Subj : From http://www.theblessedbee.com/georgebush.htm
To   : All
From : Rachel L. Akers
Date : Mon Jun 11 2001 11:55 pm

Me again,

OK This is _VERY_ political & a little out dated. Found this when I took a look 
at a online pagan supply site someone recomended ... [ <aside> So much for my 
study <g> ] amongst other things it gives refrences to a number of well known 
quotes.

  Rai

                        ---  

This particular issue is of great concern to the Pagan population.  Those of 
you who know me, know I abhor politics and avoid it like the plague.  I try to 
remain bipartisan. 

I honestly am not familiar with Mr. Bush's specific views on anything save the 
faith and religion issues.  He is VERY pro "faith-based" organizations.  
However, I have become increasingly disturbed over Mr. Bush's comments 
regarding the Wiccans at Ft. Hood.  He publicly stated to ABC's Good Morning 
America (Thurs. June 24, 1999),  "I don't think witchcraft is a religion".  All 
other politcal issues aside, this is MOST disturbing coming from a man who 
wishes to become the leader of our country.  It certainly doesn't appear that 
he will be supporting our First Amendment rights as President of this country.  
I encourage people to write to Mr. Bush and let him know that we ARE out here 
and we are also voters.  You can send an email to Mr. Bush from his website at: 


http://www.georgewbush.com/contact/index.html 

Below is a copy of what I sent him.  No, it's not the nicest letter I've sent 
to a political figure, but it's not the worst either. 

                                                        -Ariell 



Dear Mr. Bush: 

From your own website: 
   "We will never ask an organization to compromise its core values 
    and spiritual mission to get the help it needs." 

   "We will keep a commitment to pluralism -- not discriminating for or 
    against Methodists or Mormons or Muslims, or good people of no faith 
    at all." 

  "Recommended and signed a law requiring each of Texas˙28 local workforce 
   development boards to promote Welfare-to-Work partnerships with faith-based 
   groups in a way that respects their unique religious character." 

Wow!  I'm truly impressed.  These are ideals I support fully.  I DO assume that 
you include Wiccans in these lofty ideals as well. 

  "Advocated and signed into law the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration 
   Act, which strengthens and protects Texans˙right to practice their
   religion free from government intrusion." 

Hmmm....I guess this DIDN'T apply to the Wiccans at Ft. Hood.  Oh yeah, that's 
right.  You don't consider Wicca a "valid religion".  If elected President, 
will you also reinstitute witch burnings as well?  I'll be sure to pass your 
views along to the over 50,000 Pagans who visit my Pagan business website every 
month. 

Blessed Be. 
-Rev. Donna E. Passaro 
Wiccan High Priestess 
Owner of a religious-oriented (spell that P-A-G-A-N) business which currently
        sponsors The Blessed Bee Pagan Scholarship. (Oh yeah, not a "valid 
        religion" so it must not be a valid scholarship either. So much 
        for YOUR ideas of supporting faith-based charities.) 

Wicca, Witchcraft, Wiccans, and Witches are protected by law as follows: 

Protected and Recognized as a Religion 
under the Constitution of the U.S.- U.S. Constitution Amendment: 1st, 14th; 
        Dettmer v. Landon, 617 F. Supp. 529 (1985) 
        Fed. App. ct., 4th cir., 592 F. 2d 934 (1986) 

Free to Practice It's Beliefs; 
         USCA Const. Amend. 1: Kaplan v. Hess, 694 F.2d.842/224 
         U.S. app. D.C. 281... USCA Const. Amend. 14 Africa v. Anderson, 542 F.
                      Supp. 24, (16FPD 212-216) 
  
Free From Having It's Lawful Rights Interfered With: 
        Statutory Provision of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Ch. 265.*37,
                        Ch. 801 (2), (1980) 

Government cannot single out a particular religious belief or religion for 
special burdens: 

            Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah 113S.Ct. 
                        2217(1993) 
            Employment Division, Dept. of Human Resources of Oregon v. Smith,
                        494U.S. 72 (1990) 
            Sherbert v. Verner, 374 U.S. 398 (1963) 
            Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 42 U.S.C. 2000bb (1993) 
            Lawson v. Dugger, 844 F. Supp. 1538 (S.D. Fla, 1994) 

Other cases: 
           Frazee v. Illinois Dept. of Employment Security , 489 U.S. 829(1989) 

           Callahan v. Woods, 658 f. 2d.679 (9th Cir. 1981) 
           U.S. v. Ballard, 322 U.S. 78 (1944) 
           Walz v. Tax Commission, 397 U.S. 1 (1947) 
           Everson v. Board of education, 330 U.S. 1 (1047) 
           Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971) 
           Larson v. Valente, 456 U.S. 228 (1982) 
           Police dept. of Chicago v. Mosley, 408 U.S. 92 (1972) 
           Campos v. Coughlin, 854 F. Supp. 194 (S.D.N.Y. 1994) 


Additional info: 

The Official George W. Bush website http://www.georgewbush.com
Bothered and bewildered; Wiccans at Hood shrug off media hubbub 
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/doc/1047/1:METRO73/1:METRO7308799.h tml
                   (Hope I got that right had to manually do that bit- Rachel)


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                Blue ribbon shoulder to shoulder with a Pent &
                   "Freedom of Religion Means Any Religion"

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