Bush Apologizes to Wiccan Widow

UPI ^ | Sept 2, 2007 | UPI

[DogByte6RER]

Bush apologizes to Wiccan widow

Published: Sept 2, 2007 at 10:16 AM

WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush apologized to a Nevada Wiccan who was left out of a presidential meeting with relatives of soldiers killed in combat.

Rebecca Stewart, who sued to have the Wiccan symbol placed on her husband’s grave marker in a military cemetery, told The Washington Post the president called her to apologize. She said she explained to Bush the faith she and her husband shared.

Sgt. Patrick Stewart was killed in Afghanistan in 2005.

Stewart said she heard about the private meeting from her mother-in-law, who was invited. The president visited Nevada to speak at the American Legion convention.

Stewart told the Post she believed she had been excluded from the invitation list because of the lawsuit she filed to have the Defense Department place the Wiccan symbol -- a five-pointed star inside a circle -- on her husband's grave. She won the suit and the government added the Wiccan symbol to 38 others that were previously recognized, including a symbol for atheism.

While other Wiccans are known to be serving in the military, Stewart is believed to be the first to die in combat.

[DogByte6RER]

The apology should have been based on the fact that this widow's husband gave his life in service to his country; NOT because of witchcraft, paganism or their Wiccan beliefs.

[I got the rope]

Man our President has sure lost his way. What moronic thing to do.

[Baladas]

This has been a thorn in the side of the Religious Left for some time - figures they just want “symbolism”.

Just wait until Mohammed gets ahold of this.

Now there’s even a symbol for atheism?????? I don’t believe it!!!

[w1andsodidwe]

Man our President has sure lost his way. What moronic thing to do.

What are you referring to? Apologizing for leaving her out of the meeting?

[Tijeras_Slim]

38 symbols

Who's making the markers? Baskin Robbins?

[Drew68]

What moronic thing to do.

The only thing moronic about this story is that it took a lawsuit in order for this woman to get the symbol of her husband's faith placed upon his gravestone.

[TigersEye]

Here's the symbol for ice cream social-ists.

Their sabbath is on Sundae.

[IronJack]

There was a discussion about this some time ago and the consensus seemed to be that if the guy died serving his country, he could have a picture of Al Gore on his tombstone if that’s what his family wanted. I was a little torn, but finally had to agree that any man who gave up his life defending me deserved the liberty of marking his final resting place however he wanted, regardless of how ridiculous it makes him look.

[elpadre]

It is the courts that decided the case - no Congressional bill passed, no Executive order - the courts!!

The President apparently left her off the list of attendees becuause of pending litigation- IMO.

[mountainbunny]

if this man was good enough to serve with honor and valor (he was, without a doubt) and die in a war for our freedoms, then he is good enough to have whatever symbol of his faith on his grave that he would have wanted. IIRC, his dog tags said “Wiccan” so it wasn’t his wife’s doing.
Good enough to die for our freedoms, more than good enough to honor in death.
My faith is strong enough that his faith, though we would not have agreed, does not and can not diminish mine.
Bless his soul & bless our President for doing a gracious and kind thing.

[I see my hands]

"The apology should have been based on the fact that this widow's husband gave his life in service to his country"

I'm just not following. Why would a president apologize for a battlefield death?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Relatives of undisclosed homosexual soldiers killed in combat will whine next.

[MEGoody]

The apology should have been based on the fact that this widow's husband gave his life in service to his country

What makes you think it wasn't? After all, she couldn't have even expected to be invited if he hadn't.

[Grizzled Bear]

I’d like to see somebody demand that naked chick from the vehicle mud flaps be placed on their tomb stone. For no other reason then to piss off the wiccans and feminists.

Hey, everybody worships in their own way.

;-)

[God luvs America]

seriously....it’s sad how we blame the rats for being so closed minded than you get comments as such...

the guy died for his nation- beliefs aside he and his widow deserve the highest of appreciation....

[robertpaulsen]

It seems to me that if she chooses to bury her husband in a private cemetery, she can put whatever symbol she wants on it.

