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The Goddess Wears Combat
Boots
by Ayesha Mitchell
Copyright © 1994 Ayesha Mitchell
All Rights Reserved
May be reposted as long as the above attribution and copyright notice are retained
It's easy to picture the gung-ho soldier fighting for God, country,
apple pie, stars and stripes, etc. ad nauseum; however, few contemplate that they may be
wearing a pentagram beneath thier uniform. Most agree, it sounds a bit outside the
hyper-conservative military image; yet, of course, it does exist.
As the "dependent wife" of an active duty military husband, I
have gained an interesting perspective onthe issues of Pagan living. For one, I actually
live on base(a Twilight Zone of incomprehensible proportion). Here reality is the
presented as Leave it to Beaver, right down to the haircuts. I am expected to participate
in the Enlisted Wives' Club, attend chapel bake sales; and in general, assume my role as a
dutiful dependent wife, supporting my brave man as he wipes out the latest declared
menace. I am happy to say that my husband has not, in the least, tried to confine me to
this image. All the same it would be nice to at least feel I could participate in the
military community if I chose.
Life in the service includes a lot of moving, uprooting what you have
known, and trying to incorporate it wherever they put you every couple of years or so.
Friends get seperated, and sometimes lost, so they try to compensate by forming a
universal military community. Unfortunately, becouse Pagans are not your standard
cookie-cut Joe Republicans, we become black sheep of the Military Family. Some are
fortunate enough to find other Pagans, and sometimes even join local covens where they are
stationed: but then they have to move again, facing the possibilty of the broom closet for
a full tour of duty. Some might think we have all come out, that we would be, if nothing
else, able to find each other. But, when some Baptist fundy refuses to put
"Wiccan", or even "Pagan" on your dog tags becouse he claims it isn't
in his little list of "Air-Force-recognized-religions," the broom closet seems
almost roomy compared to the confines of accepted ignorance set by our government
institutions.
Then, of course, those who do come out despite the odds can look forward
to any number of narrow minds aproaching them. SOme have sincere curiosity, and it can
actually feel quite rewarding answering their questions and parting on good terms. For
every one of those individuals, however, there are twenty more who will avoid you, or
worse yet, try to "help" you. In my husband's office he explained his beliefs,
and his wife's practices, and one born-again Christian actually said, "Well, me God
has dominion over your Goddess."(Yeah, well my brother is bigger than your brother,
so there). It got so bad that he eventually had to threaten legal action before the man
would cease the harassment; and even then he continued to mumble and point with his
buddies behind my husband's back. I too have recieved my share of propaganda; but I
consider this lucky compared to my friend's husband who is not even Pagan, and yet is
constantly recieving pamphlets and notes from an anonymous Holy Roller who believes that
God had called on her or him to save this man from his wife the witch, and her eternal
damnation.
Some may think this can happen to any one, in any community. However, in
the military, you stay where they put you, and most likely that community has the
closed-minded attitudes of the stereotypical right- winger, falling short of the open arms
expected of the solder's brother- hood.
I do want to end this piece on a positive note (however bitter it may
seem). Ther is hope! We know that there are some Pagan patriots who have chosen to serve
thier country. Now it's just a matter of getting in touch so that we all can share our
beliefs and needs with others who identify, and may be in similar situations. For this
reason, my friend Jeanine and I have tried to organize a type of Pagan support group, but
have had little success. And I know of a Pagan Military Newsletter; but have been unable
tp find a correct address. Hence I shall leave my address with BAPA, and those active
duty, or dependent military Pagans, and all others who wish to start a network, please
write. We have a common bond, now is the time to come together without fear.
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