Pagans in the Military

I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire (1694 - 1778) French philosopher, poet, novelist, playwright
Attributed.

    I don't know about everyone out there, but to me this embodies America and the American military. Lately in the news, news papers, on line, etc. there has been a lot of debate about pagans in the military. I hate to be the one to inform the uneducated out there, but there are a lot of us in the military, and all over the country. That is what this country is based on, our personal freedoms. You may not agree with what I believe or practice, and I may not agree with your way, but that is what this country is about, the freedom to believe and worship in our own way.

    If you ever notice they're constantly fighting about putting the 10 commandments in schools and prayer time. I don't mind the prayer time so much if it is not a led prayer service, but I definitely disagree with the 10 commandments. Not because they are not good rules to live by, but because they are Judeo-Christian commandments. I don't want my children having a religion forced down their throat. It is their choice. Personally I'm a Wiccan, but if my children decide to be a born-again Christian, then I will support them in that endeavor. I want my children to find what's right for them. But I digress...

    Pagans are just as smart, patriotic, and loyal as any other faith. It is true that most of us don't believe in killing, but isn't that also one of the 10 commandments??? We may not agree with what we have to do at times, but when the time comes we will follow our orders, because we have to have faith that the people above us are using us as a tool to defend our freedoms, which include freedom of religion. So I personally don't understand what the problem is. I personally don't agree with other religions, that's why I'm a Wiccan and not a Christian, Muslim, or any other faith, but I do agree with your right to worship the way you choose. I am in the military and there are many people I know, as well as myself, that are deployed, fighting in different regions of the world to defend your rights. Why do people want to deny us ours??

    From my personal experience, it can be much harder working in an ethnically diverse, or a sexually diverse workplace than it is for a religiously diverse workplace. Why? you might ask, it is because those are outward differences. We can have differing opinions, but those are inward differences, and no matter what our inward differences are, we come together for a common goal, to defend our country and our way of life to the death if necessary.

    There are religions out there that are conscientious objectors, and some of those may be Wiccan, Pagan, or Christian. But all faiths provide something to our country and our way of life. Some may choose not to directly support our country by joining the military, but why begrudge those of us who are willing? Are people scared that we may corrupt their young sons and daughters? I hate to be the one to break this to you but if they are old enough to join the military then they are old enough to make their own decisions. If that is what people are afraid of, that is just another part of letting your children grow up. If you raised your children properly, and instilled in them the morals and beliefs that you wanted, and you are happy with your children, can't you trust them enough to make their own decisions involving their religious preferences? Where will it end? When they are thirty will you still be trying to tell them what cars to drive, movies to watch, people they can be friends with??

    I realize that most people who read this are already of like minds, but feel free to offer this page (or site) to those not of like minds. For them here is some further reading...

Excerpts from a U.S. District Court Decision recognizing Wicca as a religion

US ARMY CHAPLAINS' HANDBOOK: EXCERPT ON WICCA

Mobius

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