Ritual of Remembrance at the Lafayette War Memorial- Monday, May 25


The Pagan Alliance (www.thepaganalliance.org), together with the Order of the
Pentacle (www.circlesanctuary.org), will hold a ritual of remembrance at the
Lafayette War Memorial Monday, May 25, at 11:30 a.m.

The Order of the Pentacle is an organization of Pagan veterans. It's a group
that worked with Americans United, Circle Sanctuary, and the American Civil
Liberties Union to move the Veteran's Administration (VA) to include the
pentacle among the accepted emblems of belief for veterans' tombstones supplied
by the VA.

The mission of the Pagan Alliance is to educate our communities and the general
public, to promote acceptance of our faiths and traditions, to work for justice,
to connect our communities, celebrate our spiritual diversity.

Two years ago the Pagan Alliance held a ritual at the memorial and placed
pentacles—five-pointed stars that are a sacred symbol for Pagans—to honor the
three known Pagans Pagan service members who have died in the war in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

This year one more pentacle will be added, to honor Sgt. Jason A. Schumann of
Hawley, Minnesota, who lost his life to an improvised explosive device in Iraq.
He had enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was 17, two days before 9/11. He died
at the age of 23, leaving a wife and small child. He lived his Pagan beliefs and
his tombstone in the military cemetery in Ft. Snelling, Minnesota, is engraved
with a pentacle symbol.

The ritual on Memorial Day will be lead by James A. Bianchi, of Benicia, an
attorney and Druid; and Brighde Indigo of Davis, a U.S. Army Veteran and a
member of the Oracle of the Pentacle.

Pagans and friends from all religious communities are invited to participate in
the ritual. Gather at 11:15 near the handicapped-parking zone behind the
Lafayette BART station. The ritual begins at the memorial at 11:30. Feel free to
bring flowers, banners, flags, drums and any other ritual objects.


AFGHANISTAN by Jason "Tuba" Schumann

I am proud to call myself a citizen of the United States of America, one of the
best nations on the face of the Earth, especially in wake of recent events. I am
proud to live here, love the flag and would die to protect her ideals.

It is very nice to see the country come together and remain strong, even months
after the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on 11 September
2001. Citizens are flying flags out every window in their houses. There is a new
respect for National Guard and regular military forces, and people realize how
closely united our fifty United States really are.

Along with this upsurge of nationalism, patriotism, and pride have come some
things as Americans we should be ashamed about. Who is the enemy we are
fighting? Are we fighting against Afghanistan? Is Islam a religion that preaches
terrorism and hatred? What is the goal of "America's New War"? Is the enemy
really on the other side of the world? To answer these questions it doesn't take
much thinking.

The enemy is not the country of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a poor country many
Americans didn't even know existed until 11 September. The monster called war
for the past twenty years has ravaged the country. The people make their living
doing occupations that have been obsolete in other parts of the world for
hundreds of years. Afghanistan is also noted for being a very hospitable
country. A country of nothing still is being able to give something.

If there are people out there who think the enemy is the religion of Islam, then
I feel sorry for their ignorance. The second someone puts that religion to blame
they should look back in the history of Christianity. Religious wars have taken
place ever since it started. The Christians have had their share of terrorists
as well. A quick look at Ireland will more than prove that point. The Irish
Republican Army should in my opinion be targeted the same way as any other
terrorist organization in the world.

What is the goal of the war? Americans need to understand that it will not end
with the destruction of the Taliban, Al Qaida, or even the capture of Osama Bin
Laden. The war will only be won when terrorism around the world is destroyed so
citizens of all nations may one day live with the peace and prosperity they
deserve. These terrorists, no matter where they are from, threaten the peace and
prosperity of humanity everywhere, our basic rights and people. America needs to
realize this war could be continuing for years.

Finally, there is life closer to home. In the wake of the atrocity of 11
September there was almost immediately hate crimes against Arab-Americans. They
are Americans the same as you or I, and I would venture safely to say they do
not support the acts of that evil man. Like everyone they want terrorism
eradicated across the globe. How can we as Americans turn on our own? Those who
hate our neighbors yet fly an American flag out their window do much more than
disgrace Old Glory or the country. They are hypocrites. They are not Americans
in any sense of the word. E Pluribus Unum. What does that phase means? It means
out of many, one. That is what the United States is built on. The true enemy is
not the Taliban on the other side of the planet. The true enemy lives in our own
hatred of our fellow Americans. And we will not win the war until we defeat that
enemy.

For more information, contact Victoria Slind- Flor, vikinges@....