http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/11/13/widows.suit.ap/index.html

If you're gonna allow some religious symbols then let the people put whatever frikkin symbol on their graves that they want. I don't care if they want a Sanskrit swastika or an image of a naked lady--just put it on there and shaddap!

Is this really a freedom of religion issue? These people are free to bury their dead somewhere else and have their own headstone made. If all they want is a headstone, the military isn't saying these people can't do it, only that the military isn't going to do it for them. I don't see a big problem with the military restricting what goes on headstones, although it is strange that they recognize the religion in many other ways. I for one would not want the headstone next to my beloved to have a pentagram, swastika or naked lady on it.

Is this really a freedom of religion issue? These people are free to bury their dead somewhere else and have their own headstone made. If all they want is a headstone, the military isn't saying these people can't do it, only that the military isn't going to do it for them. I don't see a big problem with the military restricting what goes on headstones, although it is strange that they recognize the religion in many other ways. I for one would not want the headstone next to my beloved to have a pentagram, swastika or naked lady on it.

I say that if you allow some religious symbols you better allow them all--if you don't want pagan symbols on your stones then stop allowing any or it's discrimination pure and simple.

if folks get crosses and stars of david then other folks should get Pentangles, Pentagrams or Star and Crescent.
by only doing Star of Davids and Crosses the state is showing preference

Seems pretty straightforward, sign up for the 21st century crusades, and you get labelled a christian,

Silas

If the military had no intention of honoring the religious beliefs of these men after death, the military should not have taken them in.

What if it's a "make believe" religion?

There was a line in the article that sounds as if Wicans or whatever aren't recognized by the government as a religion, something about how long they had been trying to get it recognized. Is this about a headstone or taxes?

do you know the difference between 'real religion and make believe religion'?

time and the number of followers

Scientology with alll it's wacky beliefs is just as plausible as some Superior being making the planet in 7 days, appearing in burning bushes and sacrificing his demigod son to wash away the sins of man.
'I'd put a Scientologist marker on their grave if they asked for it

do you know the difference between 'real religion and make believe religion'?

time and the number of followers

Scientology with alll it's wacky beliefs is just as plausible as some Superior being making the planet in 7 days, appearing in burning bushes and sacrificing his demigod son to wash away the sins of man.
'I'd put a Scientologist marker on their grave if they asked for it

personally I think it's all pretty silly, but if you're gonna allow one then allow them all...simple as that.

The solution is to allow none.

There was a line in the article that sounds as if Wicans or whatever aren't recognized by the government as a religion, something about how long they had been trying to get it recognized. Is this about a headstone or taxes?
It's about the headstone. Here's the problem (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/243290_pagan04.html):
Asked about the long years of requests, she said the Wiccan groups started out with "a very scattered writing campaign. ... They never sent in an application from the head of the organization speaking for the Wiccans."

Stearns argued that Wiccans have no official head of the organization. "I want to know who the 'head' of the atheists is? Or even who is the head of the Hebrew faith or the head of Christian faith? How about the head of the Muslim faith?" he wrote.The reference to atheists is because atheism is one of 38 religions (http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp) for which veterans can have a symbol of faith engraved free on their gravestones. Until the symbol is approved, Wiccans can have the word "WICCAN" or "PENTACLE" engraved on their gravestone.

Wicca is officially recognized by the military as a religion. Wiccan worship is permitted on military bases and soldiers can have WICCAN as the religious affiliation on their dog tags, so it ain't about the taxes.

do you know the difference between 'real religion and make believe religion'?

time and the number of followers

Scientology with alll it's wacky beliefs is just as plausible as some Superior being making the planet in 7 days, appearing in burning bushes and sacrificing his demigod son to wash away the sins of man.
'I'd put a Scientologist marker on their grave if they asked for it

Ker-SMACK!

Nice one.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/11/13/widows.suit.ap/index.html

If you're gonna allow some religious symbols then let the people put whatever frikkin symbol on their graves that they want. I don't care if they want a Sanskrit swastika or an image of a naked lady--just put it on there and shaddap!


This sounds like it may be more bureaucratic than actual suppression of religious freedom. It's like one tiny part of the military can't allow a pentagram if it's not on their list rather than the organization claiming it's not a religion outright.

"The Army allows Wiccan soldiers to list their faith on dog tags, Wiccan organizations are allowed to hold services on military installations and the Army Chaplains Handbook includes an explanation of the religion, attorneys said."

If this is true then this headstone business strikes me as an aberration and it is getting redressed in the courts as it should albeit in a ridiculously slow manner.

On the whole, I agree with the common sense if "any" then "all" should be allowed.
However, just to play devil's advocate suppose one wants some absurdest "religious" symbol on their marker. Should anything go? I mean anything? I can imagine up some really juvenile/offensive symbols given half a chance.

However, just to play devil's advocate suppose one wants some absurdest "religious" symbol on their marker. Should anything go? I mean anything? I can imagine up some really juvenile/offensive symbols given half a chance.

I think "any or none" would have to be the rule. That would include whatever crude symbol one could imagine so maybe they would be better off with "none."

I think "any or none" would have to be the rule. That would include whatever crude symbol one could imagine so maybe they would be better off with "none."

I was thinking of Calvin pissin' on an Icthus symbol. Or maybe just a light switch flipped to the OFF position.

I was thinking of Calvin pissin' on an Icthus symbol. Or maybe just a light switch flipped to the OFF position.
I don't see how you could deny it and allow stuff like crosses and such. When it comes right down to it a cross is really a strange religious symbol itself...kind of like having an electric chair or lethal injection table on your gravestone for a modern equivalent. How about a hangman's rope?