Shaw removes Nativity scene after protests [Mikey Weinstein on the rampage!]

Sumpter Item ^ | 12/10/2013 | Raytevia Evans

[markomalley]

Shaw Air Force Base swiftly removed its Nativity scene from its base Friday after an undisclosed number of airmen were troubled with the scene and notified the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

The Nativity display was removed — only about an hour before the base hosted its tree lighting ceremony, said Lt. Keavy Rake, public affairs officer for Shaw Air Force Base. Rake explained that volunteers from Shaw Chapel erected the Nativity scene near Memorial Lake after first sending out emails asking others about putting up different religious representations. After receiving no offers on erecting other displays, the volunteers proceeded with putting up the Nativity scene.

The base didn't receive direct complaints about the Nativity scene display from its service members, Rake said. Officials on base first learned of concerns when they received a phone call from Mikey Weinstein, president and founder of MRFF. Rake said the display was a violation of Air Force legal policy, and the base was informed by their headquarters in Washington, D.C., that they had to take it down.

"The base's legal team received a call, and they basically said we couldn't have a sole religious display and we had to take it down," Rake said. "The volunteers took down the Nativity scene and are deciding on a better place to put it."

According to MRFF's website, some of the organization's clients informed Paul Loebe, special projects manager, about the decorations just before noon Friday, which led to Loebe notifying Weinstein. Loebe wrote in a statement on the MRFF website that the display was illegal because it was not erected near a chapel.

"This in and of itself is not a problem. However, it was not within the vicinity of any chapel and was not part of a scene designed to accommodate all religious preferences, or no preferences, aboard the base," said Loebe in the statement. "It was very sectarian in nature and a direct violation of the U.S. Constitution as well as a blatant violation of Air Force Instruction 1-1 Section 2.11."

After receiving notification of the display at Shaw Air Force Base, Weinstein reached out to senior Air Force leadership at Headquarters Air Force at the Pentagon about 3:30 p.m. Friday who informed him that the matter would be investigated, according to the MRFF website. Rake said about 5 p.m., they were asked to remove the display from the base.

Pastor Webb Belangia at Sumter's Aldersgate United Methodist Church said the removal of the Nativity scene is sad.

"I think it's a sad state of affairs when we have to remove everything because it may offend someone," Belangia said. "If you don't want to believe in Christmas, that's fine. But why is it offensive if I believe?"

"We have military service members who are of all different parts of the religious spectrum, but it may be hard for someone who has very strong beliefs to see that," Rake said.

[wardaddy]

Jews should denounce this asshat

[Peter Libra]

I do remember a Jewish gentleman who played Santa Claus in Toronto. He was a huge favourite with the kids, giving out gifts. Somehow cannot find any reference to him today. A Rabbi called Friedman plays Santa in New York. It is his tribute to the first responders in 9/11.

I saw an observation on the net, that because two Jewish people had a child in Bethlehem many years ago, we have Christmas. Alas, so many of our Jewish citizen are very clever and accomplished people, yet there are a few who are just plain stupid.

[Talisker]

...it was not within the vicinity of any chapel and was not part of a scene designed to accommodate all religious preferences, or no preferences, aboard the base," said Loebe in the statement. "It was very sectarian in nature and a direct violation of the U.S. Constitution...

Actually, Loebe, it's your interpretation of the Constitution that is in direct violation of the Constitution.

[rollo tomasi]

Per previous or established in August of 2012 anyone? Not sure if the Aug. '12 was just a continuation or new policy. We sure have a bunch of Constitutional illiterate, hyper-sensitive, historical ignorant, Marxist thumping ingrates in government, but I guess the electorate wants it good and hard.

2.11. Government Neutrality Regarding Religion.

Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for an individual’s free exercise of religion or other personal beliefs and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. For example, they must avoid the actual or apparent use of their position to promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion. Commanders or supervisors who engage in such behavior may cause members to doubt their impartiality and objectivity. The potential result is a degradation of the unit’s morale, good order, and discipline. Airmen, especially commanders and supervisors, must ensure that in exercising their right of religious free expression, they do not degrade morale, good order, and discipline in the Air Force or degrade the trust and confidence that the public has in the United States Air Force.

[Gritty]

Where’s the Base Commander? In bed with Mikey?

[Godwin1]

So one Christian hating Jew can restrict free religious expression on a military base? Who gave these people such power?