But this was a military cemetery. What's next? Different symbols for male/female? Black/white? Gay/straight? State symbols? Favorite college football team logos?

I sure do hope I'm not giving someone out there an idea. (Mom, if I die in combat, I want this on my grave ...

[gitmo]

Agnostic symbol

[MEGoody]

What moronic thing to do.

Why is it moronic for the President to apologize to a widow that was left off the invitation list to a meeting with families of those lost in the war?

[ErnBatavia]

I’d like to see somebody demand that naked chick from the vehicle mud flaps be placed on their tomb stone.

Just last week I was over at the local cemetery getting familiarized, as we're laying my Dad to rest there day after tomorrow. I noticed that one of his "neighbors" has a Budweiser can emblazoned on his plaque.

[Grizzled Bear]

I’m very sorry for your loss.

However; it sounds like a nice “neighborhood.”

God bless and comfort you!

[Arkinsaw]

Man our President has sure lost his way. What moronic thing to do.

Not sure how. Called to apologize to the widow of a soldier killed in defense of the country who was slighted, even though some in his own party would rake him over the coals for it. Sounds the right way to me.

[LilAngel]

Satanic symbols do not belong in a military cemetery.

[alicewonders]

38 symbols including one for atheism??

Let me see:

Agnostic — ?

Atheism — “That’s all folks!”

What could the others be? Hmmm..

The symbol for islam?

[Drew68]

It seems to me that if she chooses to bury her husband in a private cemetery, she can put whatever symbol she wants on it.

But this was a military cemetery.

So she's only allowed to use the symbols from certain "Federally-approved" religions?

That First Amendment really sucks, doesn't it?

[Drew68]

Just wait until Mohammed gets ahold of this.

I'm sure there's probably a few Muslim crescents among the gravestones at Arlington.

[blaquebyrd]

"Satanic symbols do not belong in a military cemetery."

Would you ban those who wear "satanic symbols" from military service?

[EBH]

Oh really? He, the soldier who died for your Right to Freedom of Religion, doesn’t deserve...your respect to his Rights nor does his family?

[Axlrose]

Having the symbols of the devil and devil worship in the place where the bodies of good Christian soldiers lie is an affront to common decency.

[donmeaker]

If the soldiers, what ever their beliefs, are good enough to serve, then the symbols are good enough to mark their resting place.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“Now there’s even a symbol for atheism?????? I don’t believe it!!!”

Of course they have a logo, they run a lot of ads:
http://www.democrats.org/

[donmeaker]

Having Christian symbols, and Christian worship in the place where the bodies of good men lie is an affront to comon decency.

There, fixed it for you.

[blaquebyrd]

"Having the symbols of the devil and devil worship in the place where the bodies of good Christian soldiers lie is an affront to common decency."

I don't get it. Men who fight and die together on the battlefield shouldn't be buried together if they don't live up to your religious beliefs? If that's the case shouldn't we ban them from military service in the first place?

[PLMerite]

“Relatives of undisclosed homosexual soldiers killed in combat will whine next.”

What’s their symbol going to be - a closet door?

[donmeaker]

No symbol.
1. Latin Cross - Christian; generic.
2. Wheel of Righteousness - Buddhist.
3. Star of David - Jewish.
4. Presbyterian cross.
5. Russian Orthodox cross.
6. Lutheran cross.
7. Episcopal cross.
8. Flaming chalice: Unitarian Universalist.
9. United Methodist Church cross.
10. Aaronic Order Church.
11. Latter-day Saints: Angel Moroni with horn.
12. Native American Church of America: Teepee with three feathers.
13. Serbian Orthodox: cross.
14. Greek Cross: similar to the Red Cross.
15. Baha’i: 9 pointed star.
16. Atheist: A stylized symbol of an atom with the letter A in the center.
17. Islam: A crescent and star.
18. Hindu symbol.
19. Konko-Kyo faith.
20. Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now called the Community of Christ): A child between a lion and lamb.
21. Sufism reoriented symbol.
22. Tenrikyo church symbol.
23. Seicho-no-ie symbol.
24. The Church of World Messianity symbol.
25. United Church of Religious Science symbol.
26. Christian Reformed Church: Cross and triangle.
27. United Moravian Church: Lamb carrying flag.
28. Eckankar: Stylized letters “EK”
29: Christian church - generic: A cup.
30: Christian & Missionary Alliance: a cross, chalice, crown and pitcher
31: United Church of Christ: a crown, cross and world symbol
32: Humanism: a stylized image of a human.
33: Presbyterian Church, USA: A flaming cross
34: Ixumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii: A hexagon surrounding a symbol
35: Soks Gakkai International - USA: A complex symbol
36: Sikh: The Khanda symbol; three swords and a rink
Listed separately because of copyright restrictions: United Church of Christ.
Christian Science: cross and crown.
Islam: Five pointed star

