Statement of David Akiva Miller

Statement by David Akiva Miller

May, 2007

I was born in 1960 and I spent my early, formative years in rural Iowa. I attended Washington Township Elementary School where I wasn't permitted to touch my lunch until the entire class was seated and all heads were bowed so the teacher could lead us in a Christian prayer. Later my family moved closer to Oxford, Iowa and I attended Cosgrove Elementary for the first half of the third grade, where most of the students were given time off during the school day to attend Catechism in the next door Catholic Church and afterwards returned to the playground where, undeterred by teachers, they physically harassed those brave few who had stayed behind. My family moved to Oregon when I was 8 ½, and though I returned many times to visit in the years since, I was not prepared for the bigotry and intolerance that awaited me here in Iowa.

There is a persistent story within my father's family that my father's maternal grandparents were Jewish, though they were most certainly devout Christians. From the time I was young I was inexplicably drawn to the Jewish faith, long before I ever heard the story of my great-grandparents. It is true that I was raised in a devout Christian family, where, along with my siblings, I was required to attend church at least twice a week. My parents even forced me to attend a private Christian High School, where I graduated. However, I spent much of my adulthood searching for the answers to my many questions about faith. Finally, several years ago I found my way to an Orthodox Jewish synagogue where for the first time in my life I felt like I was at home. After years of study I underwent an Orthodox Jewish conversion through a Beit Din in Los Angeles and began living the life I was meant to live, as an Orthodox Jew.

I moved back to Iowa because my parents had retired here and I wanted to be closer to them as they grew older, and a part of me very much missed my extended family, many of whom still live in Iowa. Unfortunately, things don't always work out like you'd hoped: my parents missed their friends, their grandchildren and my siblings in the Northwest, so several months ago they moved back to Oregon. And with only a few exceptions, my extended family made it clear they didn't approve of my faith and my presence. But I had found a Rabbi in Iowa City whom I came to respect and admire and I have much to be thankful for here in the State of my birth.

I have personally experienced the disapproval and intolerance of Christians. I have listened to Christian leaders like James Dobson and Pat Robertson as they railed against those with whom they disagree. They have no love for this Nation's Constitution and Bill of Rights. Yes, they'll cloak themselves in their right to free speech when they believe it affords them the right to trample upon non-Christians. When Christian officers and Chaplains intimidate Military Cadets and enlisted men and women into attending Christian functions endorsed by this Nation's military and those who stand up against such intimidation are labeled pagans and called "Godless" or "filthy Jews," "Christ-killers" or worse, the Christian right argues these behaviors are protected by their right to free speech. But should an American stand up and protest the immoral actions of this Administration that has actively enabled these bigots, the Christian right assails them and seeks to deny their rights to free speech. The Christian right harbors no true love for the Constitution, nor for Americans generally -- believing their great love of Christ compels them to hate both Americans and their claims to liberty. The Constitution is merely a tool they use when convenient, through all manner of contortions, to bludgeon their opponents. Although it cannot be said they reject civil liberties out of hand, they readily reject those that would seemingly benefit and protect the rights of those with whom they disagree and loathe. They load up their quivers with crude loofahs and enter the fray, spewing ad hominems from both sides of their mouths. With their dreams of theocracy and persistent denials of the separation of Church and State, their personal claims of virtue (often in the face of evidence to the contrary) and indignant proclamations that contain only half truths and outright canards are ludicrously labeled free from spin -- meanwhile our Founding Fathers are spinning in their graves!

I was a sailor. I served my Country honorably for more than four years in the United States Navy. I earned the Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service ribbon and the coveted Battle "E" ribbon. For years I've been a disabled Veteran. My disabilities are service-connected and I am 100% disabled. My ill health has prevented me from working since 1998. In many respects I live at the mercy of the Veterans Administration. My only source of income is my VA disability and my only source of health care is the VA Hospitals and Clinics. Yes, I've experienced Anti-Semitism before, in another VA, before moving back to Iowa. At the VA Hospital in Portland there was, at least for a time, an Anti-Semitic doctor who worked in the Emergency Room and I learned to take a Jewish friend with me whenever I accessed care through that Emergency Room, which at the time seemed to resolve the issue, at least for me.

But before moving to Iowa City I had never experienced a VA facility that was so obviously and thoroughly both Christian and Anti-Jew. Its very orientation class is a metaphor for the greater problem -- held in the Christian Chapel, adorned with its Stations of the Cross and altar Crucifix -- the Iowa City VA Hospital & Clinic seems to be asserting from the outset, "You must understand, this is a Christian institution."

Over the last two years I've been asked over and over and over again by seemingly credulous staff within its offices, clinics and wards, "You mean you don't believe that Jesus is the Messiah?" "Is it just Orthodox Jews who deny Jesus?" and "I don't understand; how can you not believe in Jesus; he's the Messiah of the Jews too you know."

From the beginning it's seemed as though nearly everywhere I turned within the Iowa City VA Hospital and Clinics I was greeted by Christian symbols, scriptures and even Christian music. The administration seemingly could care less that the very place that should be a refuge of health to me is in fact a hostile environment. And lately, nearly every staff member I encounter greets me by name, "Hello David." If I don't recognize them I ask them, "How do you know my name?" and they respond, "Oh, we know who you are."

