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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ellen Roskovich wrote:
<P><STRONG>"What I personally am "embracing" is a persons right to practice the
religion of their choice (or no religion) in peace within our
community."</STRONG></P>
<P>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.</P>
<P>Dick S.</P></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=gussie443@hotmail.com href="mailto:gussie443@hotmail.com">Ellen
Roskovich</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=rvrcowboy@clearwire.net
href="mailto:rvrcowboy@clearwire.net">rvrcowboy@clearwire.net</A> ; <A
title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> ; <A
title=deco@moscow.com href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, July 05, 2006 10:51
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Vision2020] A New Witch
Hunt</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV class=RTE>
<P><STRONG>What I personally am "embracing" is a persons right to practice the
religion of their choice (or no religion) in peace within our
community.</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>And, NO, I do not like Bush.</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>Ellen A. Roskovich</STRONG><BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
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<DIV></DIV>From: <I>"rvrcowboy" <<A
href="mailto:rvrcowboy@clearwire.net">rvrcowboy@clearwire.net</A>></I><BR>To: <I>"Vision2020"
<<A href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A>>,
"Art Deco" <<A
href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</A>></I><BR>Subject: <I>Re:
[Vision2020] A New Witch Hunt</I><BR>Date: <I>Wed, 5 Jul 2006
10:39:21 -0700</I><BR>>It is so amusing to see how so many of the libs
here in the venom are<BR>>embracing Wicca while admitting they know
little, or nothing, about it. It<BR>>is always the same with
you people: Any President but Bush and any religion<BR>>but
Christianity.<BR>><BR>>You are so very
translucent.<BR>><BR>>Dick S.<BR>>----- Original Message
-----<BR>>From: "Art Deco" <deco@moscow.com><BR>>To: "Vision
2020" <vision2020@moscow.com><BR>>Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006
8:40 AM<BR>>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] A New Witch
Hunt<BR>><BR>><BR>> > Debi writes:<BR>> ><BR>> >
"Wicca does not have a Central Authority, it does not have Pastors,<BR>>
> Preachers, or Popes. It doesn't seek converts, doesn't
proselytize,<BR>>doesn't<BR>> > reject other religions as
non-valid."<BR>> ><BR>> > Holy Jesus! Are you daring
to say that a person can be religious,<BR>> > spiritual, kind, loving,
concerned about humankind/animalkind etc without<BR>>an<BR>> >
organized church to provide detailed instruction and to suck away
their<BR>> > money?<BR>> ><BR>> > I am sorry but your
egregiously perverted view has now placed you among<BR>> > other major
perverts of the past: Buddha, Confucius, Christ, Plato,<BR>>
> Aristotle, Bertrand Russell, Jean Paul Sartre, etc.<BR>>
><BR>> > Why, if what you say has any truth at all, then a whole
lot of<BR>>egomaniacal,<BR>> > megalomaniacal, and/or just
uncritically dumb parasites would be instantly<BR>> >
unemployed.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Art Deco (Wayne A.
Fox)<BR>> > deco@moscow.com<BR>> ><BR>> > ----- Original
Message -----<BR>> > From: <debismith@moscow.com><BR>> >
To: <vision2020@moscow.com><BR>> > Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006
9:17 PM<BR>> > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] A New Witch Hunt<BR>>
><BR>> ><BR>> > > Thanks for posting this, Tom. Also to
all of you who have taken enough<BR>> > > interest in Wicca to
do<BR>> > > a bit of research.<BR>> > ><BR>> > >
While approximately 1,900 in the military are *out of the broom<BR>> >
> closet*, many more do not identify themselves as Wiccan simply
to<BR>>protect<BR>> > > themselves.Unless<BR>> > > a
base has a fairly large contingent of Wiccans (as did Fort Hood),
it<BR>>can<BR>> > > be dangerous to let<BR>> > > others
know this religion is the one practiced.<BR>> >
><BR>> > > Wicca does not have a Central Authority, it does not
have Pastors,<BR>> > > Preachers, or Popes. It<BR>>
> > doesn't seek converts, doesn't proseletize, doesn't reject
other<BR>>religions<BR>> > > as nonvalid. What<BR>> > >
it has is a belief that Diety is imminent, not transcendent, and a
focus<BR>> > > on care for the Earth<BR>> > > and all that
inhabits Her. It has one basic tenet: And It Harm None.<BR>>This<BR>>
> > means anything one<BR>> > > puts out into the Universe
will return thrice-fold. If it is good deeds,<BR>> > > there is a
