As we mark Memorial Day this year, and remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to uphold the ideals and freedoms we all hold so dear, let us remember why they fought and died.

During my time in the U.S. Army, I learned how deeply my fellow soldiers believe in our nation and its values. However, I also discovered a number of hard “truths”—starting with the oath we swear when enlisting—that I want to share with you today.

Did you catch it? Kind of hard to miss right? Despite the religious declaration at the end, when I said those words, I meant them wholeheartedly. It seemed to me that everyone else around me meant them too...the exuberance and naivety of youth I suppose.

While serving, I had the honor of participating in Operation Restore Hope (in Mogadishu, Somalia). I experienced many different things during my time in Africa that have stuck with me to this day—nearly 30 years later. One occurred on the second day I was in-country. My tank crew and I were pulling guard duty at one of the checkpoints that ran between the city and our makeshift base on the western outskirts of Mogadishu.

I was sitting on the front slope of our M1A1 MBT when a small boy around seven, the same age my son is now, approached me and said, “Hey America (what they called U.S. soldiers), what is your name?”

I replied, “Casey, what is your name?” He said, “My name is Muhammad, and you should have a proper Muslim name.” After some careful thought, he looked up at me and said, “Your name is now Muhammad, too.”

I laughed and said, “thank you,” as he started into his pitch on all of the things he could sell to us, from local crafts to marijuana.

I got to know Muhammad over the next several months. He would come by and speak to my tank crew and I (always referring to me as Muhammad) whenever we were guarding that particular checkpoint. I learned a lot from him, including that despite our differences, we are all very much the same, and that true friendships can be formed between even the least likely of individuals.

Now, I recognize that this isn't any great revelation in the context of the secular (freethought) movement, but for me, during my time in Somalia, I also learned that everyone’s God is the “right” God. No matter who you speak to, those who are devout in their faith are always convinced it is they who are correct.

Whether it was the soldier from Mississippi who carried his Bible with him everywhere he went or the RPG wielding Somali who carried his prayer rug with similar frequency and conviction, they were all certain that God existed and that they knew who he (it’s usually a male god) is.

Experiencing this contradiction firsthand on a daily basis sparked one of my earliest self-recognitions as an atheist. It was clear to me that they were both so blind to any alternative perspective that neither could be correct, and to me, their understanding of God seemed grounded in fear, ignorance, and oppression.

Another lesson made clear to me over time, was that religion is too often used as a justification for violence. History has shown us that time and time again—seeing it first hand was just another step in my journey to atheism.

I believe deeply in the government our founders framed, and that especially includes the First Amendment. The freedom to express oneself openly without fear of oppression or reprisal is the bedrock upon which our nation has been built—that ideal is the common bond that all who served seem to have. In my own personal experience, among all of the military members I encountered along the way, this grounding in the first amendment-driven foundation was widely and deeply held.

There is a very clear reason why the framers of the Constitution made the First Amendment the one that governs the separation of church and state. They understood both the importance of a government free from religious influence and religion’s persistent desire to influence government and thereby force itself upon the population. That persistence has only grown since our founding, which makes the work we do here at SCA more important than ever.

In order to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, we will continue to fight for those American ideals they laid down their lives for: The right to choose for ourselves; The right to create and learn; The right to live a better life free of oppression and tyranny; and the right to a government grounded in logic and reason.

If you can, please continue fighting that battle with us!

Sincerely,

Casey Brinck
Director of Policy & Government Affairs
Secular Coalition for America