American Freedom? NOT!
Half a century ago when I was in grade school shortly after W.W. II, we were taught that America stood for freedom, and especially freedom of religion. We were taught that America did not persecute Jews as the Nazi had. We were taught that our ancestors had come to America for religious freedom, the right of all people to believe in the religion of their choice without being forced by the government to believe the official religion. Even today we hear President Bush talk a lot about "freedom" when he talks about the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. When we look a little deeper we find that the Bush administration is not walking their talk. What President Bush and many others have always meant by "religious freedom" is their freedom to force their neighbors to believe and practice their religion. By "religious freedom" they do not mean letting their neighbor practice the neighbor's religion without interference or coercion by government.
Bob found a soldier's "Night Before Christmas" poem on the web, written by an unnamed soldier serving in Iraq this year. In honor of all the unnamed American men who serve it is linked here.
Sergeant Patrick Stewart died in combat in Afghanistan while serving with the United States Army, in Operation Enduring Freedom. He was killed in combat on September 25, 2005, fighting for the American freedom his President promised. His body was brought home to his family in Nevada, USA. Sergeant Stewart was one of 1,800 soldiers and sailors who list "Wiccan" as their chosen religion in their military records and dog tags. But when it came time to lay his body to rest in a military cemetery in Nevada, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs refused to allow a religious symbol for Sgt. Stewart's chosen religion to be placed on his grave. The Department of Veterans Affairs currently approves 38 different religious symbols including several different Christian denominations, Jewish, Buddhist, Mormon, and others. But with typical government bureaucratic incompetence they do not coordinate their approval list with the chosen religions of men now serving in combat. Sgt. Steward was buried without a religious symbol. The family of Sgt. Stewart had to sue the Department of Veteran Affairs which continues to drag its feet. The first request for a Wiccan grave marker came to the Veterans Affairs almost a decade ago, and since that time they have approved six other religious markers. See article
Whether or not you or I agree with the Wiccan religion is irrelevant. We need to consider what America has always stood for, what values our military fights for. The only thing that is important is that Sgt. Stewart gave his life defending American freedom, including especially freedom to choose a religion based on one's own conscience, not on the dictates of a totalitarian government. I find it offensive that the government even has a process for rejecting the religious choice of brave soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for America. The choice of religion of our honored dead should not be left to some mindless bureaucrat in Washington. Many other decent men of other faiths also defend the right of soldiers to choose their own religion. For example see Michael Medved's article.
To date the Office of Veterans Affairs is still stonewalling religious freedom of American soldiers and sailors. Sgt. Stewart's family was able to put a Wiccan plaque on his grave by the order of Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn, and the Nevada Office of Veteran Services which claimed authority because they maintain the military cemeteries in Nevada. The Wiccan marker for Sgt. Stewart was dedicated on December 2, 2006, more than a year after his death. Read story Read story or here.
For the other 1,800 Wiccan men and women who are currently serving their country in the armed forces there is no confidence that they will be allowed to have their religion respected if they are killed in combat. The US Office of Veteran Affairs continues to drag its feet. Lawsuits are still pending, but should never be needed. The American government should be the agency that enforces religious freedom, not the agency that prevents religious freedom. That's what I was once taught in school. It was a lie.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
For the thousands of brave Americans who now serve in our armed forces, who have chosen a "non-approved" religion, it does not. Our flag is still there, but freedom does not ring in America.
Bob found a soldier's "Night Before Christmas" poem on the web, written by an unnamed soldier serving in Iraq this year. In honor of all the unnamed American men who serve it is linked here.
Sergeant Patrick Stewart died in combat in Afghanistan while serving with the United States Army, in Operation Enduring Freedom. He was killed in combat on September 25, 2005, fighting for the American freedom his President promised. His body was brought home to his family in Nevada, USA. Sergeant Stewart was one of 1,800 soldiers and sailors who list "Wiccan" as their chosen religion in their military records and dog tags. But when it came time to lay his body to rest in a military cemetery in Nevada, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs refused to allow a religious symbol for Sgt. Stewart's chosen religion to be placed on his grave. The Department of Veterans Affairs currently approves 38 different religious symbols including several different Christian denominations, Jewish, Buddhist, Mormon, and others. But with typical government bureaucratic incompetence they do not coordinate their approval list with the chosen religions of men now serving in combat. Sgt. Steward was buried without a religious symbol. The family of Sgt. Stewart had to sue the Department of Veteran Affairs which continues to drag its feet. The first request for a Wiccan grave marker came to the Veterans Affairs almost a decade ago, and since that time they have approved six other religious markers. See article
Whether or not you or I agree with the Wiccan religion is irrelevant. We need to consider what America has always stood for, what values our military fights for. The only thing that is important is that Sgt. Stewart gave his life defending American freedom, including especially freedom to choose a religion based on one's own conscience, not on the dictates of a totalitarian government. I find it offensive that the government even has a process for rejecting the religious choice of brave soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for America. The choice of religion of our honored dead should not be left to some mindless bureaucrat in Washington. Many other decent men of other faiths also defend the right of soldiers to choose their own religion. For example see Michael Medved's article.
