No Rest For The Wiccan.

How is it that the religous-right get upset over their religion, but when it comes to someone else's religion, even if they gave their LIFE for this country, they couldn't care less?

it just has not completely blossomed yet. Wiccans have just as much right to their rituals as the Christians.

"this country has freedom of religion...as long as that religion is christian".


(If you don't know the Ford quote...it was about the Model T car. Ford said 'they can have it in any color they want...as long as that color is black')

They should at least have a make-your-own marker besides the standard ones. But why does there need to be any regulation on one's belief marker? While a religion of any popularity should be recognized, it's odd about the Wiccans because they are nearly as common as Unitarian Universalists and more common than religions that do have accepted markers.

edit: sp

if they even have to see a pentacle. :eyes:

bother me, though, as family, is I am afraid his final resting place could be graffittied by those who don't understand who he was and what he believed.

People are so ignorant about paganism, they think it has to do with devil worship. :eyes:

At least to me.

The only good religion is the Christian religion.

Jewish soldiers who have fallen? If they don't, then the family might have a legal argument.

I believe there are Shinto and Buddist symbols approved, IIRC what I saw at Punchbowl some years ago.. It may be more a case of time to get it through vice it being disapproved.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/funeral_information/authorized_emblems.html

I suspect it's the same for any VA cemetery.

It really is a religion, as is Santaria and Voudon. I don't know what symbols they would use but perhaps they use the Christian cross.

I don't understand why there is an 'approved' list at all -- I'm pretty sure the Bill of Rights covers the freedom of religion bit . . . and a right, as I endlessly tell my students, is not something that can be granted or taken away. We come equipped with them when we're born; that's why they're rights, not laws. The founders (Jefferson, et al) spent a lot of time covering the concept.

So how can the government 'approve' your religion? Your right to choose (or not) what afterlife plan you like is YOUR RIGHT!

It is a VA cemetery. There is a uniform look to it. They provide the land, the markers, the maintenance. Also having an "approved" symbol makes sense since the markers are cast/carved.

I would be fairly sure that there is a process to get new designs approved. It just needs to be worked by someone who has standing and cares enough to see it through. IIRC I read someplace that Wiccans are being supported out of the Chaplains Offices at this point so recognition of it as a faith should not be a problem.

IIRC (again) there was a census taken outside the US where a statistically significant number of people put down Jedi as their religion. Makes you wonder what symbol they use for that.

I understand military culture; I was raised in it, and served in it -- so I do appreciate the 'fill it out in triplicate' attitude.

:)

But even if they provide the land, marker, etc. (which is a promise made by the government to the people who serve), they do not have the right to approve or disapprove of someone's religious choice.

That is not to suggest that they can't determine if it is a recognized faith (I don't think 'jedi-ism' is recognized -- at least not yet!)

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of recognized religions, and I suspect that vast majority have a recognized emblem of their faith. Include it in the list -- if it's never requested, okay. If it is, carve it.

edited to add:
I don't consider recognition a form of 'approval', btw. Recognition implies that there is a critical mass of people who submit to a particular religious doctrine (it also suggests that there is a doctrine established to submit to -- if that Jedi has that, perhaps s/he is on his way). It may only be 10 people -- or less; but it is enough, whatever the number, that other people recognize their brand of belief.

Personally, I don't care what folks believe as long as they leave me out of it -- and I'd give the Jedi the marker if s/he wanted it -- but if we're going with the idea of SOME limits, recognition is the least intrusive, imo!

I no more understand the Wiccan religion than I do the Jewish religion or any other. Who am I to decide how someone is laid to rest?? :shrug:

I was wondering what the "rules" were. :hi:

The whole issue is that Wicca is not recognized as a religion by the Dept of Veteran Affairs. I'm fairly certain the recognize Judaism. I agree on sentiment, that the family has a legal argument against the discrimination, but I just found the analogy to be perplexing in context.

but what do I know.

The issue is getting the dept of veteran affairs to recognize wicca as a religiion and to approve use of their symbol.

Unless you were inferring that Judaism isn't a recognized religion, the post didn't seem to be in context to the issue at hand. That's all I'm saying. But on sentiment, I do agree they should fight this and in the end should hopefully win.

is fairly recent. It will take a while for it to sink in, but it will happen as folks demand their rights.

...the funny thing is, Wicca IS recognized by the military. I know there are Pagan chaplains, and Pagan holidays are recognized....So wha?


Disgraceful.

That no one with standing has gone through. If they did, it would be added to the options.

You are right that it is a recognized faith by the military, so it is most likely something that needs to go through paperwork to get approved. This soldier's family could be the one to make it happen. A truly fitting memorial.

Unfortunately, this just shows we still have a long way to go. This is bullshit that it's 2006 and we're still having to fight for something a simple as recognition.

Didn't you get the memo? :-)

:sarcasm:

:eyes: