How do you feel about this? Is this right?

Question

When a soldier dies while in battle, they get a headstone from the government, engraved with the emblem of thier religious faith. There is an entire list of acceptable emblems. If the emblem does not appear on the list, it is not put on the headstone. There is a symbol for Muslims, Christians, and even Athiests on that list, but no symbol for Pagans. This really pisses me off. We Pagans are being discriminated against. How does this make you feel?

No, they're not shaped like a cross. They're just oblong granite stones.

The pentacle is what we are trying to get the government to put on headstones of Pagans. We are not an organized religion. But neither are Athiests, but they get a symbol.

Yes, it's being protested. As of yesterday, the VA has been sued.

http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp

This is the list of the 38 "acceptable" emblems.

Yep, even Scientology has one, but it's not shown on the list because of copyright laws.

Answer 1

Pagan soldiers can die for this country, for Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech, yet they are not free to have their religious symbol placed on their headstone... which is more for the family than the person buried, but still should be respected. Being a Pagan myself, it upsets me to see our Religious Freedoms being ignored and then again it does not surprise me. Many minority groups have been taken advantage of in similar fashion and the treatment justified by majority groups.

And people like Curious here... well, they may want to rethink how they treat others. One day, their own freedoms may be ignored in favor of anothers. And I really can't see how people like that can complain about things like "Christ being taken out of Christmas" (which was originally a Pagan holiday anyway) when they are treating other religions like that. It's rather pathetic and shows where their heart truly lies.

Answer 2

Sure, why not?
A wiccan Soldier has as much right as a Christian Soldier to have the symbol of his choice placed on his headstone.

I think that the Army is currently reviewing a list of proposed symbols to offer in addition to the ones they have offered and are unable to use a symbol that has not been officially sanctioned. It is the military and they are very process driven.

I am not trying to excuse any sort of discrimination, just explaining what I had read. What can we do for now? Contact your Congressperson and ask that the Army include the Wiccan Symbol.

Blessed Be.

Answer 3

I find it discriminatory and offensive. I signed the petition to allow the Wiccan soldier get the pentagram put on his headstone. But what about servicemen who practice Khemeticism, or something even more obscure? Then we have to start the fight all over again (unless all the pagans (including Wiccans) would be willing to just use the pentagram as an all inclusive pagan symbol). Because I do believe the Wiccans will win this fight (if they already haven't - I haven't been keeping up with that).

Answer 4

Seeing how I work for the VA and filled out many, many of the forms that you mention, I have never been asked about a symbol for a pagan. What is a pagan? Is there another name for it other than pagan? They will put extra inscriptions on the marker, but the claimant has to pay for it.

Answer 5

I never knew that! It really depends on WHAT other symbols are acceptable. I guess Pagans deserve a symbol too. How many Pagans have died in battle? It's not a mainstream religion, so it may take some work to get a symbol. Do other minor religions, like Scientology and such have symbols?

Answer 6

Being an atheist, it doesnt really bother me...after all, youre dead, right?

But I can understand why this would affect you and why you feel it is discriminatory - because it is. But then again, are you really surprised by it?? And, isnt the headstone in the shape of a cross regardless of what symbols is attached?

Answer 7

Pagans have a lot of different symbols. >.> It would have to be customized, broken down between Wiccans, Eclectics, Celtic Pagans, Egyptian Pagans, Hindu...

I mean, I suppose the Pentacle could work for all of them, but I dunno. I'm an eclectic Pagan myself, and I can see why a Pagan symbol would be a problem-- no one symbol is representative of all Pagans.

Of course, I don't even know what the hell you'd do for an Atheist symbol.

Answer 8

Is there a generally accepted/recognized symbol for Paganism (e.g., cross for Christians, magen david star for Jews, etc)?

I didn't know that Pagans were part of an organized religion--which is what pretty much defines them, no?

What would that symbol look like?

Answer 9

How can there be a symbol for an Atheist? You just have to talk to the powers that be, the government that is, and tell them that they need to include the pagans too.

Answer 10

Honestly, I don't see why it really matters. The symbol on your gravestone doesn't make you what you are. You're dead, and no matter what they put on your memorial, it's too late to change.

Also, I don't think it's much of a discrimination. I mean, do the pagans have any special symbol? And really, doesn't pagan mean that you aren't officially affiliated with any particular group? You can't be completely independent and still be included. It's just not possible.

Besides, if I go and start my own little religion, does that mean that they should automatically take whatever odd little picture I make up and put it on the list so that when I die, everyone knows that I died a follower of my own little religion?