But that isn't enough for them. They won't be satisfied until they convert this Jew. I have been hospitalized three times at the Iowa City VA Hospital for symptoms of angina, and all three times, while in bed, wired to a heart monitor, I have been visited by Christian Chaplains and handed Christian tracts. Twice the Assembly of God Chaplain insisted on proselytizing me -- telling me about how Jesus loves me, how Jesus is the Messiah of the Jews too. And although each time I had informed the staff both verbally and in writing that I did not want to be visited by a Chaplain, they came anyway -- carrying their message of love. Each time I objected, as vigorously as I could. But the hospital's answer to my complaint regarding these visits was that I should have objected more strenuously. What am I supposed to do, hang on to my heart monitor and jump up and down?!

Of course there was also the little problem of kosher food, or lack of it. So I endured all three hospitalizations without eating. Now, to the hospital's apparent credit, they claim to have corrected this problem. I hope to never have to find out for myself.

Up until this last week, I thought nothing worse could happen than the VA Hospital condoning proselytizing a sick man, wired to a heart monitor; I was wrong. On this last Wednesday, May 2nd, my Rabbi and I met with Chaplain Brown (their proselytizer-in-chief) along with the Iowa City VA Hospital's patient advocate. I thought after years of complaining without result, and after the intervention by Senator Harkin's staff, again without apparent result, maybe a face to face meeting with my Rabbi present would help resolve some of the problems. Unfortunately, it only seemed to embolden them to strike back. The very next day, Thursday, May 3rd, I had a follow-up appointment with my Primary Care Physician regarding an on-going episode of kidney stones -- my pain medication prescription was running out and I needed to get it refilled. But instead my doctor insisted that he didn't believe my kidney stones could be causing me the pain I claimed and after several minutes of arguing back and forth, he rolled his chair up close to mine, put his hand on my knee, looked me straight in the eyes and said, "You're a religious Jew. Why don't you try prayer and meditation?" And with that I was dismissed.

How is it that the VA thinks they can get away with this? How is it that Christians can justify this kind of treatment? It's simple. To a Christian you either accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and are saved, or you're damned. Sadly, to them I'm just a filthy Jew, drowning in a sea of Christianity.

From the moment I contacted Mikey Weinstein, Founder and President of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation several weeks ago, he has stood by me tirelessly. He has given so much of his time and has been there for me as I grew increasingly discouraged day by day with the VA's intransigence. Mikey has never hesitated to take time from his busy schedule to call me or drop me a note when he saw my strength flagging. From the outset Mikey's actions have spoken even louder than his words, that he and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation are there for all Servicemen and women -- those who are serving now, and those who have served before. So for all you servicemen and women and all you veterans out there who have experienced religious discrimination, intolerance and the unconscionable pressure of rabid Christian proselytizing -- here's your man, here's the guy who founded an organization to stand by you, to fight for your Constitutional rights. Mikey has never turned his back on the vow he took when he entered the Air Force, to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and he will never turn his back on you. In a world of religious predators, we've got ourselves a mentsch -- a man who has already demonstrated that he will sacrifice himself to defend our rights.

As for me, it's been exceedingly difficult to carry on defending myself against these religious predators while suffering through ill health, including the pain of kidney stones. I couldn't have come this far on my own strength. I thank G-d for Mikey, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and their unflagging support!

I know there will be those who will accuse me of waging a personal campaign against Christianity and Christians. That isn't the case. Christianity can be a perfectly respectable faith for Christians. My issue is with religious predators -- those who use religion as a weapon to prey on others.

President Bush and his administration have been perpetrating an effective slight of hand on the American people -- they've directed our focus toward the predatory Muslim extremists while behind our backs they've been giving aide and comfort to the predatory practices of Christian extremist predators here at home. With the influence of hard right, bigoted zealots like James Dobson and Pat Robertson, this Administration has been funding their radical agenda through its so called "faith-based-initiatives." These are enemies of the Constitution who do not recognize the legitimacy of protections provided by the Constitutional separation of Church and State.

And while we're on this subject I'd like to point out that it's about time someone spoke up and said "enough!" when it comes to the myth of "Judeo-Christian values." There is no such thing as Judeo-Christian values. Jewish values do not include coercion, forced conversions and a long history of genocide against those who believe differently -- but that is the legacy of the Christian Church, a legacy that fundamentalist Christian groups are advancing even today. They dream of America becoming a Christian Theocracy; and make no mistake about it, unless we acknowledge their intent and fight back with all the strength we have, Fundamentalist Christians will continue to dominate the political dialog in this Country and they will force their doctrines of bigotry and hate on the rest of us.

My complaint isn't with Christians who live lives of loving-kindness. My complaint is with radical, Fundamentalist Christians who are nothing more appealing than religious predators.

Finally, I want to emphasize again just how difficult this struggle has been for me personally. It's taken a toll on my health and has certainly destroyed any faith I had in the Veterans Administration to deliver professional and compassionate care for Veterans. But all along while the VA continued its campaign of religious discrimination and my health simultaneously deteriorated, Mikey Weinstein stood beside me. It was only natural that I turned to his Military Religious Freedom Foundation for assistance and support. Who else takes their patriotic duty so seriously, committing themselves to defending the religious freedom of servicemen and women and now, veterans too? When I needed encouragement and support my friends and my Rabbi faithfully stood beside me, and standing right there with them was Mikey Weinstein.

Shining the light of day on religious discrimination within the VA is going to be just like turning the light on in a filthy kitchen -- the roaches will scrambling to find their hiding places in the woodwork. I am sure in the coming days, weeks and months we are going to learn about many more examples of religious discrimination and bigotry throughout the VA system, and waiting there to assist them will be Mikey Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation -- a man and an organization you can trust to fight for the Constitutional rights of Americans who would otherwise be steamrolled by the machinations of Fundamentalist Christian predators who have spread their cancerous tentacles throughout the American military and Veterans Administration.

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