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 husband’s 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 ...
Man, some of these comments are like a festival of stupid.
In any case, it is the height of class and magnanimity for the President to apologize personally to her.
God bless her and her husband. A toast to a dead Wiccan hero.
Look forward to his tombstone in Arlington.
Ignorance is bliss.
LOL! Yeah, these folks crack me up! "All religious symbols are authorized as long as they are a Christian cross --and those damn Catholic Papists don't count, either!"
I'm guessing most of these folks have never served. If they had, they'd know that truly God-fearing Christians are few and far between in today's Armed Forces. There's a lot of unrepentant sinners fighting the good fight! In fact, most of the people I serve with aren't very religious at all.
They'd also know that the men who served alongside Sgt. Stewart in Afghanistan most likely could not have cared less about his chosen religion and mourned his death with great sadness.
I agree; while she shouldn’t have been left out of a forum honoring fallen Soldiers, If I see nowhere in the Constitution that says our president MUST respect all faiths..Frankly I find it disgusting, and disturbing. If I were him I would have met with her; thanked her for her and her husband’s sacrifice as a fellow American, and honored him. But I would have left it at that, and not discussed religion (let my kindness be my wittness). I am a Christian and I will never honor Wiccanism-Satanism!!! That would have been the professional thing to do, but alas; I think Bush has once again gone off the deep end..(In the name of tolerance and globalism).
I'm a 20 year vet and you're right, the first thing I thought when I read the "satan worshipper" comments was that these folks obviously never served. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a vet who believes this American who died for his country should be denied a headstone of his choice.
>>>>>There’s a lot of unrepentant sinners fighting the good fight! In fact, most of the people I serve with aren’t very religious at all.
They’d also know that the men who served alongside Sgt. Stewart in Afghanistan most likely could not have cared less about his chosen religion and mourned his death with great sadness.<<<<<<<
I, too, mourn their deaths with great sadness. Along with their eternal deaths. I can’t imagine anything worse.
What a travesty of decorum!
(Why couldn't he have gone with something like Key West Ale?)
You can’t tell the difference between United States Marines and satan, and you call me an a$$hole. You should have more respect for Marines than that.
I just do not get some people here at FR. He fought and died for everyone’s right to “worship” as they desire.
So, in your “perfect world” only soldiers who die fighting for the Christian faith are worth your thanks and prayers.
You obviously do not understand the concept of our Republic or the US Constitution. Shame, shame, shame.
Read carefully - It is “sacred ground” because it holds those who died for your right to worship as you please, not because some of the dead are Christian!
Could you possibly be any more obtuse and narrow-minded?
I thank my God (Father, Son & Holy Ghost) there are citizens like him that paid the ultimate sacrifice on my behalf. What exactly have you done to further the rights of others and the continuance of our great Constitution?!
You’re welcome to believe whatever lies you wish. As I’ve already stated, I owe a great debt to all the men and women who have fought and died for this nation. I do not owe them my support of satan. And to anyone who fights and dies for satan, I owe nothing. You can add to that any lies that please you, but I’m not required to confess to the lies. I stand by my own statements. Anything you make up is your problem.
HOw can it not be right for particioners of a historical religion/faith not to have their symbol on their gravestone while other do?
Wiccan, while clearly not Chrsitian, != Satanism. Look at whats on that list. How many others do you object to/believe are not right?
Well said Timbo! LilAngel (what an completely inappropriate moniker) you are a self-righteous ingrate.
More than you will ever know, or could ever understand. Thank you for sharing your hypocracy.
I will never be grateful to satan’s army. I’m grateful to the men and women of The United States Armed Forces. If that bothers you, tough.
You are a scary, dogmatic, ignorant fool.
And I will bet that you have never served the country you so profess to love. Nor have you contributed in any way to the heroes who do go into harm’s way so that you can be an ignorant stooge.
I object to satanic symbols being displayed on sacred ground. Now, I realize that some people can’t admit they disagree with what I say, so they have to pretend I’ve said things I haven’t, or try to goad me into saying something they’re more comfortable openly disagreeing with. I don’t feel like playing games. If you want to comment on something I’ve said, go ahead. But if you’re just playing games, you’re wasting everyone’s time.
>>Well said Timbo! LilAngel (what an completely inappropriate moniker) you are a self-righteous ingrate.<<
That was well said? It was totally classless. LilAngel stated her opinion on a subject that she felt strongly enough about to put up with all of this abuse. I commend her for it. The first amendment also guarantees freedom of speech.
Pop did enjoy his martinis...maybe he'll gentrify the area.
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