Derelict Of Duty

JUSTICE: "Unsuitable NONE BY Produce a result INJURIES, OR OMITTING THE Give support to THAT ARE YOUR Pledge. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN", 13 VirtuesWhat the subsequent commentary was in black and white from a Wiccan-witch attitude, it when applies to non-Wiccan practitioners of witchcraft as well, as acquaint with are assorted *flavors* of witchcraft traditions. Wicca is one tradition including assorted when valid earth-based witchcraft traditions, in the company of eclectic solitary practitioners who fabrication experience and practices from a few traditions. "All witches" crave protection. Seriously, it is the saunter Pledge of government assemblage and officials to protect the bookkeeping lack of control of American witches and to put down bookkeeping stalking as well. From my attitude, inhabitants charged with the charge are starkly badly maintained of charge.Wednesday's (3 April, 2007 CE)Louisville "Courier-Journal" Gut reaction MassSubstantial the Put the lid on Amendment: The breed of eleganceBY CHARLES C. HAYNESGannett Hearsay Twist State accused of witchcraft in America aren't executed anymore (we are 300 years and a Put the lid on Revision on sale from Puritan Massachusetts). These days they place lose their jobs.Don Larsen exposed this the arduous way. A see ago, Larsen was a Pentecostal Christian priest dollop as an Navy chaplain in Iraq. But furthermore he convinced to Wicca, whose members are self-described witches, and helpful to become the most important Wiccan chaplain in the U.S. armed services.Currently Larsen is a last Navy chaplain back home in Idaho. As reported live through month in The Washington Appointment, the Navy not in words of one syllable denied his request to favor bookkeeping college, but as well separated him from the chaplain division (nevertheless an tremendous record) and sent him stuffing.The Navy denies any elegance in opposition to Wiccans and cites a kink of Catch-22 bureaucratic reasons for Larsen's exclusion. But in the past attempts by Wiccan groups to increase a military chaplain transport as well messed up -- in ill temper of acquaint with soul specially than 130 other bookkeeping groups on the recognized list.Accurate, Wiccans make up in words of one syllable a paltry percentage of military workers (around 1,900 by the Pentagon's adjunct, yet the real facts are projected notably director). But other bookkeeping groups with similarly paltry facts prior to transport chaplains.This isn't the in words of one syllable replica of unfair custom of Wiccans in the military. After nine years of "reviewing the method," the Bough of Veterans Family dull hasn't recognized the pentacle -- a five-pointed star that symbolizes Wiccan belief -- as an "character of belief" that can be located on government headstones of Wiccan throng.Despite the fact that the 38 recognized emblems include religions of every limit (and non-belief), the VA bestow not add the pentacle. Does this mean Wiccan throng are good lots to die abroad, but not good lots to be unknown with respect at home?The military's testing bar to recount Wicca may transport everything to do with the hellhole of grievance that greeted news stories of Wiccan meetings on a Texas military decomposing about eight years ago. Then-Gov. George W. Hedge plant looked-for the military to bar Wiccan ceremonies, saying, "I don't symbol witchcraft is a religion." Individual incensed Christian tightfisted leaders called on Christians not to connect with or re-enlist as have a yen as Wiccans were permitted to honor on U.S. bases.In spite of military officials transport continued to allow Wiccan honor (under the Put the lid on Revision, they transport no disdainful), they are positively not keen to annoy that pot another time. After all, the superintendent is now the supervisor.Ill feeling toward Wicca isn't put away to the armed services. Worry of witches, it seems, is popping up anywhere.Hindmost see a group of Georgia parents accused their particular schools of promoting Wicca by having Badger Potter books in the school libraries (place the just starting out argument in the routine anti-Harry scuffle). In December, the Card Flat timber of Incident ruled that the books may well remain.In February, a Delaware appraise upheld a finding of bookkeeping elegance in opposition to a type store that dropped a course educated by Wiccans in the store's "ivory tower of classes" show.And this month a last moot on Craving Desert island, N.Y., testified in piazza that she was passionate after ordinary school officials accused her of soul a witch. According to the moot, who says she doesn't practice witchcraft, the director was surly since she educated about the Salem witch trials and wouldn't reckon in Christian goings-on that he promoted.As Wicca grows -- and it's one of the fastest-growing religions in America -- so bestow conflicts higher witches. That's since limit of what take possession of symbol they know about witches and Wicca is untrue. Quarrelsome to lead myth, Wiccans transport zero to do with the "evil arts" or Satanism. Nor do Wiccans incorporate to the stereotypes rooted in fantasies from "The Wizard of Oz" to "Sabrina, the Pubertal Witch."If it isn't what assorted take possession of symbol it is, furthermore what is Wicca? In spite of no religion is in basic terms summed up in a caging, limit Wiccans would it would seem suit that Wicca is a nature-based religion rooted in a certainty that the Promise permeates all life. For a fuller reason, Wicca Demystified by Bryan Lankford is a good place to start.For Put the lid on Revision purposes, static, it doesn't important what military officers or school principals or other government officials symbol about Wicca: It is their saunter charge to protect the bookkeeping lack of control of all Americans, in the company of witches."Charles C. Haynes is advanced scholar at the Put the lid on Revision Funds. His announcement accommodate is chaynes@freedomforum.org. "Hat-tip to Joshua for the commentary.Technorati tags: witchcraft bookkeeping elegance bookkeeping stalking saunter charge justice iniquitous most important rework wicca witches wiccan witches nonwiccan witches eclectic witchcraft eclectic witches druidry jewitches convivial action convivial justice