Posted on 09/02/2007 1:34:34 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
Bush apologizes to Wiccan widow
Published: Sept 2, 2007 at 10:16 AM
WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush apologized to a Nevada Wiccan who was left out of a presidential meeting with relatives of soldiers killed in combat.
Rebecca Stewart, who sued to have the Wiccan symbol placed on her husbands grave marker in a military cemetery, told The Washington Post the president called her to apologize. She said she explained to Bush the faith she and her husband shared.
Sgt. Patrick Stewart was killed in Afghanistan in 2005.
Stewart said she heard about the private meeting from her mother-in-law, who was invited. The president visited Nevada to speak at the American Legion convention.
Stewart told the Post she believed she had been excluded from the invitation list because of the lawsuit she filed to have the Defense Department place the Wiccan symbol -- a five-pointed star inside a circle -- on her husband's grave. She won the suit and the government added the Wiccan symbol to 38 others that were previously recognized, including a symbol for atheism.
While other Wiccans are known to be serving in the military, Stewart is believed to be the first to die in combat.
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
First, my condolences for your loss.
Now to the Bud can "art"...I can still remember one heathen funeral where the family of the deceased had placed his two favorites in the casket...a 16oz can of Bud and World Wrestling Federation magazine.
Cause of death...stumbled drunk in front of a vehicle.
Satanic to you...
They don’t believe in Satan, Satan is a part of your belief system.
Oh really? He, the soldier who died for your Right to Freedom of Religion, doesnt deserve...your respect to his Rights nor does his family?
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Not exactly: "U.S. President George Bush apologized to a Nevada Wiccan who was left out of a presidential meeting with relatives of soldiers killed in combat."
It was right of him to apologize for leaving her out of the meeting, and certainly it would have been right to offer condolences, but I think I get what you're saying. Wiccan beliefs are not the issue here.
There is a process to get a symbol of faith placed on a military grave marker. Wiccans had been going through that process, but it had been quite slow, and claimed that others that started later had already been approved. Their claim of obstructionism may well have had merit.
While I am not a Wiccan nor do I share their beliefs, I do believe that in our society, they should enjoy the same freedoms as other faiths
Google the list with images of approved stones. It will surprise you.
I will not support satanism. If that’s what he was fighting for, and what he died for, I don’t owe him a thing. I’m not going to have satanism shoved down my throat, and pay for the “privilege.”
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Wiccans don't worship Satan.
Just admit it. In your heart, you think only God-fearing Christians should be buried at Arlington. Am I correct?
[Our] Dead heroes belong in a military cemetery.
We need a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for witches. If people choose to worship the devil in this country they are free to do so, but I don’t want to hear about it.
You’re welcome to believe whatever lies you wish. I’m not required to endorse them.
What’s Wicca got to do with devil worship?
You’re right. And contrary to the knee jerk reactions, I never suggested otherwise. But satanic symbols do not belong on sacred ground.
“No. I would forbid the display of satanic symbols for the purpose of advertising or proselytizing.’
You’re gonna like the Bill of Rights, once you get the hang of it.
8. Flaming chalice: Unitarian Universalist.
Yeah, I'm sure that he personally dropped her from the list as he was typing it on his laptop. :=)
Then this should really scare you...
http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp
Its the list (with pcitures) of symbols that are approved for use on DoD grave markers.
Exactly. He could be buried with no religous symbol, some other symbol perhaps his unit or something.
His wife is making disrespectful scene out of this, no doubt for some agenda she has. We don’t need another Cindy Sheehan.
It’s amazing how many “rights” liberals can find in a document they have even less respect for than a sacred burial ground for our nation’s heroes. Interesting how they think our troops sacrifice their lives for satan, and the rest of us should be required to show respect for their master.
I once knew a UU who was a Republican. Really!
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