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| Author: Posted: Nov. 17, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 3,841,705 |
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 |
| Absolutely! | Sep 29th. at 8:36:14 pm EDT |
| Lady Rhiannin Dieter (Lockport, NY) | Age: 39 - Email - Web |
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As an active member of the Pagan Community, as well as the Local Coordinator for the Buffalo Pagan Pride Festival 2003, I have never shied away from the public eye. I was born, raised and trained as a Witch and personally am proud of the person I am. I feel it is important to portray the Pagan Community in a positive light and to promote awareness. I have taken part in public protests, wrote letters, voiced my opinions via radio, public town meetings, web and other media and will continue to do so. Lady Rhiannin HPs |
| When, Where? Wanna Carpool? | Sep 29th. at 8:28:19 pm EDT |
| Auradya (Florida) | Age: 29 - Email |
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My friends and I have discussed this and I am whole-heartedly out of the broom closet. I have been to gatherings, and only once did I come near protesting as a Witch when the Christians in the small town I lived in banded together to violate citizen rights. As for my friends(I can only speak for them, not anyone else), many of them believe in the Old School rules about staying hidden. Those I don't choose to follow as I believe they were made for self and religious preservation during the Burning Times. |
| Most Definately | Sep 29th. at 7:36:55 pm EDT |
| Mae Silverpaws (Ga. (USA)) | Age: 37 - Email |
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I have taken part of many public pagan outings (though I have never participated in a protest). The pagan/wiccan/heathen community needs to show the world at large that the we are a productive and positive part of the community. Mae |
| LOCAL INTOLERANCE | Sep 29th. at 6:21:40 pm EDT |
| Karen Hinkley (Strong) | Age: 40 - Email |
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There is a community awareness event at my university every year. Groups of all types are invited to set up information tables to promote their organization. Myself and another like minded earth-child decided to participate, to educate and (hopefully) eradicate local stereotypes we fall under here. A religious group that is in the habit of literally standing on the street-side and yelling their version of the truth and the danger of modern ways came onto campus. Standing in the commons they began to yell, LOUDLY, of the evils of my knowledge of our Lady and Lord. It was an embarrassing day and I have never done anything publically again, not here. Thanks for the space, Ariah |
| YES! | Sep 29th. at 5:41:17 pm EDT |
| Samantha Stoner (Pensacola, FL) | Age: 22 - Email |
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As a pagan, yes I would participate in public events. Facing resistance and descrimination is a part of life. I don't believe that anyone can go through life without facing it. Being forced to defend a thought or belief tends to clarify and solidify exactly where you stand on the issue. |
| Of Course | Sep 29th. at 5:36:19 pm EDT |
| Dana Costa (Yonkers,NY) | Age: 24 - Email |
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I am more inclined to be out and about as a proud Pagan. I have been more open following the tragedy of 9/11. I have realized that i count and my voice like everyone elses deserves to be heard. I even bought a bumper sticker that says I AM PAGAN AND I VOTE. So, my broomcloset is wide open. I attended my first Pagan Pride Day this year and i brought my family so they could learn more about the path that i have chosen. We all had a great time and i think now they have a better understanding of me and those who have chosen this path. |
| Yes, I Would | Sep 29th. at 4:58:15 pm EDT |
| lady kaye (USA) | Age: 40 - Email |
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I would like to believe that I would take part in a public protest as a Pagan. The Constitution allows for freedom of religon and that to me means ALL religions. The status of my 'broom closet' is open, meaning I haven't taken a full page ad out in the local newspaper declaring my statua as a practicing pagan, but I do not hide the pentacle that I wear around my neck. Won't it be a great day when all people can fully exercise the right to worship as they believe? |
| Believing In Yourself | Sep 29th. at 4:52:50 pm EDT |
| Lisa (Arlington, Tx) | Age: 30 - Email |
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I would participate in or Protest as a Pagan. If you believe in yourself and your are comfortable with what you believe then nothing else should matter. If Joan of Arc didn't believe in herself, religion and country; "Paris as a city would not of happened or would not of been part of France." Brightess Blessings! |
| Freedom Of Choice In America | Sep 29th. at 2:24:10 pm EDT |
| Paeten (USA) | Age: 46 - Email |
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Yes I would participate. I would do so for any group who are persecuted for their beliefs. America is great due to our religious freedom and people need to be reminded there are many, many beliefs in this country. There is not ONE true way! If you condemm any peoples for their religious beliefs then you are blasting away at the very basis for this great nation. |
| Yes, I Still Will... | Sep 29th. at 12:15:17 pm EDT |
| Ackadia Seawind (Palm Coast Florida) | Age: 40 - Email - Web |
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The change in Political power and all the talk of war, do make this decision harder. I am more fearful than I was a few years ago. But I am not yet ready to lay-down and be walked all over. I still stand-up for what I believe and welcome the chance to do so in public. The only way bigotry can win is if people of conscious stop pointing it out. The only way injustice will prevail is if we turn our backs and walk away. I am not ready to walk away. |
| It's Not Always Easy To Be Open | Sep 29th. at 12:05:02 pm EDT |
| InnocenseRose (South Haven,Michigan) | Age: 16 - Email |
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I am not ashamed of what I am. I'm proud to be a wiccan. However, in my community it is not so easy to be open about this. I attend a school full of cruel and immature people. I feel it safer to hide what I am than to make it public. I know of three other wiccans in my school, one who I believe is public with what she is. But the difference is she is known by all. When my boyfriend learned of what I am, he almost left me. And he made the mistake of telling his mother this too, and she's still trying to force him to leave me. But it's been 17 months. If we could find a way for those who do not accept us to learn about us, it'd be easier to be open with what we are. People fear that which they do not understand. If the issue at hand was a big one and something that I believed worth fighting for, yes, I'd come out and I'd "fight" to the end. But sometimes it's just better to keep quiet. |
| Yes! | Sep 29th. at 12:01:01 pm EDT |
| Dawn (Florida) | Age: 29 - Email |
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I am very fearful of the way people may react to my beliefs, always have been, but it didn't stop me from being open about it before 9-11 and I see no reason to go into hiding about it now. I am already on a servalence list for my beliefs and the verious oganizations I belong to. It doesn't bother me any. There is not one person in the united states at this time that isn't. As long as I brake no laws they cannot touch me. I will not let fear rule me, and I think that others should not either. We should all be proud of who and what we are and what it is that we believe. It is who we are and you cannot let anyone person or government take that away from you. Blessings, Dawn Hobbs |
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