SGT Jason A. Schumann, a Wiccan soldier, was killed in action on May 19, 2007 in Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq whle serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was buried at Fort Snelling on June 1, 2007. He finally received his VA-issued pentacle headstone in December, 2007.
Jason's mother and her husband visited Jason's pentacle headstone on his 24th birthday on January 7, 2008 and added mementos to his gravesite.
Jason joined the US Army on September 9, 2001, two days before 9/11. He was 17 years old. This article that he wrote was published in a Minnesota newspaper, the Hawley Herald, on January 28, 2002, three weeks after Jason's 18th birthday. It is shared here with permission of his mother:
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 out fifty united States really are.
Along with this upsturge 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'a 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 Afghanisnistan. 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 organiztion 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 Ladan. 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 Glorey 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 our own hatred of our fellow Americans. And we will not win the war until we defeat that enemy.
