Pagan Perspectives
Weekly Question
The Rules
| Note:
The opinions posted on the Pagan Perspective pages are those of individuals and are not neccessarily shared or endorsed by the Witches' Voice inc.
|
For Further
Discussion
Visit The
WitchVox List
of 242
Communication
'Net Sites:
Chat Boards
Email Lists
IRC Channels
Past Questions
|
|
|
Author:
Posted: Sep. 8, 2002
| This Page Viewed: 7,023,750
|
Vox Q Stats
Times Viewed: 32,767
Reponses: 268
Lurker/Post Ratio: 122 to 1
|
Question of the Week: 78 - 9/22/2002
Would You Take Part in a Public Event or Protest AS a Pagan?
Many Pagans or Heathens have always been a little leery about taking part in public events, protests or in signing their real names to letters or petitions. Given the current climate in the United States and across the world since 9/11, are you more or less inclined to be open about your spiritual beliefs or religion than you once were? Are you more fearful of reprisals or discrimination? Do you think that you would be placed on a surveillance list if you participated in public events or signed petitions with your legal name? Are you more cautious than you may have been before? Or have the events emboldened you to take a more public stance?
What’s the current status of YOUR broom closet?
|
| Reponses: There are 268 responses posted to this question. |
Reverse Sort |
| Why Not? | Sep 27th. at 8:15:52 pm EDT |
| Kalista (Virginia) | Age: 16 - Email |
A simple enough question. Yes or no.... or is there something more to it? Maybe i'm just too young and opinionative for my own good. ::shrug:: i, for one, am proud of who and what i am, and have a great time dispelling all those little rumours about witches that float around my school. The pentacle i wear, to those who know me or ask about it, is almost like any christian wearing a cross (and we all see that often enough.) yet, i find that the first question on my peers lips as they marvel at the silver star is "what- are you satanist or something?" and then i'm asked where i got the ring, and complimented before being given a chance to answer. Come on, now! really! maybe i'm wrong to take it so much to- i almost want to say offence- and it is, but i find that it mingles with an odd sort of, well, near pity for the ones who see a 5 pointed star and immediately assume their devil has his hands in it. Then there are still others, who call themselves Wiccan, but speak nothing of the Goddess, or of balance- only of spells and 'black magic' and (go figure) the devil. Morons.
In short- ignorance is fought with knowledge- and how are people to come even close to understanding the real truths (not the assumed ones) without seeing us interacting in everyday life? the only way to dispel such rumours is to help others realized just what wicca isn't, and they cannot do this without seeing, and speaking to, and asking questions of those who practice it.
|
| Would You Take Part In A Public Event Or Protest AS A Pagan? | Sep 27th. at 9:17:03 pm EDT |
| snowraven (Florida & West Virginia) | Age: 41 - Email |
Yes I would take part if it was a well organized and thought out plan. Public Event yes....protest depends on what it is about.
I am not in the closet but I am careful in this day and age of close minded people.
Freedom of Religion would be a reason to come and be with like minds. I think many people
think Witches and other Pagans are "weird" because many want people to see themselves as "very different".Myself I dress no different and my hair is not dyed an odd color, or do I have different markings from anyone else. Yet I will speak freely to anyone that asks about my beliefs. I display my religious symbols freely and my home is full of my craft. Being educated and informed would change the "weirdo" stigma. I am proud to be a witch and would gladly share that with the world.
|
| Be Proud Of What You Do. | Sep 27th. at 10:30:44 pm EDT |
| John Sneed (Indiana) | Age: 28 - Email |
This question is a just a question of faith in the God and Goddess. Do you think witches of the BURNING TIMES just brushed off thier religion? No , and neither would my family or coven. Be stong ,be proud if you are a witch stand up for your rights ,stand up for your Gods. I don't mean street preaching leave the to the "other" religions but don't be walked on either . My answer is yes with no compromise.
|
| WHY BE AFRAID OF WHO OR WHAT YOU ARE? | Sep 27th. at 10:38:11 pm EDT |
| Marie Sonnemann (Atlanta) | Age: 17 - Email |
Of course I would take part in a public evant about free religion, or Paganism. Every person has aright to be what ever religion is what feels right to them. In my opinion, the concept of "god" is a very personal thing and you cannot go on what you have been rold to believe, you must truly believe it yourself. Like myself, I used to be Roman Catholic, and I would not be afraid in the slihtest to be in a public event or put my name on paper because I have no reason to be ashamed of who or what I am or what I believe. I hope you (reader)do not have a reason to be ashamed either.
