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poltr1I'm on the Yahoo! Group list "Pagan-Headstone-Campaign". Its purpose -- and ultimate goal -- is to get the VA to officially recognize the pentacle -- a 5-pointed star inscribed in a circle -- as an approved emblem to go on the tombstone of people who served in the US military.
There are currently about 38 approved emblems, from the Christian Cross to an atom-like symbol for Atheists to small groups like the Aaronic Order, the American Humanist Association, to Eckankar. The way the VA regulations were written, it would be difficult to impossible for a pentacle, or the Awen or Thor hammer, to be recognized.
Now it has come to my attention that the regulation has been changed so that it would be even harder for pagan groups to obtain proper recognition for the pentacle. To me, this is legalized discrimination. While the First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law.....[regarding] freedom of religion....", the VA has (in my opnion) once again failed in their mission to serve veterans.
I was never in the military; the closest I've served is as an Air Force contractor. But my father, and several of my uncles, were in the Army. And I owe a great big Thank You to the veterans who have put their lives on the line for the rest of us, so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have. As the magnetic ribbon says, "Freedom is not free."
Out of all the pagans out there, less than 300 have signed up for this list. And the list is being pruned of inactive and/or no longer interested members. Why is this number so low? Is it because many pagans are on the political left and anti-war, like the "hippie" folks in the 1960s? Is it because of the people in the campaign leadership and/or the methods they employ? Or are there other reasons why pagans are choosing to not get involved?
There are currently about 38 approved emblems, from the Christian Cross to an atom-like symbol for Atheists to small groups like the Aaronic Order, the American Humanist Association, to Eckankar. The way the VA regulations were written, it would be difficult to impossible for a pentacle, or the Awen or Thor hammer, to be recognized.
Now it has come to my attention that the regulation has been changed so that it would be even harder for pagan groups to obtain proper recognition for the pentacle. To me, this is legalized discrimination. While the First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law.....[regarding] freedom of religion....", the VA has (in my opnion) once again failed in their mission to serve veterans.
I was never in the military; the closest I've served is as an Air Force contractor. But my father, and several of my uncles, were in the Army. And I owe a great big Thank You to the veterans who have put their lives on the line for the rest of us, so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have. As the magnetic ribbon says, "Freedom is not free."
Out of all the pagans out there, less than 300 have signed up for this list. And the list is being pruned of inactive and/or no longer interested members. Why is this number so low? Is it because many pagans are on the political left and anti-war, like the "hippie" folks in the 1960s? Is it because of the people in the campaign leadership and/or the methods they employ? Or are there other reasons why pagans are choosing to not get involved?
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-09 08:18 pm (UTC)