Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Government-approved religious symbols
The Washington Post had an article on the 4th of July about the Department of Veterans Affairs refusing to allow a Wiccan symbol for a memorial to a sergeant in the Nevada National Guard who was killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. The VA allows 38 symbols, including the flaming chalice within double rings of the Unitarians (not listed as Unitarian Universalists), but won't certify a pentacle in a circle. This soldier was the first Wiccan killed in combat. His widow isn't putting in an "acceptable," symbol-less memorial and instead fighting with a blank space on a memorial wall.
I found that link on Jim Romenesko's Obscure Store site. And thanks to LaReinaCobre for the lesson on how to hyperlink.
UPDATE: The VA link I used this morning now gives a "404 Not Found," but I found another that has a different Unitarian symbol. As for the star within a circle, could it be the military not wanting its own design from World War II to be used for another purpose?
Nah, it's the Wicca thing.
ANOTHER UPDATE: The Washington Post ran a story December 4 that says that a government-issued plaque with a Wiccan pentacle was dedicated at the Nevada cemetery December 2.
I found that link on Jim Romenesko's Obscure Store site. And thanks to LaReinaCobre for the lesson on how to hyperlink.
UPDATE: The VA link I used this morning now gives a "404 Not Found," but I found another that has a different Unitarian symbol. As for the star within a circle, could it be the military not wanting its own design from World War II to be used for another purpose?
Nah, it's the Wicca thing.
ANOTHER UPDATE: The Washington Post ran a story December 4 that says that a government-issued plaque with a Wiccan pentacle was dedicated at the Nevada cemetery December 2.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Independence Day 2006
I'm about to make a major life change by going back to school to pursue a master of divinity degree and a new career as a Unitarian Universalist minister. Tomorrow I'll give six weeks' notice at my publishing job. I figure I have time for one more career, so even though I face plenty of stress from finances, new social situations, moving to another city, and finding a way to make it through four years of schooling, becoming a clergyperson is the path I choose.
With such major change, I don't know if it's a good time to start a blog. This could be good reading for others, or it could be yet another first-person Weblog full of tedium. I don't intend this to be a diary, but it will follow the course of my life.
Today's my half-birthday--in 18 months I'll turn 50. Let's see if Eclectic Ascetic the blog makes it that far, and if EA the person does, too.
With such major change, I don't know if it's a good time to start a blog. This could be good reading for others, or it could be yet another first-person Weblog full of tedium. I don't intend this to be a diary, but it will follow the course of my life.
Today's my half-birthday--in 18 months I'll turn 50. Let's see if Eclectic Ascetic the blog makes it that far, and if EA the person does, too.
