Dear John,

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

Semper Fi,

Mike

Mike Berry
General Counsel
First Liberty Institute