Okay, yes, I'm from the buckle o'the "Bible-Belt." Yes, yes, I'm a proud Southerner who was raised in a Christian home. That said, I was also taught to think for myself, to ask "why" as often as possible, and not to just accept things blindly. Where am I going with this? You'll see, just buckle up (that's kind of a psudo-pun ... in reference to my "Bible-Belt" comment? ... never mind).
It comes, I'm sure, as no surprise, that we've lost, over the years, many a fine, brave veteran. Many are buried in national cemeteries. The Veterans' Administration issues them and even, as I understand it, those buried in private cemetaries nice headstones all embossed with the fallen hero's emblem of his/her religion of choice. What's that you say? The fallen one in question was not, in fact, a Christian? He was, say, Jewish? Well, that's no problem. The VA will just slap a handy-dandy Star of David on the headstone and there ya go. Do what? He's Muslim? Okay, we'll just wheel out handy-dandy, VA-approved emblem number 17 and put the ol' crescent and star right up there for all to see. Ah, your loved follows the faith of the Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii? Gotcha covered there, too M'lovely, right here with approved religious symbol number 34. OH! I see ... I got it wrong. He was a member of Sufism Reoriented (whatever that is, but hey, First Amendment, by Damn!) it's the Aerosmith-lookin' symbol number 21 (actually, I rather like this symbol, being a life-long fan of Aerosmith, but let's not bring that up just now and sound like I'm being disrespectful ... 'cause ... y'see ... I'm NOT!). Yes, they have you all set ... so long as you are a member of one of the 36 (now 37) approved religions. Yes, yes, they ARE numbered.
Now, then, let's see ... what's that, Ma'am? You say your husband, a veteran like all the others, fell in service to yours and his (and OUR) chosen nation is a follower of Wicca? Dear God, woman, are you MAD?! We can't be having that now, can we? It'll be just one step away from pandemonium! Anarchy will rule! We'll be forced to .... Eh? What's that? Oh, I see Madam (No, not YOU, Ma'am, I'm speaking to the lady whose husband was NOT a heathen), you say your and your husband were ... oh, dear ... you're Humanists, eh? Well .. I-I see .. yes, we have you covered too, with symbol number 32. Now, where were we? Ah, yes, Ma'am. No, look, I'm sorry we have NO symbols for Godless heathens like ... pardon me ... Yes? You in the back? Oh, your fallen son/daughter/loved one was an Atheist? Oh, well ... okay ... yes, yes we do have an approved religious symbol for ... Godless ... heathens ... like ... you. But YOU, Ma'am, YOU and YOUR kind of Godless ... no, let's not have any of that "Goddess" baloney. Yes, I KNOW the Hindus get Shiva, but we can't upset hundreds of millions of people from a genuine religion. YOUR loved one died a heathen and a heathen he/she/they shall remain! Let them lie in an unmarked grave!
... Or so it went until recently. It hath finally been decreed that yea, verily, yea the Wiccans can have their star upon their gov't approved, issued veteran's headstones. It's about bloody time! I knew the ACLU had to be good for SOMETHING. I guess even the Devil can get it right occasionally, eh?
Check out the story at: http://www.wsbtv.com/family/13032268/detail.html?rss=atl&psp=nationalnews
List of the 37 approved religions ... er, I mean, a list of the 37 religions that the Government recognizes ... no, no, I mean a list of the 37 faiths from which you must choose if you are to die for your country and want them to give you any semblance of the religious freedom that you died to give others ... No, I ... aw, Hell, just go here: http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp
Yes, our nation was founded in Christianity. But it was founded in the interest of religious freedom. We are not supposed to have a state-sanctioned religion (or, I should think, a mere list of 37 approved religions). Don't our military people give up enough? If they find happiness as ... whatever ... give 'em that bit of last peace, okay? I mean, if you'll recognize atheists, why the HELL can't you recognize Wicca, a religion of nature, and peace and ... well ... of a lot of seemingly Christian values, actually ... just remove the fun-DUH-mentalist notions and some of the civilization-eradicating, genocidal tendencies of some of it's more "enthusiastic" followers and you might be surprised how nice the religion is.
