This is my first diary and it is in direct response to a piece from Rachel Maddow's show on 1/18/2010. Rachel Maddow 1/18/2010 I became so frustrated that I had to respond. I contacted my Senator, Harry Reid, the DoD, and Trijicon, Inc. The letter is below the fold.
Cross posted to Wakarimasu-ka
I recently became aware of the company Trijicon, Inc, which provides scopes for the U.S. military, and their practice of printing Bible verses upon these scopes. In response, I send the following comment to Trijicon:
I recently became aware of the printing of Bible references on your equipment. Although I firmly believe in freedom of religion, I think it is truly regrettable that what you are doing is endangering our troops. Many uneducated, and under-informed, or misinformed Americans believe that this is a war with Islam, and that all Muslims are "trying to kill us," but we know this is not true, and that it is only a small number of extremists that are opposed to Americans. This is reflected in the courteous and warm welcomes that many Americans receive by the common Muslims, even in countries that have exhibited national aggressiveness toward the U.S., such as Iran.
Unfortunately, many Muslims in the countries in which our forces are now engaged do not have the education, or the global awareness to understand that U.S. military personnel are there to help protect them, and make the world a safer place from the extremists that inhabit their countries. They are told that this is a holy war of the Christians versus the Muslims, a modern day Crusade. The printing of Bible citations upon your equipment only furthers this belief amongst the local people.
As Americans, we decry and condemn the insurgents/terrorists use of religion in promoting war, an action of which you are also guilty. In your actions, you are putting our American servicemen and women in greater danger. I sincerely, hope that you will come to see reason and reconsider the printing of Bible verses on the equipment that you provide to U.S. military, for their safety, and in the hopes that it will not lead the average Muslim to conclude that we, as Americans, are participating in a holy war against Islam.
If you should not reconsider, than I hope that you realize that in your zeal, you are both endangering our troops, and promoting the escalation of a war from which you are profiting, something that should go directly against all of the teachings of the Bible and Jesus Christ, as he will hold you responsible for those deaths. "Blessed are the peace-makers. . . "
I would hope that the U.S. would take action to pressure Trijicon into removing the Bible verses, as they undermine the U.S. position that this is not a holy war or Crusade, and they could be used as propaganda to recruit more extremists, placing our soldiers in greater danger. In your capacity as Senator, I respectfully request that you explore this issue, and help protect our troops, and help to stop the undermining of the current U.S. position on the war.
After writing the letters, I felt that I had to share. When will people realize that this is not a Holy War? When will they realize that they are engaging in the exact same things that we are all up-in-arms about with the extremists? Although the number of people who identify themselves as Christians seems to getting lower, I am beginning to wonder about militancy and extremism that we are seeing with Christians. We have gone into countries to establish democracies, but it seems that some people are pushing for a theocracy here in the states. Is the idea of "Freedom of religion for me, but not for thee?" Or, you can be whatever religion you want, as long as you are a Christian? As a teacher I wonder, some people complain about what a failure our schools are today, but how badly must they have failed if people don't understand the basis or our own country, the Constitution? Thoughts?
I am looking forward to any comments.