If I ever had any doubt that there are Christaphobes in the United States, that doubt has been vanquished. I knew the ACLU didn't like the idea of the manger scene at Christmas being represented in the Town Squares across America. But that's because they don't have three wise men and a virgin in their organization.

So what's Mikey Weinstein's problem?

I guess he wants to completely divest our military of anything seemingly Christian.

His latest foray against Christianity in the military involves a Cross (why am I not surprised) at Fort Carson. The cross is located at Fort Carson's Evans Army Community Hospital and has with it a religious motto in Latin (Pro deo Humanitate) which translates: “For God and Humanity” and dates back to the days of Hippocrates, a pre-Christian Greek physician.

One has to wonder if it's the words or merely the Cross Mikey despises.

Either way, Mikey's reason for wanting it removed is the most ridiculous nonsense I've heard in my life: Weinstein is afraid that the emblem will send the message that the Army is in a Holy War against Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Exactly how many Afghanis and Iraqis does he think will even know this emblem exists?

I guess they all will now that Mikey has decided to whine from the rooftops and threaten to sue the Army.

But is anyone other than himself, and a few paranoid Talibani, really stupid enough to think the emblem is about crusades? It's in a HOSPITAL for crying out loud! And it's a reference to the service of medical personnel within the military.

The emblem has been in place at Fort Carson since 1969 and nobody seems to have been bothered by it until now.

According to Lt. Col. Steve Wollman, the Army Institute of Heraldry had approved the image, noting that it's design was based on the “emblem of Mercy” dating back to the Middle Ages when pilgrims carried a Cross with a spiked base to mark the spot of their encampment.

I'm sorry if all of this history offends Mikey, but good grief, almost anything having to do with heraldry will have some connection to Christianity. Does Mikey intend to do away with historical symbolism if it has any ties to any religion? Or just the Christian ones?

To date, his Religious Freedom Foundation has only gone after things relating to Christianity.

What I find rather interesting is that Weinstein hasn't gone after the “biggies” yet. You know. The medals?

For example, the Medal of Valor. Minerva's head is on it and Minerva is most certainly a religious symbol (the goddess of poetry, medicine, etc.) She was worshiped, was she not? Then how come SHE gets a pass from Mikey and the Cross doesn't?

And then, there's the Legion of Merit medal which has on it stars arranged in the shape of the Star of David. Talk about pissing off Muslim terrorists!

Ooops! Mikey's Jewish. Nevermind.

And if we want to become totally anal, anything with a “+” shape could be potentially offending to Muslims. Several medals from various branches of the military contain the traditional + shape cross. The cross is the symbol of Christianity, right? So why isn't Mikey worried about Muslim terrorists being upset by them?

I suppose everyone needs a hobby, but could it be Mikey is going too far here?

And once again, Mikey is filing his lawsuit on behalf of “unnamed” persons. Shouldn't the Department of the Army be allowed to face it's accusers? Why won't these people stand behind the courage of their convictions?

I hope the Army doesn't cave. And I hope that one day Mikey's organization will live up to it's name: the RELIGIOUS FREEDOM foundation. Right now it's looking like anything but an organization supporting religious freedom. Instead it's resembling the Inquisitions, with Mikey as the Grand Inquisitor.

Coptic Cross
Cathar Cross
Cross Pattee

Maltese Heraldry Cross

The Distinguished Flying Cross Medal

Distinguished Service Cross