Yes, I'm southern. Yes, I'm Christian (if any church will have me now ... have me, darn it, not change me). But I support this decision. It's about bloody time.
--- Over and out (for now).
It comes, I'm sure, as no surprise, that we've lost, over the years, many a fine, brave veteran. Many are buried in national cemeteries. The Veterans' Administration issues them and even, as I understand it, those buried in private cemetaries nice headstones all embossed with the fallen hero's emblem of his/her religion of choice. What's that you say? The fallen one in question was not, in fact, a Christian? He was, say, Jewish? Well, that's no problem. The VA will just slap a handy-dandy Star of David on the headstone and there ya go. Do what? He's Muslim? Okay, we'll just wheel out handy-dandy, VA-approved emblem number 17 and put the ol' crescent and star right up there for all to see. Ah, your loved follows the faith of the Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii? Gotcha covered there, too M'lovely, right here with approved religious symbol number 34. OH! I see ... I got it wrong. He was a member of Sufism Reoriented (whatever that is, but hey, First Amendment, by Damn!) it's the Aerosmith-lookin' symbol number 21 (actually, I rather like this symbol, being a life-long fan of Aerosmith, but let's not bring that up just now and sound like I'm being disrespectful ... 'cause ... y'see ... I'm NOT!). Yes, they have you all set ... so long as you are a member of one of the 36 (now 37) approved religions. Yes, yes, they ARE numbered.
Now, then, let's see ... what's that, Ma'am? You say your husband, a veteran like all the others, fell in service to yours and his (and OUR) chosen nation is a follower of Wicca? Dear God, woman, are you MAD?! We can't be having that now, can we? It'll be just one step away from pandemonium! Anarchy will rule! We'll be forced to .... Eh? What's that? Oh, I see Madam (No, not YOU, Ma'am, I'm speaking to the lady whose husband was NOT a heathen), you say your and your husband were ... oh, dear ... you're Humanists, eh? Well .. I-I see .. yes, we have you covered too, with symbol number 32. Now, where were we? Ah, yes, Ma'am. No, look, I'm sorry we have NO symbols for Godless heathens like ... pardon me ... Yes? You in the back? Oh, your fallen son/daughter/loved one was an Atheist? Oh, well ... okay ... yes, yes we do have an approved religious symbol for ... Godless ... heathens ... like ... you. But YOU, Ma'am, YOU and YOUR kind of Godless ... no, let's not have any of that "Goddess" baloney. Yes, I KNOW the Hindus get Shiva, but we can't upset hundreds of millions of people from a genuine religion. YOUR loved one died a heathen and a heathen he/she/they shall remain! Let them lie in an unmarked grave!
... Or so it went until recently. It hath finally been decreed that yea, verily, yea the Wiccans can have their star upon their gov't approved, issued veteran's headstones. It's about bloody time! I knew the ACLU had to be good for SOMETHING. I guess even the Devil can get it right occasionally, eh?
Check out the story at: http://www.wsbtv.com/family/13032268/detail.html?rss=atl&psp=nationalnews
List of the 37 approved religions ... er, I mean, a list of the 37 religions that the Government recognizes ... no, no, I mean a list of the 37 faiths from which you must choose if you are to die for your country and want them to give you any semblance of the religious freedom that you died to give others ... No, I ... aw, Hell, just go here: http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp
Yes, our nation was founded in Christianity. But it was founded in the interest of religious freedom. We are not supposed to have a state-sanctioned religion (or, I should think, a mere list of 37 approved religions). Don't our military people give up enough? If they find happiness as ... whatever ... give 'em that bit of last peace, okay? I mean, if you'll recognize atheists, why the HELL can't you recognize Wicca, a religion of nature, and peace and ... well ... of a lot of seemingly Christian values, actually ... just remove the fun-DUH-mentalist notions and some of the civilization-eradicating, genocidal tendencies of some of it's more "enthusiastic" followers and you might be surprised how nice the religion is.
Yes, I'm southern. Yes, I'm Christian (if any church will have me now ... have me, darn it, not change me). But I support this decision. It's about bloody time.
--- Over and out (for now).
Peace at last? We shall see. ;)
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