[Vision2020] A New Witch Hunt
rvrcowboy
rvrcowboy at clearwire.net
Wed Jul 5 14:51:18 PDT 2006
Ellen Roskovich wrote:
"What I personally am "embracing" is a persons right to practice the religion of their choice (or no religion) in peace within our community."
Exactly! And that is what I am speaking about. It just seems to me that many of the people here on the venom have chosen certain religious choices, by others, as targets of ridicule and criticism. However, I have not heard any criticism of the fringe religious beliefs.
Dick S.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ellen Roskovich
To: rvrcowboy at clearwire.net ; vision2020 at moscow.com ; deco at moscow.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 10:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] A New Witch Hunt
What I personally am "embracing" is a persons right to practice the religion of their choice (or no religion) in peace within our community.
And, NO, I do not like Bush.
Ellen A. Roskovich
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "rvrcowboy" <rvrcowboy at clearwire.net>
To: "Vision2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>, "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] A New Witch Hunt
Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2006 10:39:21 -0700
>It is so amusing to see how so many of the libs here in the venom are
>embracing Wicca while admitting they know little, or nothing, about it. It
>is always the same with you people: Any President but Bush and any religion
>but Christianity.
>
>You are so very translucent.
>
>Dick S.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com>
>To: "Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 8:40 AM
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] A New Witch Hunt
>
>
> > Debi writes:
> >
> > "Wicca does not have a Central Authority, it does not have Pastors,
> > Preachers, or Popes. It doesn't seek converts, doesn't proselytize,
>doesn't
> > reject other religions as non-valid."
> >
> > Holy Jesus! Are you daring to say that a person can be religious,
> > spiritual, kind, loving, concerned about humankind/animalkind etc without
>an
> > organized church to provide detailed instruction and to suck away their
> > money?
> >
> > I am sorry but your egregiously perverted view has now placed you among
> > other major perverts of the past: Buddha, Confucius, Christ, Plato,
> > Aristotle, Bertrand Russell, Jean Paul Sartre, etc.
> >
> > Why, if what you say has any truth at all, then a whole lot of
>egomaniacal,
> > megalomaniacal, and/or just uncritically dumb parasites would be instantly
> > unemployed.
> >
> >
> > Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
> > deco at moscow.com
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <debismith at moscow.com>
> > To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 9:17 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] A New Witch Hunt
> >
> >
> > > Thanks for posting this, Tom. Also to all of you who have taken enough
> > > interest in Wicca to do
> > > a bit of research.
> > >
> > > While approximately 1,900 in the military are *out of the broom
> > > closet*, many more do not identify themselves as Wiccan simply to
>protect
> > > themselves.Unless
> > > a base has a fairly large contingent of Wiccans (as did Fort Hood), it
>can
> > > be dangerous to let
> > > others know this religion is the one practiced.
> > >
> > > Wicca does not have a Central Authority, it does not have Pastors,
> > > Preachers, or Popes. It
> > > doesn't seek converts, doesn't proseletize, doesn't reject other
>religions
> > > as nonvalid. What
> > > it has is a belief that Diety is imminent, not transcendent, and a focus
> > > on care for the Earth
> > > and all that inhabits Her. It has one basic tenet: And It Harm None.
>This
> > > means anything one
> > > puts out into the Universe will return thrice-fold. If it is good deeds,
> > > there is a return. If, as in my
> > > case, it is snarky e-mails to those I feel it necessary to confront, I
>get
> > > three equally snotty e-
> > > mails back. I'm sometimes willing to take the *karmic hit* and just push
> > > *send*, knowing full
> > > well Dick, Lame-o Doug, Donovan, or one of the over-aged juvenile
>Kirkers
> > > will attempt to insult
> > > me or even start cyber-stalking again.
> > >
> > > I am open about my spiritual beliefs. I am open about my political
>agenda.
> > > I am open about
> > > just about everything, because when one attempts secrecy it leaves one
> > > open to blackmail.
