Do you think that people are prejudiced against Wiccans?

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• The level varies depending upon the local society.

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  by AntigoneRising on March 30th, 2007

• From what I can tell there seems to be some sort of fad about being a Wiccan. It seems a lot of teenage girls think it is cool to be Wiccan. I find it somewhat amusing, and somewhat disturbing.

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  by Cowboy-Matter of Fact on July 8th, 2007

• It is a free country, unit22. And I'm sorry to say that the biggest reason young people reject traditional faiths is because of what they see. If we don't provide our youth with something of value to believe then they will find something else on their own.

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  by unknown on July 8th, 2007

• Very true. When a "religion" is chosen out of "cool factor" like mini-skirts or bell-bottoms there is something very wrong.

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  by Cowboy-Matter of Fact on July 8th, 2007

• I think it goes much deeper than that. I think we are severely short changing our youth in all areas, not just "religion."

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  by unknown on July 8th, 2007

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• Yes, I was involved in that fight. We still haven't won it, btw. The VA has not approved the pentacle. Patrick Stewart has one on his grave due to a local decision by local authorities.

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  by AntigoneRising on March 30th, 2007

• Oh no, really? That's insane. That's so disrespectful.. I'm glad the local authorities came through but that's just shameful and I hope it can be changed for the future..

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  by lizvelrene on March 30th, 2007

• Yes, they did, Antigone. They did it last month I think. My friend sent me the update. He got it from a legal journal he gets.

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  by P. W. Pasobrio loves Marines on July 8th, 2007

• Actually the whole idea that the United States military is dicriminitory against Pagans is way off. It has been recognized as a relgious pratice since the 80's and all mitary chaplins have a description of it and our practices in their non-denonminational prayer book. And we are allowed to worship as we need to under military law. In fact Jay had a Pagan in his platoon a Camp LaJuene. He was given leave as nessary woithout prejudice to his record. And it only took the reguest of one man to do it. What people don't understand is that the miltary is very complex and it takes time for all the agencies to sinc up due to read tape and protocol. Also those stones are not made up when a person dies. They are made up in advance and kept in storage till needed. They have always had a limited number of sysbols because of this. It started out with just three, blanck, cross, and Star of David because that was what most of the personal requested. Why have something you don't need sitting around? In the sixties as more Muslims joined they added that symbol. Same with the atom sysmbol for Athests. But with Pagans there were very few of us and most of us are creamated so there was little demand. So they saw no reason to add it.

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  by P. W. Pasobrio loves Marines on July 8th, 2007

• It's only now that there is a growing need for it as there are more Pagans joining up and dying in service who request to at least have a plot dedicated to them. And we also are now more comfortable with being open about our religion. This whole thing was a giant misunderstanding of how the system works coupled with grief over a lost love. A man died in an unpopular war and a wife needed someone to be mad at. If she would have waited, but kept pressing it would have happened. How do I know this? Because I just went off on a VA rep because my husband's stone said Gulf War and not Haiti. I needed someone to be mad at and she was it since I can't yell at him.

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  by P. W. Pasobrio loves Marines on July 8th, 2007

• Yeah, they did approve, but it was after I made that comment. :) It was also only after serious action by the ACLU. The military has accepted Wicca and Wiccan chaplains for about 8 years now, but full acceptance is coming. I disagree about Patrick Stewart's wife, btw. The application for the Wiccan pentacle had been in for around a decade, and many other symbols were approved while it was not. It wasn't denied, because then an appeal could be launched. I've directly contacted the VA myself, and they refuse to give a reason for this. I think that speaks volumes.

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  by AntigoneRising on July 8th, 2007

• Yeah, they trying to deal with a lot right now since we're at war. They have the burden of teh vetrans that are here who need help, taking care of the soliders and their families that are in fighting now. And everything with the military has to go through volumes of red tape and up the chain of command. They very well could not have had an answer because it was siiting on some general's desk waiting for the stamp of approval. You just have to keep pushing to be heard. It's not out of predjudice, it's out of red tape and having too much on your plate. While everyone was making a stink over this more men were dying who needed funrals set up and plots found. And wait till you lose someone like she and I did. Everyone and I mean everyone becomes a target of your rage. And you're about as rational as a two year old.

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  by P. W. Pasobrio loves Marines on July 8th, 2007

• As for the ACLU I think it's kind of funny and hypocritical that at the same time they were fighting for our right to have a pentagram on a governemnt funded headstone in a governement funded cemetary they were telling the Christain families of fallen State Highway Patrol men that the crosses they had chosen to honour their Loved Ones had to come down because it violated the separation of Church and State. Never mind that all religoions including Pagan were available. Never mind it was the family's choose. They had to come down because they were crosses. Everybody else was okay.

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  by P. W. Pasobrio loves Marines on July 8th, 2007

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• People tend to fear what they do not understand, which leads to a negative prejudice against the misunderstood entity. My reaction to Wicca/Wiccans is "I don't know enough about them. What are their beliefs and practices?"

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  by Old School on July 8th, 2007

• Now you've done it, Old School, Antigone and I could keep you up for days on that one.

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  by P. W. Pasobrio loves Marines on July 8th, 2007

• Hey, if we get the chance someday (are you coming to Baggerfest '07 in SoCal?), let's sit down and either (or both) of you can help bring me up to speed.

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  by Old School on July 8th, 2007

• Only if you buy me a plane ticket and pay for my hotel room. Hell, I'd sleep on the floor of your room just to go. And now I'm going to pout like a four year old. Bu you ca e-mail me. It's on my page. I love that we can disagree on stuff, but still get along.

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  by P. W. Pasobrio loves Marines on July 8th, 2007

• Housing is a non-issue. Between the house I live in and my Toyota RV, I've got bed space for about 5 ABers. Getting here from Ohio may be more of an issue. I'm sorry I can't help you there.

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  by Old School on July 8th, 2007

• Hey, you tried. And that's what counts. Plus I don't think you want a two year old tagging along 'cause I can't leave him at home with a bowl of kibble like the cat.

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  by P. W. Pasobrio loves Marines on July 8th, 2007

• Re: Two-year old...No wonder you're up at 2 a.m. on Answerbag...;-D...Any chance there's a pack of wolves that can take care of him/her while you're out in CA?...;-D...

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  by Old School on July 8th, 2007

• Nope, insomnia. The kids were actually asleep. I'm the one who couldn't knock off. I hit a grief wall. As for the wolves this kid would be running the pack by the time I got back. Or they would have run off out of fear.

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  by P. W. Pasobrio loves Marines on July 8th, 2007

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• It sure is, Norman.

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  by P. W. Pasobrio loves Marines on July 8th, 2007

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