Blessings of the Goddesss and God be upon you.
Marie Sonnemann
|
| Of Course! | Sep 27th. at 10:53:46 pm EDT |
| Delilah Penn (Kentucky) | Age: 30 - Email |
Would I? Plan on attending a Pagan Pride celebration at a city park tomorrow, as a matter of fact. I wear my pentacle every day without worries & it has been rare that I have had a problem. Looking back & seeing all the freedoms that have been fought for, I won't budge much on this basic freedom.
|
| Why Not? | Sep 27th. at 11:23:45 pm EDT |
| Carrie (TX) | Age: 22 - Email |
Of course I would!!!! I am very proud of my beliefs. I get a lot of crap where I work about it but it doesn't bother me to tell them my point of view or pretty much piss them off because I don't have the same beliefs as them (don't ya just hate closed-minded people?).
|
| Pagan Priest And Local U.S. National Guardsman (TN.) | Sep 27th. at 11:59:50 pm EDT |
| Duane Taylor (Red Bank) | Age: 36 - Email |
I plan to take part in the festivities of the local PNO's groups in my area and I've hosted events even though not currently in coven / circle. I'm proud but, not very loud though when the occasion calls for it I speak for myself and try not to generalize to others on behalf of all Pagans or Witches. I intend to directly answer any honest questions put to me that are intended to assist an individual in learning to appreciate (or @ least tolerate) the diversity of the many Pagan faiths. There are times that I believe I would stand forth and participate in political events that called for demonstration but, that time has not come so as yet, my mettle is untested. There are many ways to be heard and responded to in a positive manner and I believe those methods should always be used first.
|
| I Fear Not. | Sep 28th. at 12:13:12 am EDT |
| Emmie Robinson (Oklahoma) | Age: 23 - Email |
I don't think fearing others could ever help a situation. We are much too clever to fall victim that often to true injury or attack. What I wonder is if this might be a non-confrontational attitude, verging on repression, and may work against us eventually. It seems the spirit of our country is to fight for our rights. Instead, could we simply claim them? It's not as if we must share a limited ammount of freedom. Each person, and each religion should consider itself set with as much breathing space as needed. 9-11 has tested the root of our definition of liberty - I just hope our hate, our woes, our grief doesn't cause a civil mutiny - that may effect Christian, and Muslim, Wiccan, and Jew alike.
|
| I Would Take Part | Sep 28th. at 12:16:24 am EDT |
| Joan (Pittsburgh) | Age: 19 - Email |
I see no prolem in standing up for what you believe in it is our given right as Amerians, speech and any religion. This es include Paganism. We shouldnt be scared to say I am because if we are t sets us back in time, in a similar time to the witch hunts, where people misjudge us for what they think they know. It should be brought across to the world that we are who hey think we are.
|
| Totally Would | Sep 28th. at 1:02:53 am EDT |
| Cheryl (Washington, USA) | Age: 15 - Email |
I would deffinitly participate in a public event or protest as a Pagan.
|
| Great Gaia Yes! | Sep 28th. at 2:12:41 am EDT |
| Rilluin Stormrider (Carlsbad, CA, USA) | Age: 17 - Email |
I would gladly protest in defense of myself and my fellow pagans. As for the repercussions, so what? Nothing truly worth fighting for (I do not mean violence, just struggle of any kind) came without sacrifice.
|
| Definitely YES! | Sep 28th. at 2:22:31 am EDT |
| Katy (Los Angeles, CA) | Age: 22 - Email |
I would definitely protest as a pagan. If 9/11 has anything to do with this, at least for me, it's only that I think people need to *know*. The attacks were made by ignorant, bigoted people, and if America responds in kind, then nothing is solved. We're best off knowing what people are about, instead of just assuming that anyone who's different is an enemy.
|
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2013 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.
Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.
Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.
Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.
Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.
|
