First Liberty
[link removed]



For the past week, we've all witnessed the horrific scenes in
Afghanistan.

We've seen the heartbreaking images of Afghan citizens clinging
desperately to U.S. military aircraft as they fear being left behind
to face the stunning Taliban takeover on their own, followed by the
humanitarian disaster of tens of thousands of Americans trapped behind
enemy lines

And as we watch this tragedy unfold in Afghanistan, I believe it
should raise a couple of critical questions for us here in America:

What has become of America's military prowess? And what are the
root causes of this sudden and alarming decline?

I believe I know exactly what the root cause is.

It lies in forgetting the traditional values that made our nation and
our military great, and replacing them with the destructive values of
"woke" culture.

And I need your help now to stop our military's descent into
"wokeness" before it's too late.

[link removed]

My name is Mike Berry, First Liberty General Counsel and U.S. Marine.
I served on active duty in Afghanistan as a Captain just over a decade
ago.

As I reflect on my time there, along with the alarming confusion we
see happening in front of us now, I am reminded of a profound quote by
G.K. Chesterton:

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front
of him, he fights because he loves what is behind him."

What is "behind" the American soldier? Why do we fight?

We fight because we love our country. Because we love what our country
stands for, values like faith, family and freedom.

Indeed, data shows over 70% of U.S. service members-myself
included-identify as religious. And we also know that Americans
who identify as religious are more likely to join the service. Our
faith is what teaches us and compels us to serve, to sacrifice, and to
love our country and our countrymen.

But what happens when those essential core values are eliminated, and
replaced by the radical progressive values of "woke"
culture?

What happens when you're labeled an "extremist"
simply for holding the same religious beliefs that inspired your
service in the first place?

What happens when bureaucrats and government officials manage to
replace your LOVE of country with CONTEMPT for your country?

You lose the will to fight...to stand your ground...and to
win.

I fear this is exactly the road we are headed down right now in the
U.S. Military.

And I believe this has grave consequences not only for the religious
liberty of our brave men and women in uniform-but for the
freedom and the safety of every American.

Stop woke culture in the military >>

[link removed]

Just look at a few examples of the outrageous woke indoctrination
being forced upon my fellow military service members right now:

*

Evangelical Christian and Catholic service members were included
alongside terrorist groups like Al Qaeda, ISIS, and the KKK as
"religious extremists" in recent Department of
Defense guidance for service members, saying "Christian
extremism is often conflated with white supremacy for a joint
ideology."

*

General Mark Milley, President Biden's Joint Chiefs of
Staff Chairman, recently defended this "woke"
guidance by telling Congress: "I want to understand white
rage."

*

President Biden himself has gone on record with the preposterous
notion that "white supremacy" is the greatest
national security threat to America.

*

Books like "How to Be an Anti-Racist" by
controversial activist Ibram X. Kendi are being included in
military reading lists.

*

The Department of Homeland Security's recently-released
list of potential terror threats was topped by "People
opposed to COVID measures like lockdowns and vaccine
mandates" and "People who question the results of
the 2020 presidential election."

In other words, our military service members are being told: The
America you know and love is WRONG. The values you pledged to defend
are EXTREMIST and WRONG.

And there's no better way to weaken the will of our boots on the
ground than to have the suits in Washington D.C. tell them: All the
reasons you love and serve your country are wrong.

It's disgraceful, it's destructive, and I REFUSE to let
this religious hostility towards my religious brothers and sisters in
arms continue. Not on my watch.

But we can't defeat the "woke" culture menace in our
military without your support.

[link removed]

As the preeminent religious liberty firm in America, First Liberty is
leading the charge to defend our men and women in uniform from
shameful attacks on their faith.

And we're winning the fight. We've delivered victory after
victory for numerous military members facing discrimination over the
years. I think of SMSgt Phillip Monk, of USAF Col. Leland Bohannon,
and Army Chaplain Scott Squires-all of whom were cleared of
wrongdoing by our legal efforts after facing harassment and bullying
for their religious beliefs.

Most recently, our efforts were able to exonerate Army Chaplain Andrew
Calvert, who was threatened with career-ending punishment just for
expressing his religious views on his personal Facebook page.

We're making progress. But unfortunately, the woke
indoctrination is only intensifying.

And now, as we can see right before our eyes...it has become a
serious national security issue.

Will you donate today to help preserve our troops' will to
fight, and preserve the religious liberty of every American?

[link removed]

We will never charge our brave military heroes a cent to defend their
rights and their honor, which means we can only stay on the frontlines
of this essential fight with your support.

In closing, let me be very candid for a moment. I'm eligible for
retirement from the service in 3 years. I have the option to stay in
and promote.

And honestly, if our military continues along its current descent into
woke radicalism...I'm not sure if it's right for me
to stay in. I'm not sure how much more I can take.

And if I'm thinking that way, as someone who bleeds red, white
and blue-I can only imagine how many of my fellow service
members must be thinking the same way right now.

That's why we MUST make sure that wokeness does not win.

Please take a stand for our nation's troops today.

[link removed]

Indeed, the safety of our children and grandchildren may depend on how
we respond today.

Give to help reclaim our military today >>

[link removed]

Semper Fi,

Mike

Mike Berry
General Counsel
First Liberty Institute

GIVE
[link removed]

Join Us on Facebook
[link removed]

Join Us on Instagram
[link removed]

Follow Us on Twitter
[link removed]

Watch Us on YouTube
[link removed]

Join Us on LinkedIn
[link removed]

Follow Us on SoundCloud
[link removed]

Sent by First Liberty Institute
[email protected]

2001 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 1600 * Plano, TX 75075 *
972-941-4444

View Online
[link removed]

Donate
[link removed]

Email Preference
[link removed]

Privacy Policy
[link removed]

Powered By Blackbaud

[link removed]

© 2021
First Liberty Institute