return. If, as in my<BR>> > > case, it is snarky e-mails to those I
feel it necessary to confront, I<BR>>get<BR>> > > three equally
snotty e-<BR>> > > mails back. I'm sometimes willing to take the
*karmic hit* and just push<BR>> > > *send*, knowing full<BR>>
> > well Dick, Lame-o Doug, Donovan, or one of the over-aged
juvenile<BR>>Kirkers<BR>> > > will attempt to insult<BR>>
> > me or even start cyber-stalking again.<BR>> > ><BR>>
> > I am open about my spiritual beliefs. I am open about my
political<BR>>agenda.<BR>> > > I am open about<BR>> > >
just about everything, because when one attempts secrecy it leaves
one<BR>> > > open to blackmail.<BR>> > > One of the v2020
posters, in the not so distant past, attempted to *out*<BR>> > > me
(I was already out,<BR>> > > so BFD), attempted to *report* me to a
higher authority (there isn't<BR>>one,<BR>> > > so he just
annoyed<BR>> > > people who didn't care), and attempted to *shame*
me for my out-spoken<BR>> > > behavior (I save<BR>> > >
feeling ashamed for when I have inadvertantly caused someone
pain--I'm<BR>>not<BR>> > > ever ashamed of<BR>> > >
calling it like I see it).<BR>> > ><BR>> > > It breaks my
heart when I hear that others who share my religious<BR>>beliefs<BR>>
> > are disrespected in<BR>> > > the<BR>> > > way
Patrick Stewart and his family have been disrespected. While I
may<BR>>not<BR>> > > agree with the<BR>> > > religious
perspectives of some others, their right to belief is never in<BR>> >
> question. Somehow,<BR>> > > Wicca is different than all other
faiths?<BR>> > ><BR>> > > It is particularly poignant that
Wiccan beliefs are likely the most<BR>> > > inoffensive
of just about any<BR>> > > religion, yet, through misunderstanding
and prejudice, many people still<BR>> > > think Wicca is
devil<BR>> > > worship or casting evil spells. These ideas don't
have any application<BR>>to<BR>> > > Wicca. We don't
even<BR>> > > believe in *the Devil*, and (remember Harm None?)
just don't do<BR>> > > imprecatory prayers or evil<BR>> >
> spells. We spend our time recycling, growing organic food,
taking care<BR>>of<BR>> > > others, sharing what<BR>> >
> we have with those who have less, volunteering in our community,
being<BR>> > > involved in politics,<BR>> > > and paying
attention to the changing seasons (both real and<BR>> > >
metaphorically).<BR>> > ><BR>> > > I am hopeful that the
VA will get some sense, stop listening to those<BR>>who<BR>> > >
act out of prejudice<BR>> > > rather than information, and allow
Roberta Stewart to honor her husband<BR>> > > with the symbol of
his<BR>> > > faith. Blessed Be, Roberta.<BR>> > ><BR>>
> > Debi Robinson-Smith<BR>> > ><BR>> > > "Never
retract, never explain, never apologize, just get the job
done<BR>>and<BR>> > > let them howl."<BR>> > >
-------Iron Jawed Angels<BR>> > > (Thanks to Lois Blackburn, a true
Iron Jawed Angel!)<BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> >
><BR>> > >
From: "Tom
Hansen" <thansen@moscow.com><BR>> > >
To:
"Joan Opyr" <joanopyr@moscow.com>,<BR>> >
> "'Moscow Vision 2020'"
<vision2020@moscow.com><BR>> > > Date
sent: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 16:37:17
-0700<BR>> > > Copies to:<BR>> > >
Subject: [Vision2020] A New
Witch Hunt<BR>> > ><BR>> > > [ Double-click this line for
list subscription options ]<BR>> > ><BR>> > > An editorial
from the July 10, 2006 edition of the Army Times -<BR>> > ><BR>>
> > For you Wiccans out there. You know who you
are.<BR>> > ><BR>> > >
----------------------------------------------------------------<BR>>
> ><BR>> > > A New Witch Hunt<BR>> > > Search for
recognition falls victim to misconceptions about Wicca<BR>> >
><BR>> > > By Charles C. Haynes<BR>> > ><BR>> >
> The current flap involving Wiccans in the military is a conflict
that<BR>> > > should<BR>> > > never have happened. But
years of foot-dragging by the Department of<BR>> > > Veterans
Affairs have turned an easy case into a major controversy<BR>> > >
complete<BR>> > > with charges of discrimination and threats of
lawsuits.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > All VA needs to do is announce
that the pentacle - a five-pointed star<BR>> > > that<BR>> >
> symbolizes the Wiccan faith - has been added to the list of 38
"emblems<BR>>of<BR>> > > belief" approved for placement on
government headstones and memorials.<BR>>No<BR>> > > big deal,
end of story.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > Instead, VA keeps saying
that it is "reviewing the process" - and will<BR>> > > make<BR>>
> > a decision at some indeterminate time in the future.<BR>> >
><BR>> > > Roberta Stewart has been hearing this bureaucratic
mumbo jumbo for the<BR>> > > past<BR>> > > eight months.
