No Rest For The Wiccan.

[im10ashus]

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?

Courtesy of Roberta Stewart
Sgt. Patrick Stewart, a 34-year-old Nevada National Guardsman killed in Afghanistan in September, is shown here during a 2003 Wiccan handfasting ceremony in Reno, Nev. His family wants a Wiccan pentacle put on his memorial plaque, but the Department of Veterans Affairs has not yet approved the symbol for use in VA cemeteries.


WASHINGTON — Roberta Stewart said her husband was known by his National Guard unit as a practicing Wiccan, someone who was proud of his faith and willing to share it with others.

When Sgt. Patrick Stewart was killed in a helicopter attack in Afghanistan, military personnel at his funeral helped mark off a memorial circle in red, white and blue tape. Friends from his Nevada unit spoke about how important both his service and his faith were in his life.

So when Stewart found out the family couldn’t put a Wiccan pentacle on her husband’s military gravestone, she was devastated.

“It’s who he is, it’s his spirit,” she said. “This is what he would want, and it means everything to me to have this done.”

cont'd...

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=34767&archive=true

FERNLEY, Nev. — Nevada National Guard Sgt. Patrick Stewart gave his life for his country when the Chinook helicopter he was in was shot down in Afghanistan in September.

But those wishing to honor Stewart, who should have his name on the memorial wall at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, would have a difficult time doing so.

The space reserved for Stewart is vacant. Stewart was a follower of the Wiccan religion, which is not recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Stewart's widow, Roberta, said she would wait until her family's religion — and its five-pointed star enclosed in a circle, with one point facing skyward — is recognized for use on memorials before having Stewart's plaque installed.

"It's completely blank," Roberta Stewart said, pointing to her husband's place on the memorial.

She said she had no idea the pentacle could not be used on her husband's memorial plaque until she spoke with the agency after his death.

"It's discrimination," she said. "They are discriminating against our religion."

cont'd...

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16676

1. this country has freedom of religion

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

[China_cat]

5. Paraphrasing Henry Ford

"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')

[nuxvomica]

2. It's absurd that they only have a limited selection of markers

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

[Der Blaue Engel]

3. The religious right will claim THEY are being oppressed

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

[Ilsa]

4. Hey Tenacious, Let's hope they prevail. One thing that would

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.

[Raine]

8. Yes, really.

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

[im10ashus]

11. That would be genuinely upsetting.

At least to me.

[U4ikLefty]

6. LOL...I bet you've been itching to use that subject title!!! n/t

[Peanutcat]

7. That just exposes them for the hypocrites they are

The only good religion is the Christian religion.

[Cleita]

9. Question? Do they object to the Star of David on

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

[Solo_in_MD]

10. There are more than just the Star of David

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.

[enlightenment]

12. Here is the website for Arlington's list of "approved" symbols

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

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

[Cleita]

13. I think they need to add the Wiccan symbol.

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.

[enlightenment]

15. Agreed.

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!

[Solo_in_MD]

24. It makes sense actually

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.

[enlightenment]

28. It's the approval part that I find unacceptable.

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!

[im10ashus]

17. I agree.

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:

[im10ashus]

16. Thanks for that.

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

[0007]

27. Thanks!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

20. Not Really Sure Your Analogy Makes Any Sense.

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.

[Cleita]

22. I thought the analogy was rather clear and unobstructed,

but what do I know.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. But It Had Nothing To Do With What The Issue Is Here.

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.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

14. The renaissance of Wicca

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

[Withywindle]

18. How petty and insulting...

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


Disgraceful.

[Solo_in_MD]

25. I assume there is a process

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.

[Chovexani]

19. We've come a long way

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.

[im10ashus]

21. It's not bullshit it's "BUSHit."

Didn't you get the memo? :-)

[Warren DeMontague]

26. But, you know, that's not a REAL religion.

:sarcasm:

[Kerrytravelers]

29. How dare the family demand anything that isn't Christian!

:eyes: