Submitted by Christopher Blackwell, Nov 7, 2007 20:20

I just read your article, Make Room for Wiccans. Part of the yearly talk about Wiccans, usually somewhere around Halloween. Ooh so spooky! As a Wiccan of some 23 years experience and practice I often wonder if anyone will ever take a look at most of us the rest of the year. We do have eight Sabbats celebrating the movement of the seasons and the different stages of life, both yearly and in a life time. Right now I keep in contact with Wiccans and Heathens, Druids and other Pagans who fight for our country in Iraq, Afghanistan or wherever their country sends them to die. Just this year the Wiccan veterans fought for and gain the right to have their pentacle on their head stones. It only took ten years and two lawsuits. Just fighting and dying for their country for the last 50 years was not enough. Now the Druids and the Heathens are in their fight for the Awen and Thor's Hammer. The Druids have done everything required of them, but now they are told that a Druid will have to die in battle before they can even ask for their symbol to be approved. Of course that is no guarantee that the VA will grant them the Awen. They may still have to fight through the courts. As for the Heathens, I have not yet heard how far their fight has gone with the VA or what will be required of them. Meanwhile both groups are serving their country on the various war fronts, but that is not yet enough for the VA. As Marine Vietnam War Veteran, and a Wiccan, I wonder why people willing to risk their lives for their country still are required to jump through hoops like trained dogs. Why is not our patriotism and life taking risk not enough?

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