She just wants to honor her husband, Patrick, a soldier in<BR>> > >
the<BR>> > > Nevada National Guard killed in combat last September
in Afghanistan.<BR>>Sgt.<BR>> > > Stewart, who was posthumously
awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart,<BR>> > > among other
honors, was a Wiccan.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > But Stewart's
request to have a pentacle engraved on her husband's<BR>> > >
memorial<BR>> > > plaque has been repeatedly denied pending review
of the VA policy. His<BR>> > > space<BR>> > > on the
Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial wall remains blank.<BR>> >
><BR>> > > Eventually, VA will have no choice but to allow the
pentacle. Nevada<BR>> > > politicians from both parties, as well as
advocacy groups from the left<BR>> > > and<BR>> > > right,
are demanding the change.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > Then there is
the small matter of the First Amendment: It's clearly<BR>> > >
unconstitutional for the government to deny the Wiccan symbol while<BR>>
> > permitting symbols of many other religions.<BR>> >
><BR>> > > If approval of the pentacle is inevitable, why is VA
taking so long to<BR>> > > make<BR>> > > a
decision?<BR>> > ><BR>> > > For Roberta Stewart, it has
been a long and frustrating eight months.<BR>>But<BR>> > > other
Wiccans have been pushing for VA recognition of the pentacle for<BR>>
> > more<BR>> > > than nine years. (According to the Defense
Department, some 1,900<BR>> > > active-duty service members
identify themselves as Wiccans.)<BR>> > ><BR>> > > At
first blush, the years of VA stonewalling doesn't make sense.
A<BR>>glance<BR>> > > at<BR>> > > the 38 approved
emblems suggests that any religion can make the list. In<BR>> > >
addition to all of the world's major faiths, a number of obscure
sects<BR>>are<BR>> > > represented, such as Eckankar, a New Age
group that espouses out-of-body<BR>> > > travel. Atheists have a
symbol, too. If VA is applying some kind of<BR>> > > religious test
to keep out the Wiccans, it's hard to fathom what it<BR>>might<BR>>
> > be.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > Before last fall, VA
blamed the rules. Applicants had to provide<BR>> > > documentation
from a central authority certifying a symbol as<BR>> > >
representative<BR>> > > of that religion. Because Wiccans have no
recognized head or hierarchy,<BR>> > > their applications were
rejected. Rules are rules.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > Bipartisan
outrage over Sgt. Stewart's case inspired a new set of rules.<BR>> >
> Now, applicants are required to provide historic background and<BR>>
> > documentation of use to get a symbol approved. Roberta Stewart
has<BR>>filled<BR>> > > out all of the forms. But she's still
waiting.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > So what's the problem? VA isn't
talking. But the delay may have to do<BR>>with<BR>> > > the fact
that Roberta Stewart went public. Putting atheists on the list<BR>> >
> when<BR>> > > no one is paying attention is one thing, but
announcing recognition of<BR>>the<BR>> > > Wiccan pentacle in
the glare of the media spotlight is another.<BR>> > ><BR>> >
> Few people have even heard of Eckankar, but almost everyone has
an<BR>>opinion<BR>> > > about Wiccans. Unfortunately, most of
what people think they know about<BR>> > > Wicca is false. Wicca is
a nature-based religion centered on a belief<BR>>that<BR>> > >
the divine permeates all life. Wiccans have nothing to do with
black<BR>>magic<BR>> > > or satanic worship, but try explaining
that to a misinformed public.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > VA is
probably remembering the last time Wiccans in the military made<BR>> >
> headlines. About six years ago, news reports of Wiccan ceremonies
at<BR>>Fort<BR>> > > Hood, Texas, and other bases provoked some
conservative Christian groups<BR>> > > to<BR>> > > call on
Christians not to enlist or re-enlist in the Army.<BR>> > ><BR>>
> > Under the First Amendment, the Army had no choice then, just as VA
has<BR>>no<BR>> > > choice now, but to accommodate Wiccans in
the same way it accommodates<BR>> > > other<BR>> > >
religious groups. But any "acceptance" of witches - who have long
been<BR>> > > demonized in Christian history - is certain to stir
up trouble for the<BR>> > > military.<BR>> > ><BR>>
> > It's also possible that VA lawyers are beginning to realize that
any<BR>> > > guidelines for government-sanctioned "emblems of
belief," however<BR>> > > carefully<BR>> > > crafted, are
unworkable. In a nation where people are free to choose in<BR>> > >
matters of faith, the government should stop trying to figure out
which<BR>> > > symbols are "acceptable" and instead allow each
family to choose<BR>>whatever<BR>> > > symbol best represents
their convictions.<BR>> > ><BR>> > > In other words, cut
through all of the bureaucratic red tape and<BR>>jettison<BR>> >
> the "emblems of belief" list entirely.<BR>> > ><BR>> >
> Meanwhile, however, VA should act immediately to honor Roberta
Stewart's<BR>> > > request and fill in the blank space reserved for
Sgt. Stewart. After<BR>>all,<BR>> > > if<BR>> > > we
can't live up to religious freedom at home, we have no
business<BR>>asking<BR>> > > soldiers to die for religious
freedom abroad.<BR>> > ><BR>> > >
----------------------------------------------------------------<BR>>
> ><BR>> > > Seeya round town, Moscow.<BR>> >
><BR>> > > Tom Hansen<BR>> > > Moscow, Idaho<BR>>
> ><BR>> > > "Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst
of emotion but the<BR>> > > tranquil<BR>> > > and steady
dedication of a lifetime."<BR>> > ><BR>> > > --Adlai E.
Stevenson, Jr.<BR>> > ><BR>> > ><BR>> > >
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