Some more serious musings....

UNCLE SAM NEEDS YOU!

Well it has taken me a long time to decide how to approach a serious side to this issue. Part of me was gratified to see that, for once, people's underestimation and jesting attitude toward Pagans/Witches was actually working to our benefit in the case of Congressman Barr's escapades. Story after story mocked Barr (and generally there is alot there to mock anyway) over his "silly" attempts at a real life witchhunt. MPN released a statement on the ineffectiveness of Barr's campaign....but the tides are turning in a way that will make us confront the issue whether we feel it is silly or not.

On the 10th of June Barr appeared on Hardball...CNBC's soundbyte fest (issues boiled down to a series of oneliners bandied about in segments not lasting more then 7 minutes....real INDEPTH stuff and not much more then political Tabloid Yellow Journalism). There he found in host Chris Matthews a soulmate. Whilst they traded meaningless chatter they picked up false information from Dumb as a Mud Post, Washington Post reporter Hanna Rosin. They ignored the bland ACLU spokesman's call for fairness and constitutional rights and picked apart a lifestyle they failed to study...in a military enviroment NO ONE but Barr has ever complained about.

Once more NOT ONE person was brought forward to PROVE that Pagans in the military effect "espirit d'corps"....or cause a problem for military readiness. NOT ONE. And not one Military Pagan...or Base Chaplain or other military representitive was allowed on the air with the Hardball sideshow (and I have a hard time believing that Chris and staff COULD'NT find one to appear).

Also on Wednesday came, FOR ME, the galvanizing action. 13 Conservative organizations have called for a boycott of Military service, (all jokes aside at the idea of a 13 strong COVEN of Christians coming after the Witches). These are, ironically, Religious Righters....God & Country hailers calling for military memebers not to re-enlist and parents NOT to encourage the military as a career for their children until Wicca and several other Pagan religions are actually BANNED from the Services.

I'm Baffled by the idea of this Boycott....I have nothing against Boycotts....go for it I say. And may it be just as successful as the Disney Boycott BTW. But why BOYCOTT military service? Wouldn't calling for a GLUT....a Christian flood of new military membership have been more logical? Not to mention more in keeping with the supposedly patriotic nature of these organizations? Hmmmmmmm??

Well here is my suggestion. Since these organizations have decided to drop the American Flag in the dirt I propose WE LIFT IT AGAIN AND MARCH WITH IT!

Join the Service....encourage your family & children to Join.....Encourage your young friends...the searching and financially struggling youth in your groups...covens...and groves to Join. Besides the kick in the pants a flood of new PAGAN blood in the military would give Barr & Co. let me give you some other arguments in favor of military service.

1) Independence from Parents...& communities.

2) Money.

3) Job skills training ranging from Law enforcement, medical, broadcasting, mechanical, electrical, and office & business training.

4) College opportunities with either money...grants...or programs like Bootstrap which takes enlisted folk and sends them to college....Medical school and such and takes them back in as OFFICERS!!!

5) A military bearing and dignity are very impressive to future employers.

6) Military service looks great on job resumes.

7) Friendships.....My best friends were fellow military people...base living IS really about a family of choice. They will be the most intense friendships you'll know.

8) A chance to change the face of the military from the inside.

The final one BTW being something Barr never did....he never served in the Military he attempts to ruin with his Pork on Military budgets to further vendettas. But then again he likely failed the height requirement ohhhh and likely showing up at the recruiter's office with french ticklers and a can of Dairy-Whip didn't help either...<|;^)

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