> > > One of the v2020 posters, in the not so distant past, attempted to *out*
> > > me (I was already out,
> > > so BFD), attempted to *report* me to a higher authority (there isn't
>one,
> > > so he just annoyed
> > > people who didn't care), and attempted to *shame* me for my out-spoken
> > > behavior (I save
> > > feeling ashamed for when I have inadvertantly caused someone pain--I'm
>not
> > > ever ashamed of
> > > calling it like I see it).
> > >
> > > It breaks my heart when I hear that others who share my religious
>beliefs
> > > are disrespected in
> > > the
> > > way Patrick Stewart and his family have been disrespected. While I may
>not
> > > agree with the
> > > religious perspectives of some others, their right to belief is never in
> > > question. Somehow,
> > > Wicca is different than all other faiths?
> > >
> > > It is particularly poignant that Wiccan beliefs are likely the most
> > > inoffensive of just about any
> > > religion, yet, through misunderstanding and prejudice, many people still
> > > think Wicca is devil
> > > worship or casting evil spells. These ideas don't have any application
>to
> > > Wicca. We don't even
> > > believe in *the Devil*, and (remember Harm None?) just don't do
> > > imprecatory prayers or evil
> > > spells. We spend our time recycling, growing organic food, taking care
>of
> > > others, sharing what
> > > we have with those who have less, volunteering in our community, being
> > > involved in politics,
> > > and paying attention to the changing seasons (both real and
> > > metaphorically).
> > >
> > > I am hopeful that the VA will get some sense, stop listening to those
>who
> > > act out of prejudice
> > > rather than information, and allow Roberta Stewart to honor her husband
> > > with the symbol of his
> > > faith. Blessed Be, Roberta.
> > >
> > > Debi Robinson-Smith
> > >
> > > "Never retract, never explain, never apologize, just get the job done
>and
> > > let them howl."
> > > -------Iron Jawed Angels
> > > (Thanks to Lois Blackburn, a true Iron Jawed Angel!)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
> > > To: "Joan Opyr" <joanopyr at moscow.com>,
> > > "'Moscow Vision 2020'" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> > > Date sent: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 16:37:17 -0700
> > > Copies to:
> > > Subject: [Vision2020] A New Witch Hunt
> > >
> > > [ Double-click this line for list subscription options ]
> > >
> > > An editorial from the July 10, 2006 edition of the Army Times -
> > >
> > > For you Wiccans out there. You know who you are.
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > A New Witch Hunt
> > > Search for recognition falls victim to misconceptions about Wicca
> > >
> > > By Charles C. Haynes
> > >
> > > The current flap involving Wiccans in the military is a conflict that
> > > should
> > > never have happened. But years of foot-dragging by the Department of
> > > Veterans Affairs have turned an easy case into a major controversy
> > > complete
> > > with charges of discrimination and threats of lawsuits.
> > >
> > > All VA needs to do is announce that the pentacle - a five-pointed star
> > > that
> > > symbolizes the Wiccan faith - has been added to the list of 38 "emblems
>of
> > > belief" approved for placement on government headstones and memorials.
>No
> > > big deal, end of story.
> > >
> > > Instead, VA keeps saying that it is "reviewing the process" - and will
> > > make
> > > a decision at some indeterminate time in the future.
> > >
> > > Roberta Stewart has been hearing this bureaucratic mumbo jumbo for the
> > > past
> > > eight months. She just wants to honor her husband, Patrick, a soldier in
> > > the
> > > Nevada National Guard killed in combat last September in Afghanistan.
>Sgt.
> > > Stewart, who was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart,
> > > among other honors, was a Wiccan.
> > >
> > > But Stewart's request to have a pentacle engraved on her husband's
> > > memorial
> > > plaque has been repeatedly denied pending review of the VA policy. His
> > > space
> > > on the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial wall remains blank.
> > >
> > > Eventually, VA will have no choice but to allow the pentacle. Nevada
> > > politicians from both parties, as well as advocacy groups from the left
> > > and
> > > right, are demanding the change.
> > >
> > > Then there is the small matter of the First Amendment: It's clearly
> > > unconstitutional for the government to deny the Wiccan symbol while
> > > permitting symbols of many other religions.
> > >
> > > If approval of the pentacle is inevitable, why is VA taking so long to
> > > make
> > > a decision?
