Bush Administration Capitulates On Wiccan Symbol

[DeSwiss]

Administration Yields on Wiccan Symbol
Pentacle to Be Permitted on Tombstones in U.S. Military Burial Grounds

By Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 24, 2007; Page A12

Facing lawsuits by veterans and their families, the Bush administration relented yesterday and agreed to allow the Wiccan pentacle -- a five-pointed star inside a circle -- on tombstones at Arlington National Cemetery and other U.S. military burial grounds. The Department of Veterans Affairs previously had given veterans a choice of 38 religious symbols, including numerous forms of the Christian cross, as well as the Jewish Star of David, the Muslim crescent, the Buddhist wheel and an atomic symbol for atheism.

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"This is a complete capitulation by the administration," said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which filed suit last year on behalf of Wiccan veterans. The settlement stipulates, however, that the plaintiffs (the Wiccans) must not keep or disclose any documents handed over by the government during the discovery phase of the lawsuit. Lawyers familiar with the case said that some documents suggested the VA had political motives for rejecting the pentacle.

During his first campaign for president, then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush told ABC's "Good Morning America" in 1999 that he was opposed to Wiccan soldiers practicing their faith at Fort Hood, Tex. "I don't think witchcraft is a religion, and I wish the military would take another look at this and decide against it," he said. Lynn, of Americans United, said references to Bush's remarks appeared in memos and e-mails within the VA.

"One of the saddest things is to learn that this wasn't just a bureaucratic nightmare, there was a certain amount of bigotry," he said. "The president's wishes were interpreted at a pretty high level. . . . It became a political judgment, not a constitutional judgment."

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/23/AR2007042302073.html

[Ian David]

1. Bush thinks that some religions are more equal than others.

And I really want to know what's so damning in those documents that the government doesn't want leaked.

[shadowknows69]

2. This is a great victory for pagan and Wiccan soldiers

and for freedom of religion. There are a lot of pagan troops.

[shadowknows69]

3. because a relgion that believes in

virgin births, resurrection, the transmutation of wine and bread to blood and flesh, a fiery pit where bad people go and a golden city where good people go is so much more reality based than Wicca.:eyes: