Making religious freedom pay

thepalmers4

5-Year Member
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The Air Force Times has a feature article that discusses Mikey Weinstein's MRFF compensation and compares it to other military non-profits. http://www.airforcetimes.com/intera...nprofit-CEO-cashes-religious-freedom-campaign

AF Times writes that the MRFF pays Mikey Weinstein $273,000 a year. This is 47% of the MRFF's annual income from grants and donations. The article compares this compensation to other military nonprofits. At the opposite end are leaders like Thomas Burch of the National Vietnam Veterans Foundation ($15,000/0.3%) and Gary Scheffmeyer of Rolling Thunder ($0/0%).

The Times also writes that Weinstein sits as a voting member on the three person MRFF board and votes on his own compensation. This suggests that the MRFF board is not the type of diverse, independent board that the IRS requires for nonprofits. Those of you who serve on nonprofit boards will appreciate this distinction.

How does Weinstein have such great influence? How does he maintain his nonprofit status?
 
Where does the money come from that pays MWs salary..You? Enough people believe in what he does and evidently don't mind his compensation....otherwise they wouldn't donate. Supposedly MW did help save our USAFA cadets from the offensive whiteboard.
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=36914&highlight=white+board

JMPO...but Evangelical Christians and others who seem to feel the need to proselytize tend to be the ones most opposed/offended by MW.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh III has told lawmakers that service members have a right not to be proselytized to by religious airmen.
“You have every right to your beliefs and to practice your faith freely. If someone asks you about your faith, tell them everything about it. [But] if they don’t ask you, don’t assume they want or need to know.
 
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh III has told lawmakers that service members have a right not to be proselytized to by religious airmen.
“You have every right to your beliefs and to practice your faith freely. If someone asks you about your faith, tell them everything about it. [But] if they don’t ask you, don’t assume they want or need to know.

Not that I don't respect generals, but I don't give them a free pass or assume they know all. Welsh, in this quote, presents a confusing argument. "Practice your faith unless I don't like it, then don't."

For some, talking about their faith IS part of their beliefs and is an active part of how that practice it freely. Others live their faith and hope others see it and consider their beliefs.

If someone wants to talk to me about their faith, great. I'm happy to have that conversation. If someone wants to talk to me about the NBA... no thanks. They're free to bring it up, but I'm just as free to say "thanks for considering me, but I'd rather not talk about this league." If they continue to push me, then maybe it's harrassment, but that first mention is just a fork in the road, where I have an option to engage or not.
 
Because the Congress can't do anything

Because IRS is either busy auditing certain types of non-profit organization or covering up their illegal actions.

I'm glad to see at least ONE person in Maryland hasn't consumed ALL of the Kool Aid (I exclude the Eastern Shore.... they're good.)
 
Welsh, in this quote, presents a confusing argument. "Practice your faith unless I don't like it, then don't."
His statement doesn't seem confusing to me.
"service members have a right not to be proselytized to by religious airmen."
For some, talking about their faith IS part of their beliefs and is an active part of how that practice it freely.
Our society puts limits on all types of behavior when it infringes on the rights of others. If someones beliefs include urinating on me....then their beliefs end where my rights begin. General Welsh has clearly said that service members have a right not to be proselytized to by religious airmen. If your religious beliefs require you to "discuss" (proselytize) then the Air Force may not be the best career choice.
 
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His statement doesn't seem confusing to me.
"service members have a right not to be proselytized to by religious airmen."

Our society puts limits on all types of behavior when it infringes on the rights of others. If someones beliefs include urinating on me....then their beliefs end where my rights begin. General Welsh has clearly said that service members have a right not to be proselytized to by religious airmen. If your religious beliefs require you to "discuss" (proselytize) then the Air Force may not be the best career choice.

First, the good general doesn't determine "rights"... its well above his pay grade and two, service members have a right to practice their religion, which for some means talking about their faith and believes. I think once it's clear a service member does NOT want to talk about it, it's time for the other member to stop, but this does not mean that no one can share their faith.

The good general needs a slight realignment in who writes laws and amends the Constitution. His role is to protect it.
 
The good general needs a slight realignment in who writes laws and amends the Constitution.
I'm sure Congress will step in and realign the "good general" if they think he has over stepped his authority. In-the-mean time....the "good general" is the highest ranking AF officer and he is calling the shots. Good luck to those that feel they NEED to share their religious beliefs with those not interested in being bothered.

BTW - considering the "good general" made the statement to a member of Congress....I don't think his opinion/approach is unknown to them.

