she was proselytized by a McDonald's employee while in the store. ......
ArchaeoBob (164 comments)
See if you recognize names on this list
This comes from the local newspaper, which was conservative before and took a hard right turn after it was sold. Hint: Sarah Palin's name is on it!  (It's also connected to Trump.) ......
ArchaeoBob (169 comments)
Unions: A Labor Day Discussion
This is a revision of an article which I posted on my personal board and also on Dailykos. I had an interesting discussion on a discussion board concerning Unions. I tried to piece it......
Xulon (180 comments)
Extremely obnoxious protesters at WitchsFest NYC: connected to NAR?
In July of this year, some extremely loud, obnoxious Christian-identified protesters showed up at WitchsFest, an annual Pagan street fair here in NYC.  Here's an account of the protest by Pagan writer Heather Greene......
Diane Vera (130 comments)
Capitalism and the Attack on the Imago Dei
I joined this site today, having been linked here by Crooksandliars' Blog Roundup. I thought I'd put up something I put up previously on my Wordpress blog and also at the DailyKos. As will......
Xulon (331 comments)
History of attitudes towards poverty and the churches.
Jesus is said to have stated that "The Poor will always be with you" and some Christians have used that to refuse to try to help the poor, because "they will always be with......
ArchaeoBob (149 comments)
Alternate economy medical treatment
Dogemperor wrote several times about the alternate economy structure that dominionists have built.  Well, it's actually made the news.  Pretty good article, although it doesn't get into how bad people could be (have been)......
ArchaeoBob (90 comments)
Evidence violence is more common than believed
Think I've been making things up about experiencing Christian Terrorism or exaggerating, or that it was an isolated incident?  I suggest you read this article (linked below in body), which is about our great......
ArchaeoBob (214 comments)

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