Residing in a glass case an old, frayed Bible can be found on display in a New Hampshire VA facility. The Bible was donated by a 95-year-old Army POW. U.S. Army Air Corps Technical Sergeant (TSgt) Herman “Herk” Streitburger was a survivor of WWII and lived to tell about his experience. He survived a POW concentration camp in Germany under Adolf Hitler’s rule.
The Bible has made quite a stir in the facility as the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), founded by Mikey Weinstein, has filed a lawsuit to remove the Bible display.
There’s a lawsuit to remove a Bible from the missing man table at a NH hospital for vets. Let me be clear: Under this admin, VA hospitals will not be religion-free zones. We will respect freedom of religion for every veteran of every faith. New Hampshire VA—the Bible stays! pic.twitter.com/nb555aOlWF
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) August 28, 2019
In a report by USA Today Weinstein asserted that the bible on display promoted Christian triumphalism. “That is stamping it with the approval of raising one faith over all the others,” he added “From our perspective, it’s a repugnant example of fundamentalist Christian triumphalism, exceptionalism, superiority, and domination, and it cannot stand.”
According to reports Weinstein admits his group is filing the suit on behalf of only one person, veteran James Chamberlain. Apparently, the bible makes Mr. Chanmberlain uncomfortable, and for that, we must pray for him.
“The Bible does not just contain motivating, comforting teachings. It also holds warnings.”
John Bevere
Good or God?: Why Good Without God Isn't Enough pic.twitter.com/5vgXyFr4ZZ— marsproduction (@_marsproduction) April 7, 2019
The Bible Gets an Unlikely Defense
While few are shocked by the malignant minority, those that defended the Bible came as a surprise. So in an unlikely show of backbone, the VA facility defended the display. Admittedly, the Bible was taken down first, but after reviewing the complaint, and its source, the VA promptly put it back up.
This lawsuit – backed by a group known for questionable practices and unsuccessful lawsuits – is nothing more than an attempt to force VA into censoring a show of respect for America’s POW/MIA community,” Department of Veteran Affairs Press Secretary Curt Cashour said. “Make no mistake: VA will not be bullied on this issue.”
https://twitter.com/hightower123155/status/1168612563027972096
The display that the Bible is a part of is for MIA/POWs and donated by a POW. Because of his POW status the VA has decided that it would be disrespectful to Mr. Streitburger, and his fellow POWs, to remove the book.
In a Bizarre twist the man who started the suit, Veteran Chamberlain, claims to be a devout Christian. He says that he respects and loves all his military brothers and sisters and does not want to be exclusionary.”
