Comments on: Wiccan Symbol Placed On War Memorial

Pentacle Not Previously Among 'Approved' Religious Decorations At Military Cemeteries

[Geneius]

"The word "swastika" comes from the Sanskrit svastika - "su" meaning "good," "asti" meaning "to be," and "ka" as a suffix.

Until the Nazis used this symbol, the swastika was used by many cultures throughout the past 3,000 years to represent life, sun, power, strength, and good luck."

Because the nazis profaned it, should it lose it's original meaning? How about the cross and the Spanish inquisition.

[ecuadoriana]

Christians seem to think it is respectable sign of their belief to wear a symbol of a man's execution around their necks, but wiccans can't wear a symbol of a star? The star doesn't represent an ignorant, murderous mob mentality! Phil-in-Fin suggested that god represents his belief. Fair enough, so how does a symbol of an execution represent god? It represents the murder of Jesus & he didn't create the universe. If Jesus had been burned at the stake would christians today be sporting gold stakes around their necks? Just wondering.

Phil-in-Fin, yes, if you truly believe that MJ is the second coming & live your life faithfuly & honestly to that belief- then sure, wear a silver glove! Wiccans don't mind, we're not threatened by that. That is one of the differences between wiccan beliefs & christianity. Christians have a hard time considering that there may be another ways. Wiccans accept everyone as they are.

Question for all you god/jesus worshiping christians: Next time you're in a church why not throw some trash all over the floor, toss your cigarettes on the alter, & pour chemicals in the baptism fountain? Sounds really sacrilegious, huh? Well, ask yourselves why you are giving so much respect to a man-made building? Pagans respect the "church not made by hand". We would never consider tossing our fast food wrappers on the ground & murdering animals for sport. A church is only a building. The earth deserves more respect than a building!

[mdc76082]

I guess just plain dying for the country you love isn't enough anymore. Now I have to have the same religious beliefs as everyone else. Our forefathers would roll over in their graves to see the ignorance we built up in over 200 years of democracy. Yes that's right "DEMOCRACY". Bigotry is alive and well, and still raising it's ugly head in the USA! The petty things we argue and divide ourselves over makes me sick. What ever happened to "regardless of race, religion or creed"? Soilder's, sailors airmen and marines don't represent what "you" believe they swore an oath to defend the "Constitution" against all enemies foreign and domestic. Now we've become their domestic enemy that we will not let something as petty as a religious symbol of their belief be etched on the headstone. I'm glad I spent 22 years defending bigotry like that. Makes me feel really proud. How sad.

[Geneius]

A person's beliefs are more important than any religion. If you find others who believe as you do, then a religion is born. The thing about a religion that is wrong is their belief that their religion is the only way to go and if you don't believe as we do, we will condemm you, try to destroy you and even kill you. Millions have been killed in the name of religion.
Believe as you want but leave those who believe differently alone.

[paganchild]

I didnt realize freedom was only for the choosen few. These men died for YOUR freedoms and now you want to take THEIR rights to freedom away simply because you dont understand their beliefs. Lets open our minds people. Fear of what you dont understand.

[tristanrchrd-2009]

Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "a country dweller" or "civilian") is a term which, from a western perspective, has come to connote a broad set of spiritual or religious beliefs and practices of natural or polytheistic religions.

Wicca is a Neopagan religion and a religious movement found in various countries throughout the world. It was first popularised in 1954 by a British civil servant named Gerald Gardner after the British Witchcraft Act was repealed.

This should broadly help anyone who is not Wiccan or Pagan and has any questions about what Wicca is and what Paganism means.

To many people it means different things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page and search on the specific topics for better explanations.

[phil-in-fin]

Fred Phelps and Pat Robertson do not represent my beliefs ...

God does ...

[phil-in-fin]

So, the question comes down to this: are Wicca and Pagan religions?

Are you, or I, objective enough to decide?

Not at all: that's why we have governmental institutions

And speaking of ignorance, Baye13: Fred Phelps and Pat Robertson are idiots, so if you are allowed to paint all Christians with that same brush, then I am allowed to paint you as a believer in Magic, which is hardly grounds for a religious belief.

[nonnie_571]

GOD created the earth and everything in it..I am a Child of God so i am a CHISTAIN.I believe that its in your heart to prove who you really are dont you.For the soilders that have died God bless them And we should never forget.

[baye13]

Americans showing their ignorance once again.
As a Pagan.( Not Wiccan) I feel my beliefs should have the same rights as any other.
Inappropriate? So using a symbol of someone's execution is OK?
Who are you to judge what is appropriate or not?
If someone what ever religion they follow should be honored with a symbol of their faith.
You so-called Christians should be careful with people like Fred Phelps and Pat Robertson representing your religion.

[tristanrchrd-2009]

Why on earth would you not want to allow someone who has served and died for thier country the religious symbol of thier choice on thier grave stone.

Given the fact that the U.S. has freedom of religion, it should be any religion not just what the bible bashing born again Christians think is right and as always Wiccans are branded as evil doers etc, get a life, learn to understand something before you comment and realise that if you allow Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Christian or Buddist symbology then you should also allow Wiccan symbology and not adopt this hypocritical, narrow mindedness that we see here.

Come on America, we are better than this, let these folks who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice have what they are asking for, it is not going to hurt you in any way.

:-(

[phil-in-fin]

newsthought1

Now that you mentioned it, why not a swastika?

Perhaps, if I followed something that used a symbol that looked like swastika to you, but to me it had deep spiritual meaning?

And I argued that since it was my religious choice, that I should have it on my headstone, because I died for my country, would this be acceptable to you then?

Just because I say so?

Did those who spoke about and then wrote it into the Constitution have Wicca on their mind when thought of the Freedom of Religion ideal?

Are there to be no limits?

[newsthought1]

msspurlock posts:
"More moonbats. These fat, greasy, usually lesbian witches give me a laugh."

Such ignorance, intolerance, and arrogance. What symbol do you want on your headstone, msspurlock, a swaztika? This is America, land of the FREE, where people can practice whatever religion they want. I agree with Rafterman- you give your life for your country, it's your life, it's your headstone, it's your call. You deserve to be remembered how you want to be, no matter what other people think. Some people will give you the respect you deserve, fallen hero. The heck with the rest.

[phil-in-fin]

What about if I believe that Michael Jackson is the Second Coming of Christ?

Or that I believe in The Force, that Obi wan Kenobi is actually Holly Than Thou Ben?

Or that "The Family" is my way of life and that I should have a picture of Charles Manson on my headstone?

Or a UFO Religion, perhaps a carving of the Hale-Bopp Comet?

I am going to sue because Fred Flintstone was given as an option!

[feelfree1]

Woops, sorry, I jumped the gun on that one.

[feelfree1]

These widdows are right. A pentagram is very inaprropriate.

It should have been a "Star of David" to represent what they really died for. Either that, or an Exxon logo.

[johnworthw]

Hey, msspurlock, all the Wiccan women I know are really attractive, and while some of them are bi, I don't know any lesbians. BTW, I'm no religion at all.

[olebd]

Happy Kwanza everybody...I-I mean Christmas, NO I mean Ramadan, Hanukah.....ahh forget it.

[red1530]

I think the symbol should be allowed even though I disagree with their religion.

[pudd54]

Typical US thinking, you have the freedom to follow any religion, as long as it isn't Wiccan or involves gay marriage.