Sgt Patrick Stewart, of Fernley, Nevada, died in Iraq last September. Stewart was a practicing Wiccan. His wife wanted a Wiccan religious symbol placed on the plaque intended to bear his name at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The Department of Veteran Affairs denied her request, and his plaque remains blank.
I know I’m just seeing the world through my typical rose-colored glasses, but there are 1,800 service members who identify themselves as Wiccan. Were there but one service member who held this belief, the tenets upon which this country was based demand that they and all others who practice a faith outside of the “norm” or who practice no religion at all be buried and honored in accordance with their wishes.
It’s a matter of respect. Respect for the individual and the community. This guy gave his life in the name of protecting the rights we hold dear, accorded us by the Constitution, and yet, he’s being denied one of its basic guarantees. That’s just twisted. In case we have forgotten:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Perhaps our President and his Veterans Affairs honchos should join the millions of children stuck in summer school this year and brush up a bit.
Maybe if all of us remembered that not everyone believes the way we do, whether it’s religion or just in the way we live, it’s okay, the world would be a better place. I know, it sounds simple. But, it really is. Imagine a world where religion brought everyone to a higher level of existence and no one experienced war, famine, riots, murder, ridicule, or suffering at its hand or in its name.
Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away.
~ Robert Fulghum
Published on: May 31, 2006
No comments:
Post a Comment