> > >
> > > For Roberta Stewart, it has been a long and frustrating eight months.
>But
> > > other Wiccans have been pushing for VA recognition of the pentacle for
> > > more
> > > than nine years. (According to the Defense Department, some 1,900
> > > active-duty service members identify themselves as Wiccans.)
> > >
> > > At first blush, the years of VA stonewalling doesn't make sense. A
>glance
> > > at
> > > the 38 approved emblems suggests that any religion can make the list. In
> > > addition to all of the world's major faiths, a number of obscure sects
>are
> > > represented, such as Eckankar, a New Age group that espouses out-of-body
> > > travel. Atheists have a symbol, too. If VA is applying some kind of
> > > religious test to keep out the Wiccans, it's hard to fathom what it
>might
> > > be.
> > >
> > > Before last fall, VA blamed the rules. Applicants had to provide
> > > documentation from a central authority certifying a symbol as
> > > representative
> > > of that religion. Because Wiccans have no recognized head or hierarchy,
> > > their applications were rejected. Rules are rules.
> > >
> > > Bipartisan outrage over Sgt. Stewart's case inspired a new set of rules.
> > > Now, applicants are required to provide historic background and
> > > documentation of use to get a symbol approved. Roberta Stewart has
>filled
> > > out all of the forms. But she's still waiting.
> > >
> > > So what's the problem? VA isn't talking. But the delay may have to do
>with
> > > the fact that Roberta Stewart went public. Putting atheists on the list
> > > when
> > > no one is paying attention is one thing, but announcing recognition of
>the
> > > Wiccan pentacle in the glare of the media spotlight is another.
> > >
> > > Few people have even heard of Eckankar, but almost everyone has an
>opinion
> > > about Wiccans. Unfortunately, most of what people think they know about
> > > Wicca is false. Wicca is a nature-based religion centered on a belief
>that
> > > the divine permeates all life. Wiccans have nothing to do with black
>magic
> > > or satanic worship, but try explaining that to a misinformed public.
> > >
> > > VA is probably remembering the last time Wiccans in the military made
> > > headlines. About six years ago, news reports of Wiccan ceremonies at
>Fort
> > > Hood, Texas, and other bases provoked some conservative Christian groups
> > > to
> > > call on Christians not to enlist or re-enlist in the Army.
> > >
> > > Under the First Amendment, the Army had no choice then, just as VA has
>no
> > > choice now, but to accommodate Wiccans in the same way it accommodates
> > > other
> > > religious groups. But any "acceptance" of witches - who have long been
> > > demonized in Christian history - is certain to stir up trouble for the
> > > military.
> > >
> > > It's also possible that VA lawyers are beginning to realize that any
> > > guidelines for government-sanctioned "emblems of belief," however
> > > carefully
> > > crafted, are unworkable. In a nation where people are free to choose in
> > > matters of faith, the government should stop trying to figure out which
> > > symbols are "acceptable" and instead allow each family to choose
>whatever
> > > symbol best represents their convictions.
> > >
> > > In other words, cut through all of the bureaucratic red tape and
>jettison
> > > the "emblems of belief" list entirely.
> > >
> > > Meanwhile, however, VA should act immediately to honor Roberta Stewart's
> > > request and fill in the blank space reserved for Sgt. Stewart. After
>all,
> > > if
> > > we can't live up to religious freedom at home, we have no business
>asking
> > > soldiers to die for religious freedom abroad.
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Seeya round town, Moscow.
> > >
> > > Tom Hansen
> > > Moscow, Idaho
> > >
> > > "Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the
> > > tranquil
> > > and steady dedication of a lifetime."
> > >
> > > --Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.
> > >
> > >
> > > =====================================================
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> > > http://www.fsr.net
> > > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > ====================================================
> > >
> > > ------- End of forwarded message -------
> > >
> > > ------- End of forwarded message -------
> > >
> > > =====================================================
> > > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > > http://www.fsr.net
> > > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > > ====================================================
> > >
> > >
> >
> > =====================================================
> > List services made available by First Step Internet,
> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> > http://www.fsr.net
> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> > ====================================================
> >
>
>=====================================================
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> http://www.fsr.net
> mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>====================================================
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