Provoking Thoughts
Provoking Thoughts
Over the past several weeks there has been information and news floating around regarding the fallen soldier who died in the war and his family fighting diligently to get a pentacle on his headstone.
For those who are not aware, the United States military has about 38 approved religious symbols that can be put on the headstones of soldiers. Amazingly there is no religious symbol that represents the Wiccan faith that is approved for the headstones of soldiers.
There are cries all across the American states that are pleading with fellow pagans to step up and be heard on this issue. Men and Women are dying fighting for this county and they cannot be granted the respect to have the symbol representing their personal religious beliefs to be on their graves.
What must we do to have equal religious rights in America??? How many of you are willing to not only stand up but to also to speak loud enough?
I see so many bumper stickers that say “Support our soldiers”. Is this a conditional statement? What constitutes support? Only while they are alive and fighting? Does it still count once their gone?
So what are we left with? A grieving woman is fighting for the rights of her deceased husband who died a noble death. How many of our fellow Wiccan American soldiers have had to have a blank headstone?
These incidents are actually a blessing in disguise if we are open
enough to recognize them as such. If these things didn’t happen, would we really know where we stand and how much discrimination continues in our society? We continue with the illusions that we are free and, depending on where you live, it can feel like we are totally accepted into society. But in many ways this is just the illusion that has been created for us. And the reality really shines thru when these events unfold.
So, this is a call to Americans to recognize this for what it is. This is an opportunity to educate ourselves, to fight for our rights, to represent the faith that means so much to us. This is an opportunity to show ourselves, children and America that we care just as much for our people as other religions do.
How willing are you to get involved?
This is one of many articles out there now about this.
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author bio:
Rev. Crystal
I am a 29-year-old Pagan mother, been married for seven years. I am very close to my family and my parents. I work full-time in the drug and alcohol treatment field. I have been a practicing Pagan for about four years. I consider myself to be an eclectic Wiccan/Pagan. I try not to limit or label myself. My passions in life are my family, enjoying a good book, learning what life has to offer, connecting with my spiritual self, giving back to my community and spending time with good friends.