Wiccans seek place in military graveyards

News.com.au ^ | 10/4/06 | News.com.au

[MotleyGirl70]

NEO-PAGAN Wiccans in the United States have gone to court to force the US military to accept their five-pointed star-in-a-circle symbol on tombstones in military cemeteries, a civil liberties group said today.

The American Civil Liberties Union said the Wiccans want to have their symbol recognised for use in the official veterans' graveyards in the same way that Christian crosses, the Jewish Star of David and symbols for Muslims, Sikhs and adherents of other religions - 38 in all - are used.

[bnelson44]

Let them have their place of rest.

Sheeeze this should be a non-issue. My son is in Iraq fighting for freedom of religion for Pete's sake!

[kromike]

How about just pictures of the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz? (Although any picture of Hillary would suffice as well).

[cripplecreek]

[Mercat]

Is there an actual real Wiccan dead soldier or is this a made up crisis?

[MotleyGirl70]

Don't get all defense on me!

I posted if for discussion purposes for Pete's sake! Calm down!

[MotleyGirl70]

From the article:

Use of the symbol has been sought recently by a retired military follower of Wicca and relatives of two former soldiers who have passed away - one a World War II veteran buried in the prestigious Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, and the second a soldier killed in Iraq.

[Gator101]

Are we talking the shape of the whole grave marker or the emblem on the standard US military grave marker here?

[Killborn]

Way to slander our heroes in the military.

[MotleyGirl70]

I doubt your post will be up long. That's just wrong and disrespecful to our fallen soliders to suggest such a thing!

[Mad Dawg]

The only argument against is that Wicca is a made up religion, and not the ancient pagan whatchamacallit it claims to be. And I'm not sure that's aa real argument against. I don't see why it should be a problem -- except, you watch, somebody will come along claiming that he's a kamasutra-ite and it's an ancient religion and he wants an engraving of two people copulating (getting it on, for those of you in Rio Linda) on his grave stone.

But I guess we can deal with that when it happens.

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Ask me about my Bumper Sticker ....

[ExpatGator]

Have you risked your life in defense of our country and constitution?

[alchemist54]

I know you are trying to be funny but wicca is a recognized religion and the pentagram is the same to wiccans as any religions symbols.If the VA is inscribing headstones with religious symbols then they should legally include the pentagram.

[Gator101]

If it's something like just a Wiccan symbol on a headstone like this in place of the Cross, I don't see what the fuss is? ...And I say that as one who will someday be buried under one of these. If the guy next to me was a Wiccan let him have his emblem. He's a brother vet to me no matter what his religious beliefs are.

[alchemist54]

WOW we have a real throwback to Salem---a real tolerant christian attitude there!!!!!!!

[kinoxi]

I've posted some pretty offensive things at times, but damn. These are US soldiers.

[unspun]

I know you are trying to be funny but wicca is a recognized religion and the pentagram is the same to wiccans as any religions symbols.If the VA is inscribing headstones with religious symbols then they should legally include the pentagram.

And that is why it is ludicrous not to recognize the basic facts that America is both a nation comprised of a Christ-influenced culture and tradition, but with freedom of worship within this context.

Freedom of worship doesn't mean government must be forced to condone and practice perverse religion.

[John Jorsett]

Is there an actual real Wiccan dead soldier or is this a made up crisis?

If nothing else, I'm sure they could dredge up a Wiccan Cindy Sheehan wannabee who insists on burying her dead son or daughter with a Wicca symbol.

[Clemenza]

And who appointed you Grand Inquisitor, to define what constitutes an "approved" religion? Should Atheists, Agnostics, Jews, and Hindus be banned from military cemetaries as well?