OIA (Orlando International Airport) Board Members................How could you??......A Muslim Prayer Hall, BUT, Not a Veterans USO Lounge, in this Airport???

(This was sent to the OIA Board Members today. A formal complaint to the Governors office is being mailed this weekend.)

 

OIA (Orlando International Airport) Board Members................How could you??......A Muslim Prayer Hall, BUT, Not a Veterans USO Lounge, in this Airport???

OIA Board Members;

   Why do America's Military Veterans have to take a back seat to this "Authority's"  desire to pander to a sect of people visiting this country? How can this Airport Authority find money to build a "religious specific" hall of worship,but Not be able to find money to build a USO Lounge for America's Best,......our American Soldiers. Quite frankly your performance sickens me. I am filled with disgust over this blatant disrespect for America's own, and the excessive pandering to a religious sect, coming to visit America.

   Appeasing one specific Religion , as is being done here, reflects an underlying "Fear" that you will do what ever is necessary so as to not "offend" these groups of individuals, though you appear to have no problem in Offending, and  Disrespecting, America's Veterans.  Your lack of being (American), and Pro-active by not constructing any form of  WELCOME "Home-site" (USO endorsed)  at the Airport to embrace our very own American Brothers and Sister home from War, is evidence clear to that point.!!

  There already is a Non-denominational hall of worship / meditation, in  one of the Terminals , so why build one in another Terminal, at the same time that Emirate Airlines is to begin flights to Orlando? This is NOT a mere coincidence!!.....This is a Blatant and cowardly move to pander to one specific religious group and a Nation-wide insult to our American War Veterans.!!

   Your declaration that this is a Non-denominational hall of worship, is deceptive, miss-leading and may be an outright insult to Americans all over. This "Hall of worship" you have hastily prepared, has a specific religious intent in-mind as it will show visitors which direction is facing (Mecca)-(for Muslim worship). This so-called "neutral" hall will also have a location for (Ablution) the "washing" before prayer, as well as a place to put one's shoes, slippers, etc., and a supply of kneeling rugs!!!...........Excuse me,......... but what religions do you know of in America that allows for such equipment and such items except the Muslim religion?? How many other innocent citizens (do you believe) will actually want to enter and participate in any form of meditation, and prayer with all these intimidating, non-neutral ,unfamiliar paraphernalia items  surrounding them? What other religious specific items will you supply, and NOT tell America about?????

 

  OIA, is a State legislated Authority and a State sanctioned Agency, therefore, it is my belief that you have violated Florida's Constitution, by providing a "Hall of Worship", that lends itself to serve one particular religious group of individuals, over ALL others. Florida's Constitution prohibits it's agencies, (directly or indirectly) of providing aid / funding towards any Church, sect, or religious denomination. Your (required), obligation to adhere to Florida's Constitution is enforced by the mere fact that your existence was enabled by, for, and of the people of Florida, through our Legislative Representatives, in the year 1971. Your entity is identified as a State Agency, and therefore  obligated to the Constitution of this State. This is further enforced by the fact that this Airport receives Millions of dollars in Grants from Florida to enhance and enrich it's appearance and performance. These so-called "Grants" are in fact Tax dollars, supplied by the people. You are compelled by these particulars to adhere to and to comply with the rule-of-law that prevails through our Constitutional foundation....Article-1 / Section-3 ,of our Constitution is what you should have read before proceeding in the manner that you did. **I am compelled to forward a complaint to the proper representative Agencies in this State, in consideration of these apparent Constitutional violations.

   ** On the Moral grounds of Loyalty, and Patriotism and of providing Aid to our American Soldiers you have Failed miserably. You should have provided (First and Foremost), for and financed a "Welcome Home Center" for our Veterans in cooperation with the USO. Your priorities should have been the construction of this OASIS, for OUR Veterans and their Families. A temporary place where a Veteran can sit and talk and share with the Family that he / she hasn't seen for months or years. The need of Veterans to feel welcome and wanted back home is a need that has never been fulfilled. Veterans coming home to "Nothing", and feeling Unwelcome in their own Country has contributed to the 22 daily Veterans suicides that we have to shoulder.

  Statistics show that there are only 47 USO affiliated facilities at any of the designated primary Airports in this country. A country that has hundreds upon hundreds of major / primary Airports and all we can supply is 47 "welcome-Home Centers" @ Airports, through-out America for our Veterans.

   OIA had an opportunity to "Step-up" and  set an example, and when the choice between a Veterans Center and a Muslim worship Center was laid-out in front of you, you decided that "Political Correctness" was the diseased path you chose to walk down, and you embraced this Muslim (leaning) worship Center over the need to Welcome our American Veterans back home.

   Statistics also show that OIA is rated 13th or 14th as a major Airport in this country, but you have chosen to be rated LAST, when it comes to Consciously, and Morally, exercising Loyalty, Patriotism, and Love for your fellow-American.

   As an American, and Vietnam Veteran  I am truly disgusted with this catering performance for strangers, and the total disregard for our fellow Americans. I will not and cannot ever use your Airport services again, because you have not shown your Patriotic Compassion and Necessary Loyalty to those who have protected your right to flourish, and survive in America.

  You took a calculated stance that clearly reflects your desire to pacify, and pander to those unknown to these United States, while your do-nothing for those whom you should Know-all-too-well, ..........America's beloved Veterans of our Armed Services!!

                                                                          I am truly saddened by your Failed performance.

          Thomas Pastore  / Vietnam Veteran / USMC,/.......In search of the America, I fought to Preserve.