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/air-force-leaders-detail-force-cuts-defend-religion-policies-1.272814
 
Don't forget Western and Northeastern MD.

Or basically the counties not paying the extra "rain tax".

I spent one year in Montgomery County. I'm currently suing my old landlord. One year in Montgomery County was enough for me.
 
I'm sure Congress will step in and realign the "good general" if they think he has over stepped his authority. In-the-mean time....the "good general" is the highest ranking AF officer and he is calling the shots. Good luck to those that feel they NEED to share their religious beliefs with those not interested in being bothered.

Here's my analogy....

Dating in the workplace...

If one employee is interested in another employee, and there are no restrictions on their relationships, he can ask her out.

She can either accept his offer or refuse it.

If she refuses his offer and he keeps pursuing it, he's harrassing her.




If someone wants to talk about their faith, because "letting their light shine" is part of how they express their faith, that's up to them. Sometimes they will engage someone who is receptive, and it's a good match. Other times they may engage someone who is not receptive, and in that situation they need stop.


I see no difference here.... the Air Force is no more unique than any other service, or secular public/private institution. One attempt is not an infringement on someone's right and it's not harrassment.
 
If one employee is interested in another employee, and there are no restrictions on their relationships, he can ask her out.
OK...lets go with your analogy. Providing neither service member is above or below the other in the chain of command...I don't have a problem with one asking the other if they would care to hear about their beliefs BEFORE telling the other about them. Certainly you wouldn't kiss a girl before asking her out....would you?

Of course that is just MY opinion because I'm an easy going kind of guy. I still see the wisdom of General Welsh's approach.
"If someone asks you about your faith, tell them everything about it. [But] if they don’t ask you, don’t assume they want or need to know."
 
OK...lets go with your analogy. Providing neither service member is above or below the other in the chain of command...I don't have a problem with one asking the other if they would care to hear about their beliefs BEFORE telling the other about them. Certainly you wouldn't kiss a girl before asking her out....would you?

I agree.


Of course that is just MY opinion because I'm an easy going kind of guy. I still see the wisdom of General Welsh's approach.
"If someone asks you about your faith, tell them everything about it. [But] if they don’t ask you, don’t assume they want or need to know."

If I know where a few car is.... I can assume someone MAY want to know, even if they don't ask me. Not everyone knows what they want or need.
 
If I know where a few car is.... I can assume someone MAY want to know, even if they don't ask me. Not everyone knows what they want or need.
Not sure I understand the first half of this statement. As for the latter: I can't agree with someone else deciding what I want or need. Particularly when it comes to their religion and their wants and needs to proselytize to me.
 
Not sure I understand the first half of this statement. As for the latter: I can't agree with someone else deciding what I want or need. Particularly when it comes to their religion and their wants and needs to proselytize to me.

Eh, I said car.... buried treasure.... anything.... people can't ask for something if they don't know about it.

People decide what you want or need every day. From the front page of the newspaper, TV commercials or even the ads at the top of SAF.... you have very little control over it.... but you do have control of accepted or rejecting it....
 
Eh, I said car.... buried treasure.... anything.... people can't ask for something if they don't know about it.
You don't think everybody in the military knows something about God/religion? Or everybody doesn't know what YOU know or what YOU think they SHOULD know? No....I'm not buying it. Keep your "knowledge " to yourself.
From the front page of the newspaper...
Can choose to purchase or not...can choose to read what interests me....or not.
TV commercials
DVRs are wonderful inventions as are TV remotes and mute buttons.
or even the ads at the top of SAF
Pop-up and ad blockers are your friends.
.... you have very little control over it.... but you do have control of accepted or rejecting it....
Nice try. Let me force feed (proselytize) you my religious beliefs because it's just another thing that you have little/no control over. No thanks.
 
You don't think everybody in the military knows something about God/religion? Or everybody doesn't know what YOU know or what YOU think they SHOULD know? No....I'm not buying it. Keep your "knowledge " to yourself.
Can choose to purchase or not...can choose to read what interests me....or not.

DVRs are wonderful inventions as are TV remotes and mute buttons.
Pop-up and ad blockers are your friends.

Nice try. Let me force feed (proselytize) you my religious beliefs because it's just another thing that you have little/no control over. No thanks.

Maybe we're defining it differently. I think "force feeding" is harassment (unless it's desired). I don't think the initial contact IS force-feeding.
 
I don't think the initial contact IS force-feeding.
Please describe how you would imagine the "initial contact" would occur that would not be considered force feeding, harrassment or proselytizing. Just curious how you envision this.
 
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