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@ix.netcom.com.