ISIS Paranormal Investigations Blog

In the New York Times, it has been revealed that the USAFA in Colorado Springs is being criticized for the way they have handled a religious hate crime thus far. While it is true that the Air Force Academy recently established a circle of stones for pagan worship, particularly for Druids and Wiccans and for those that have an earth-centered religion, last month someone put a cross constructed of railroad ties on the designated space. This incident has been viewed as a religious hate crime and has created quite a stir in the pagan community. Now, some cadets at the academy are criticizing the officials of the USAFA because they have been far too slow when it comes to addressing a clear incident of vandalism.

According to Mikey Weinstein, a graduate of the academy and the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the dean of the academy took a full ten days before he even brought the incident to the attention of the faculty at the academy. Further, it was not until this Wednesday that the dean contacted the Pentagon and the vice commandant spoke to cadets. Why would it take a full ten days to even begin to pay attention to this issue? One has to wonder if someone had painted an inverted pentagram on the wall of the cadet chapel if it would have taken a full ten days for the officials at the academy to offer up some kind of timely response to the matter.

According to Lt. Col. William Ziegler, the cadet wing chaplain, the officials have been very responsive to the incident. Earlier this week, Lt. Gen. Michael Gould made it very clear that this kind of destructive behavior would not be tolerated. If the perpetrators of the crime are cadets, they could be prosecuted by the USAFA. If, however, the act was caused by civilians, then the problem would become a matter for the local authorities.

Read the most recent update about this incident involving religious intolerance.

“Fools, their wisdom weak, are their own enemies as they go through life, doing evil that bears bitter fruit.” – Dhammapada, 66, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Earlier this week a press release from the USAFA revealed that a circle of stones was being erected at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The circle was to be dedicated on March 10th of this year and the move was viewed as a move toward greater religious tolerance at the Air Force Academy. This is in light of the fact that several years ago, in 2005, the Air Force Academy faced accusations of religious intolerance and for having Christian biases. Now, according to an article appearing in the Los Angeles Times, entitled “Cross found at Air Force Academy’s Wicca center,” by DeeDee Correll, this event has now been marred by the discovery of a large wooden cross placed on the site where the circle of stones has been placed.

According to Mikey Weinstein, a graduate from the academy and the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the air force academy had made huge strides in terms of religious tolerance and the presence of a cross on pagan sacred space is definitively viewed as a setback. Weinstein commends Lt. Gen. Michael Gould for helping make the climate at the academy more tolerant of other religions, but Weinstein also explains that a number of officials at the academy have made light of the issue and have trivialized it.

While speaking with officials on Tuesday Weinstein asked them why after the passage of two weeks’ time, the officials had not told the cadets about the cross discovered on the designated area for pagan worship. According to a spokesman for the Air Force Academy, the officials had reported the event and also sent out a message to cadets reaffirming the academy’s position on religious tolerance. Lt. Gen. Michael Gould asserted that this kind of “destructive behavior,” will not be tolerated, and he viewed the action of placing a cross in the soon to be pagan worship center no different than if one were to write graffiti on a chapel wall.

Sometime during the weekend of January 17th, a client of Weinstein’s organization found the cross which was made out of railroad ties. The cross was propped up against one of the large rocks at the pagan center. The issue was reported, and officials had a meeting over the issue. Some faculty members that attended the meeting advised Weinstein of the lukewarm response of some of the officials at the meeting. Weinstein asserts that if it had been any other kind of religious center the reaction to the event would have been far more sensitive. Weinstein stated: “Had a swastika been placed in the Jewish center, “heads would be rolling.”

This event really hits home because our group and coven have endured similar circumstances. On May 4th, 2007, someone had actually written graffiti on the side of the home where our high priestess resides. The graffiti contained a lengthy prayer to God which was clearly intolerant of the Wiccan faith; a small portion of that pray read: “In the name of Jesus Christ, no evil witch or spook can attack my family. God is our protector, he is our creator, and no one is greater. Please move evil away. Amen.” You can read the full right up about the religious intolerance our group endured on the official ISIS Paranormal Investigations website. This most recent incident with the Air Force Academy clearly indicates that acts of religious intolerance, particularly when it is in regard to Wicca, are still prevalent in our society.

Read the full story about religious intolerance.