To date the Office of Veterans Affairs is still stonewalling religious freedom of American soldiers and sailors. Sgt. Stewart's family was able to put a Wiccan plaque on his grave by the order of Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn, and the Nevada Office of Veteran Services which claimed authority because they maintain the military cemeteries in Nevada. The Wiccan marker for Sgt. Stewart was dedicated on December 2, 2006, more than a year after his death. Read story Read story or here.
For the other 1,800 Wiccan men and women who are currently serving their country in the armed forces there is no confidence that they will be allowed to have their religion respected if they are killed in combat. The US Office of Veteran Affairs continues to drag its feet. Lawsuits are still pending, but should never be needed. The American government should be the agency that enforces religious freedom, not the agency that prevents religious freedom. That's what I was once taught in school. It was a lie.
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
For the thousands of brave Americans who now serve in our armed forces, who have chosen a "non-approved" religion, it does not. Our flag is still there, but freedom does not ring in America.
posted by Bob | Tuesday, December 12, 2006
9 Comments:
America is really fighting for freedom: freedom to drive their cars and live in suburbia.
Saddam decided to sell oil in Euro. This would kill the dollar and destroy US economy. (The money OPEC makes comes back to US as investment, it's a win-win situation for the US right now. With euro fiat? no.)
Therefore I can't say anything bad about the motives in Iraq. Bush could not have said this stuff to the public openly, they would not understand.
I'm not even an American or a European and I can see these.
I don't understand what this article has to do with fighting feminists.
Note to Anonymous:
a. There are many fictions being published about motives in Iraq, mostly by opposition political parties. All that "war for oil" stuff is fiction by the opposition party.
b. Fighting feminists is part of Bob's agenda, but not all of Bob's life.
1 here. Just wanted to post a link to a "War for oil price" article. It's a long read, but I believe it's well written and follows logic. It sure turned my ideas around.
http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/RRiraqWar.html
(If it rolls off the screen here is the short link
http://tinyurl.com/6sy7
)
Note to Anonymous: (December 14, 2006 1:37 AM )
Your article about "War for oil" is off topic and normally would not be posted. However since you were polite about asking I allowed it this time. It is a left wing political talking point with little foundation in rational thinking.
One primary purpose of The World According to Bob is to remind men about being MEN, not pansies, wusses, milquetoasts, saps, lolly lickers, ass kissers, or mamma's boys. MEN are warriors, fathers, and are proud of their accomplishments. From prehistoric tribes to great modern nations, Men have always formed into armies and captured resources for their family, tribe, city and nation. To fight a war for oil or other resources for our families is a manly thing to do and worthy of manly honor. Left wing feminized politics is the folly of pansies, wusses, saps, and ass kickers. A real man doesn't pander to such pathetic whining.
Who actually practices a pansy religion like Wiccan?
Note to Anonymous (December 16, 2006 3:51 PM)
There are about 1,800 soldiers and sailors currently serving in the US Army and Navy who practice Wicca. Many of them serve in combat situations in Iraq or Afghanistan and risk their lives for their country. It is disrepeectful to them to be disrespectful of their religious choice.
Wiccan and Feminism are practically the same.
Note to Anonymous (December 17, 2006 4:26 PM)
While there are a good many feminist Wiccans, I am reminded that much of the leadership of feminism is Jewish, and these days many Christian churches are feminist dominated. Islamic feminists are agitating for women's rights in Islamic countries. At the same time, there are many good non-feminist MEN in all those religions. For MEN to succeed, we need to welcome and honor strong MEN of all religions, including Wiccan, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Shinto, Native American, and numerous others. To criticize any hero who sacrificed his life for his country by picking over his religious choice brings dishonor to all of the fallen heroes who have sacrificed for American freedom.
America is fighting for the freedom to kill their unwanted babies and to engage in every perverse sexual practice known to the devil. But we know better!!
Post a Comment
<< Home