First off, I wasn't aware of the existence of "Sufism Reoriented", much less that it had a recognizable symbol that could be placed on a "Headstone, standard issue, DoD, One Each". In light of this factoid, the problem faced by the families of dead veterans who professed to be Wiccans is a little baffling. What's the big deal about putting the pentacle on their tombsones?
Look, if a worshipper of the Great Pumpkin goes to to the Big Pumpkin Patch In The Sky while fighting for your right to go to whatever church you want to, or none at all, then don't disrespect his sacrifice. Just shut up, be a mensch, and put the friggin' Pumpkin on his headstone like he wanted, okay?
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Some people confuse Wiccanism with Satanism (you know, the pentacle thingie), and they think their invisible friend will get mad at them if they make any accomodations for such a belief.
Also, giving them their religious team logo on the headstones would equate to recognizing Wicca ("Satanism! Witchcraft!") as an actual religion, and that just won't do.
They'll put a bizarro nuclear symbol up for "Atheist" (What's wrong with "This space left intentionally blank"? ;) ) but not a pentacle?
The simple jug-band bible thumpin' explanation doesn't seem to jibe when you can get the Angel Moroni or the "Humanist Emblem Of Spirit"...
It especially doesn't make sense in that Wicca is a recognized religion in the US Military.
Hmm. I wonder if the Flying Spaghetti Monster could get approval?
Well, you've got morons like faux-libertarian Bob Barr claiming Wiccans should not be allowed to serve at all (which, to me, just seems like it would lead to an upsurge in conversions in the event of a draft).
For that matter, if a Satanist (not a Wiccan) serves with honor and is killed in the line of duty, why should their faith not be honored? No real logic to it at all. Then again, nothing involving religion goes anywhere near logic, so why should I be surprised?
(Also, assuming this link is accurate, Satanism is recognized by the US Army as distinct from Wicca: http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/ChaplainsHandbook.html)
atheism's had a logo-problem since day one; the explanation for the bizarre atom thingy is convoluted, but not as strange as the explanations for most every other symbol anybody's suggested to replace it so far.
(it's all about how us godless heathens don't believe in anything other than this here material world, see, and... actually, we're not really the only ones who think like that. and not all of us do, anyway. like i said, we've got an image problem.)
but the explanation(s) for why some bureaucratic jackass is having a snit about the wiccan pentacle? blows our mere atheist convolutedness right out of the water, i say.
I just can't whup any care up over it, or understanding as to why the religious and non-religious feel the need to insult each other. Seems pretty damned juvenile all the way around.
The actions of such so-called Christians disgust me.
What part of "Do to others what you would want them to do to you" is so freaking hard to understand, people?
You call it the Golden Rule, but have done your damnedest to tarnish it every time you turn around.
If you want the glorious privilege of living in a free society, where you have liberty to proclaim your religious belief to every passing person, guess what? You have to give that exact same privilege to people around you.
Oh, you don't agree with their belief? Guess what? They don't agree with yours, either ... and your God told you to treat them the way you'd like to be treated yourself if you were in their shoes.
You want to take money from your neighbors to decorate your child's tomb with the symbol of your child's faith? Then don't squawk when your neighbor tries to do the exact same thing for their child and their child's faith.
If, by your lights, it is immoral for them to spend your tax dollars on religious symbols you consider blasphemous, guess what? It is just as immoral for you to spend their tax dollars on religious symbols they consider blasphemous.
"Do to others what you would want them to do to you."
Follow it. Or quit bragging about your faith, because you demonstrate that your faith is a big, fat, damnable lie every time you open your mouth.
(Paraphrasing Michael Scott Earl here)
"Pick a faith (or lack of faith) you're comfortable with and go with it. But no matter which one you pick, the all the rest of the faiths are convinced you're bound strait for Hell."
I notice these "X-tians" weren't so fussy about a Wiccan's faith when (s)he was dying for theirs.
"By their fruits ye shall know them."
Sorry to intrude on all the Christian bashing going on, but anyone ever think this is just a fault of large bureaucracies in general?
What if someone wanted to put his own custom design on the stone (say created his own religion)? A small outfit could easily accomodate any custom artwork requested, but in mass production that becomes more difficult. It may not have anything to do with religion at all, it could simply be about insufficient numbers to make their priority list.
Modern Wicca is fairly new, they'll get around to it.
I am waiting for the even bigger craziness.
At some point in time, an honorably serving Muslim is going to want to be buried in a National Cemetary, as is his/her right.
Prior to his/her death, or maybe after and via the desires of his/her family, there is going to be a request made. It will go something like so...''
"Don't bury me within 100 yards of a Jew".
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