For Wiccan Nev. soldier, death brings fight

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060526/ap_on_re_us/wiccan_soldier;_ylt=AvgV_NrRZbk1nKckUeNsQpes0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MjBwMWtkBHNlYwM3MTg-

RENO, Nev. - Nevada officials are pressing the Department of Veteran Affairs to allow the family of a soldier killed in
Afghanistan to place a Wiccan symbol on his headstone.

Federal officials so far have refused to grant the requests of the family of Sgt. Patrick Stewart, 34, who was killed in Afghanistan last September when the Nevada Army National Guard helicopter he was in was shot down.

....

The state's top veterans official said Thursday that he was "diligently pursuing" the matter in cooperation with Gov. Kenny Guinn, Sen. Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., and Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev.

Stewart, of Fernley, who was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, was a follower of the Wiccan religion, which the
Department of Veterans Affairs does not recognize.

Protestant or Catholic.

pagan belief systems?

cemetery. This would be way more visible and ignorant "Christian" bigots would get really upset having the wiccan symbol on a grave in Arlington.

my bad!

is recognized by the military and has been for a number of years, cf. the Army Chaplins' Manual

http://paganwiccan.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=paganwiccan&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wicca.com%2Fceltic%2Fwicca%2Fmilitary.htm

DoD and the VA are two different groups. So while the military has granted official recognition to Pagans and Wiccans serving in uniform, the VA has different procedures and therefore can drag its heels as long as they want (nine years now, and each time a group gets close, the VA changes the rules again. Whereas Sikhs had their approved in weeks)

Don't you listen to Faux/Falwell/Robertson?

whether the pentacle will be allowed. Not sure why it shouldn't (just one point away from a star of david, no? minus the circle)

This country was built on Greek Pagan beliefs......... FACT

He's so far to the right, his head would explode.

Example:

"PROTECTING AMERICA'S FIREARMS INDUSTRY FROM LAWSUIT ABUSE

Congressman Gibbons was proud to support the passage of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which passed both chambers of Congress and was signed by President Bush. Congressman Gibbons was a co-sponsor of the House bill and is pleased that this important legal reform has finally occurred. This bill ensures that law-abiding manufacturers and dealers of firearms cannot be brought to court as a result of the criminal misuse of their product. If a criminal uses a gun in the commission of a crime, they should be held liable for their actions, not the company that made the gun. These lawsuits threaten American jobs and hamper the ability of law enforcement officers and the military to purchase American-made firearms."

http://wwwc.house.gov/gibbons/about_accomplishment_109.asp

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on the tombstones, they *MUST* allow the Wicca symbol.

It's really quite simple.

Cross...Star of David...Cresent...Pentagram...whatever.

What if they put the pentagram (just a 5-sided star) inside a Pentagon-shaped border?

Had the misfortune to own an '84 Le Baron.

From Wikipedia:

"Unlike all other modern Imperials, it did not use the Imperial eagle logo, as that had been moved to the Chrysler LeBaron model in 1977. Instead it bore the Chrysler Pentastar, as did all the company's products of that era. The Imperial alone, however, proudly wore it as a jewel-like, cut crystal, stand-up hood ornament. Rather astoundingly, the car raced briefly on the NASCAR circuit, as its nose was more aerodynamic than those of the Cordoba and Mirada."

Pentagram is different...upside down

I think history teaches us that all religions start out as what we we term "cults" and as they grow and become mainstream they become "religions". It's my personal opinion that they are ALL a little history, mixed with a little re-editing, mixed with a lot of superstition. I could be wrong however; but I'm not concerned about that.

Can I get the Starfleet insignia on my headstone when I die?

Emblems of Belief Available

The problem apparently is Wicca organizations have not yet compromised on a symbol.

As others have said on DU threads, the following symbol is often associated with the Wicca religion.

Why is that "alternative religion" okay, but Wicca is not?

Lisby

You see, if Rumsfeld acts logically, then that is like state support of logic, which is an alternative to the mainstream religion of our Concluding Fathers.

:mad:

in 1984 : (

:puke: