Here is the story. A guy I worked with in the Air Force lost his dog tags and he had to have new ones made up. He goes to the personnel office to have them remade and he is told he can not put Wiccan as his religion on the dog tags. Well the guy comes to us at work and says he is considering filing an equal oportunity complaint. The people in charge of my unit start panicing. The plead with the guy and beg him not to file a complaint. He comes to me and ask me what he should do. I said he could indeed file a complaint or just go to the base Chapel office and see what the Air Force regulations say about the Wiccan religion. He goes to see the Chaplain and sure enough Wicca is recognized as an official religion in the US Air Force. Even though I am not in approval of his choice of religion I am pleased that he was able to have his religious preference recognized. It is important. What would you have done in this situation? Anybody with similar experiences as this?
2007-06-20 17:24:11 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sorry I forgot to add. The man does have Wicca on his dog tags now.
2007-06-20 17:30:25 · update #1
Thanks for the compliments. I am sure I will make comments or ask a question later you won't agree with. LOL.
2007-06-20 17:32:42 · update #2
I would have done the same as you. We are all entitled to whatever religious beliefs we believe in.
Oh and by the way "Thank you for all that you do" God Bless
2007-06-20 17:28:15 · answer #1 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Of course he can have "Wicca" put as his religion on his dog tags; although I'd recommend that in the future he be more careful about losing them, and not just to avoid problematic run-ins with idiots in the personnel office who don't know their own regs. I lost my dogtags once or twice and it was never a pleasant experience, sufficed to say. I knew a handful of Wiccans while I was on active duty and as far as I know, they never had any issues--except for one, who had an unpleasant showdown with a confused and rather bigotous chaplain in AIT (Army job school). Long story short, he came out on top, but only after a needless fight to point out the Army's own regulations to an officer who was convinced of his own righteousness.
2007-06-21 00:29:36 · answer #2 · answered by ಠ__ಠ 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
He should not have been treated like that! Thats terrible and I am really disappointed to hear that even happened. But I dont think it should end there, he should go ahead and file the complaint. Because I dont see why the problem would end there unless legal action takes place. Unless it is just not worth it to him. But you did nothing wrong you took a logical course of action. It is now up to him, but I highly urge him to bring this to an end for him and for future people.
2007-06-21 00:33:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
So did they put it on his dog tags?
If they didn't, I'll be there tomorrow with my signs and banners...
I will NOT tolerate living a lie... and when I tell people I live in a FREE country - it had better be the truth.
How dare they ask him to endanger his life for a country that won't allow him the freedom that this country is based on???
I'll bet they'd be more than happy to put "Christian" on there. What's the damn point of invading a country to allow them religious and political freedom when we don't even have it to give?
2007-06-21 00:29:31 · answer #4 · answered by rabble rouser 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Your advice was sound because it is supported by the U.S. Constitution. Our employees do not have the right to favor any belief over any other. They have no right to decide what constitutes a "valid" belief system.
As I understand it, everyone who joins the military takes an oath to "preserve, protect, and defend" the Constitution. You should be proud that you did so.
2007-06-21 00:36:40 · answer #5 · answered by YY4Me 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can hardly believe you are a Christian. It is so refreshing to hear you express your approval of ones being able to choose their faith.
I too place the value of democracy and personal freedom above any denomination or sect.
Thank you for respecting diversity of beliefs.
2007-06-21 00:30:13 · answer #6 · answered by valcus43 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋
he had every right to complain but it is good to see he handled it more diplomaticly because he is fighting for this country and we have religious freedom so he should be able to honor his religion just like anyone else
2007-06-21 02:33:42 · answer #7 · answered by Naemr Radbodson 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ya Satan's secret society tried to force me into there cult. They have people in the Free Masons and Mafia and Motorcycle gangs and are a satanic cult. They trick and seduce people into playing occult games and activity's which place people into spiritual bondage/slavery to witch craft /demonic forces. They also have many witches warlocks or what ever the !@#$ you want to call these Nazis. They are a Secret Society that is spreading like a cancer through society and are the precursor to the second coming of Jesus Christ. Wicca should stand for wicked witch/Nazis.
2007-06-21 00:35:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 6⤋
If that is the man's choice, he is entitled to it, regardless of who agrees with him or not.
I think you handled it well.
2007-06-21 00:29:19 · answer #9 · answered by Always Curious 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree with what you told him 100%!
2007-06-21 00:27:09 · answer #10 · answered by Liesel 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