Most of you have never heard of "Rock the Fort," the September, 2010 event held by the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, with the stated purpose of offering "a free concert and the Christian message to all of Fort Bragg and the surrounding community!"
Free, of course, is a relative term. A full day of children's activities, t-shirt and Christian DVD giveaways, a climbing rock wall, and no-ticket Christian Rock concerts don't just materialize, gratis, out of thin air. In point of fact, the Army was later forced to admit it spent $52,475.80 in PUBLIC MONEY in support of this event... money which included $12,000 in advertising. But this is just the beginning of the sad tale I'm about to weave...
Protests to the US government over this gross abuse of funds (which it later turned out to be closer to $100,000) were pretty quick to materialize, notably from Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (both very good organizations which deserve time and attention.) And they made some headway...
Here's part of the response from Commanding General Helmick to the FFRF: "[we are] willing to provide similar support to comparable events sponsored by similar non-Federal entities that address the needs of the Soldiers on this Installation."
FFRF jumped all over that...
"Our preference is for Fort Bragg to refrain from hosting any religious (or non-religious) events of this nature, as beyond the constitutional limitations and purview of the Army. However, given your earlier response and the Army's repeated sectarian advancement of evangelical Christianity, it would appear incumbent that Fort Bragg must now offer the equivalent support and assistance to an alternative nonreligious event."
That "alternative nonreligious event," Rock Beyond Belief, got underway thanks to SGT Justin Griffith, an atheist stationed at the fort. Here's a description from Hugh Kramer over at examiner.com (btw his article is providing much of the background info for this piece, along with articles from the MRFF and a document put out by the Billy Graham foundation about their Rock the Fort event)
it quickly gathered support and help from freethinkers all over the country and even outside of it. It was going to be in April and it was going to be big. Scheduled headliners included noted biologist and author Richard Dawkins, FFRF copresident Dan Barker, satirical songster Roy Zimmerman (listen to Ted Haggard is Completely Heterosexual), Philanthropist and musician (He has a band, Words Such As Burn.Who knew?) Todd Steifel, rapper Baba Brinkman, Underground RBB singer/songwriter David Combs (better known as "Spoonboy") and others. The event grew so large, they were planning to utilize the main post parade field on Fort Bragg to hold it.
Approval for the funding was forthcoming... after all, the Fort's hands were tied. It had basically said it would give equal treatment. So the event was planned, promoted, and going on on April 2nd... until at the last minute it wasn't. Garrison Commander Colonel Stephen Sicinski decided to defund the event. Rock Beyond Belief was to receive ZERO percent of it's promised funding, forcing them to cancel.
Here's where the DKos community comes in. SGT Griffith has refiled with the proper people at Fort Bragg to hold the event in the fall. What can we do to support him?
Contact Congressman Larry Kissell
Contact Senator Richard Burr
Contact Senator Kay Hagan
Contact Senior Army officials by Snail Mail: the address is as follows
(name of official)
1400 Defense Pentagon
Washington DC 20301-1400
The two officials I recommend contacting are Secretary of the Army John Mchugh and Army Chief of Staff General Martin E. Dempsey
Donate to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation
Donate to the Freedom From Religion Foundation
Let's help SGT Griffith strike a blow for religious equality in the US military. Thanks for your time.