The widow of a U.S. soldier killed in Afghanistan is appealing the government's refusal to put a Wiccan symbol on his memorial plaque. Roberta Stewart is to meet Wednesday with an undersecretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and is threatening to sue unless her demand is met. Her husband, Nevada Army National Guard Sergeant Patrick Stewart, died September 25 when his Chinook helicopter was shot down. Four others also died. The agency so far has refused to grant the family's request to have the Wiccan pentacle, a five-pointed star surrounded by a circle, placed on Stewart's government-issued plaque at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Wicca is not among the 38 belief systems, including atheism, recognized by the department. Wiccans worship the Earth.
This man was only 1 of the over 2500 Pagans serving in our military. Shouldn't he be honored by granting the family's request to have the symbol of his belief placed on his memorial!!!?
2006-07-07 05:58:11 · 7 answers · asked by lilbitadevil 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Wicca is recognized by the military!!! It's one of the religions in the Army Chaplains Handbook. If it's in there, then it's recognized and has to have someone on the post to take care of that soldier's needs, be it wiccan or whatever. Someone there is not filling the poor widow in on her or her husband's rights, probably some closed-mined asshole who thinks Wiccans are baby-eating Satan-whores.
2006-07-10 05:40:35 · answer #1 · answered by drewsilla01 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely! I was terribly disappointed when I heard this story a couple of weeks ago. Thankfully, the Canadian Armed Forces do acknowledge Wicca as a legitimate religion and allow whatever symbols the family wishes to display on the monuments. I only hope that the United States will soon change their views, and live up to their own ideal of Freedom of Religion.
Blessed Be
2006-07-09 18:37:03 · answer #2 · answered by moonwatermuskoka 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just another example of the gross injustices done to Wiccans in a country supposedly built on religious freedom. President Bush doesn't think that Wiccans should be considered citizens and their religion shouldn't be recognized by the military or the government. It's obvious that republicans who support Bush agree whole heartedly that our Freedom of Religion should be revised to include religions that are only in their narrow spectrum of religions.
If only they knew how deeply seeded magick is with the American Culture. I wish they weren't so narrow minded.
2006-07-08 20:42:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Recognized" or not religious freedom dictates respecting the families religious beliefs, so yes the symbol of his belief should be on his grave. I am surprised the Dept of Veterans Affairs is even bothering with this...of course I need to realize that I live under the Bush Admin and they only believe in what they want to.
2006-07-07 06:05:58 · answer #4 · answered by thebigm57 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I am a christian and I would be allowed to put a cross on my memorial. A cross is the symbol of our religion just like the pentacle is a symbol of his. Even though I do not go along with his religion that does not give me the right to withhold what he believed.
2006-07-07 06:13:58 · answer #5 · answered by mea 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He should, but the military is strange, and northern Nevada is very strange.
2006-07-07 06:01:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I agree with you...We should respect to the dead
2006-07-07 06:02:14 · answer #7 · answered by simpleplan0013 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