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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 17345
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
2/24/2007
7:56:51 am EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 6,907
RSS: 22,081
Comments: 4
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Wiccans Fight For Soldier's Rights Against The VA
Author: Minnesota Public Radio Source: Minnesota Public Radio
Title: WICCANS FIGHT FOR SOLDIER'S RIGHTS AGAINST THE VA
Wiccans and other members of nature-based pagan religions are planning to gather Saturday at the State Capitol. They are hoping to bring attention to pagans who are serving in the military and a legal battle they are waging with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
At issue is whether to allow the pentacle, a Wiccan symbol, on the tombstones of fallen Wiccan soldiers.
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Community Thoughts: There are 4 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Why Are We So Different? | Feb 25th. at 10:46:57 am EST
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
The VA needs to come out to explain exactly why the Pentacle is not approved when so many other faiths are. And we need the truth. Because Wicca and Paganism are established whether they wish to see it or not- so that excuse won't fly.
Is it perhaps because those who are running it are discriminatory in some way? If so- that needs to come out.
We need to know, because why should Wiccans or Pagans even put themselves at risk if they are not going to be given their just due of faith recognition if they die in the line of duty?
Imagine the uproar if a soldier was denied his cross, or a star of david. Why should we be any different?
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| Fear? | Feb 24th. at 7:11:09 pm EST
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Ahr-Ohn (Bridgeport, Connecticut) - Email Me
This does mind me of a case, of which a movie was made, of a White Woman trying to bury a dead soldier on her family plot, although the soldier was black, and the cemetary was White. But if they're trying to cater to the sensibilities of the late veterans, why have they symbols for Jews and Atheists?
Part of their nervousness might be here, "No graphics (logos, symbols, etc.) are permitted on Government-furnished headstones or markers other than the approved emblems of belief, the Civil War Union Shield, the Civil War Confederate Southern Cross of Honor, and the Medal of Honor insignias."
If Wiccans get the nod, Pagans aren't a single religion, and each Prophet of each God could have a distinct symbol.
Still, why no Quakers or Scientologists? Quakers must have had Chaplains serving, although I can't find any references to current service, and Scientology has a corporate structure with Teeth.
Agni developed a style of Worship, in the 80th Century, and it was a study of different ways to handle a sacred flame that gave us the Flame of Aradia. Why not use the Unitarian form? I mean, outside the principal of the thing. I'd go for something more Vedantist, myself, like a T'aiQi.
Arawn
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| No | Feb 24th. at 1:56:41 pm EST
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Erihu (Sunset Beach, North Carolina) - Email Me
The issue is not whether to allow the Pentacle, they must. The real issue is whether or not the VA is engaged in religious discrimination. They are. They have bent over backwards for ten years to avoid allowing the Pentacle while other symbols have been added to their list. Their new regulations prove this. Ten years ago all that was needed was a formal request, an explaination of the symbol's meaning and a graphic of same. Now, we have to prove that we are not 'frivolous'? Well, the lawsuit will go forward and we will win. It's that simple. And though I have nothing against Atheists, how on Earth do they qualify as a religion or a church??? Of course, the regs do make provision for secular groups that provide the same function of a chuch, but apparently Wicca doesn't qualify there, either. This has got to stop!
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