[LilAngel]

No. I would forbid the display of satanic symbols for the purpose of advertising or proselytizing.

[CajunConservative]

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.

[blaquebyrd]

We’re talking grave stones here. If somone doesn’t agree with whatever symbol you believe in be thankful that we have brave men who would defend your right to have it. You don’t have to like it but they have the right to have there’s too.

[EBH]

Oh really? He, the soldier who died for your Right to Freedom of Religion, doesn’t deserve...your respect to his Rights nor does his family?

[kittymyrib]

Now, look what you’ve started. Here in Texas, we’d have to have Texas Longhorns and the Aggies.

[lightman]

Just last week I was over at the local cemetery getting familiarized, as we're laying my Dad to rest there day after tomorrow. I noticed that one of his "neighbors" has a Budweiser can emblazoned on his plaque.

First, my condolences for your loss.

Now to the Bud can "art"...I can still remember one heathen funeral where the family of the deceased had placed his two favorites in the casket...a 16oz can of Bud and World Wrestling Federation magazine.

Cause of death...stumbled drunk in front of a vehicle.

[EBH]

Satanic to you...

They don’t believe in Satan, Satan is a part of your belief system.

Oh really? He, the soldier who died for your Right to Freedom of Religion, doesn’t deserve...your respect to his Rights nor does his family?

[trisham]

The apology should have been based on the fact that this widow's husband gave his life in service to his country; NOT because of witchcraft, paganism or their Wiccan beliefs.

************

Not exactly: "U.S. President George Bush apologized to a Nevada Wiccan who was left out of a presidential meeting with relatives of soldiers killed in combat."

It was right of him to apologize for leaving her out of the meeting, and certainly it would have been right to offer condolences, but I think I get what you're saying. Wiccan beliefs are not the issue here.

[Starwolf]

There is a process to get a symbol of faith placed on a military grave marker. Wiccans had been going through that process, but it had been quite slow, and claimed that others that started later had already been approved. Their claim of obstructionism may well have had merit.

While I am not a Wiccan nor do I share their beliefs, I do believe that in our society, they should enjoy the same freedoms as other faiths

Google the list with images of approved stones. It will surprise you.

[LilAngel]

I will not support satanism. If that’s what he was fighting for, and what he died for, I don’t owe him a thing. I’m not going to have satanism shoved down my throat, and pay for the “privilege.”

[Xenalyte]

She said she explained to Bush the faith she and her husband shared.

I'm sure she tried her best, but I'm afraid she didn't succeed, because Wicca is not a faith.

[I see my hands]

"Having the symbols of the devil and devil worship in the place where the bodies of good Christian soldiers lie is an affront to common decency."

Maybe sweet repose can be found in a commonist cemetery.

[Drew68]

I will not support satanism. If that’s what he was fighting for, and what he died for, I don’t owe him a thing. I’m not going to have satanism shoved down my throat, and pay for the “privilege.”

Wiccans don't worship Satan.

Just admit it. In your heart, you think only God-fearing Christians should be buried at Arlington. Am I correct?

[5050 no line]

[Our] Dead heroes belong in a military cemetery.

[KarinG1]

We need a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for witches. If people choose to worship the devil in this country they are free to do so, but I don’t want to hear about it.