ASHEVILLE — A woman has filed a complaint with the Buncombe County school system that takes issue with signs reading "God Bless America" on school grounds.
"It’s illegal and they know it," said Ginger Strivelli, who says she represents 200 pagans in the region as the leading priestess with the Appalachian Pagan Alliance. "This is not Afghanistan. We don’t have a state religion, but that’s what they’re trying to do, make Christianity the state religion."
She has asked Buncombe County School Superintendent Cliff Dodson to remove or replace the signs with a "more diversely tolerant phrase." She asked that signs read, "May All Gods Bless America" or "Bless America."
Strivelli said she has heard that several schools are posting the signs. At least one appears on a North Buncombe High School sign posted outside the school, near N.C. 19-23.
Strivelli said she is waiting for a response to her e-mail, sent on Wednesday. If the issue is not addressed, she plans to approach the American Civil Liberties Union with her concerns.
But a spokeswoman with Buncombe County schools said the messages aren’t exclusive.
The signs don’t refer to any particular god, said Gerry Kovach, director of public relations for the school system. She added that readers can interpret them any way they wish, with the god or gods of their own faith.
"On a personal level, it’s a song, it’s a national song," Kovach said. "I’m not sure why she’s making an issue of it."
Kovach added that she was unaware that schools were posting "God Bless America" signs. But she said she plans to look into the complaint.
Strivelli said the signs exclude polytheistic religions – those that recognize multiple gods. Pagans follow an earth-based spirituality that honors mostly feminine dieties that date back to ancient Greek, Norse, Celtic and other ancient traditions.
She added that she defends the right of people to express their religious sentiments on private property. But Strivelli said that school officials were taking advantage of a time of national mourning to push their own religious beliefs on the community.
"They think they’re the only ones in mourning," Strivelli said.