Witchvox Article

Author: rainingcrow
Posted: April 23rd. 2006
Times Viewed: 3,427

We all have different perceptions of right and wrong, and most of us in the Pagan community tend to be fluid on the issue. "There is no right and wrong, there is only balance; there is no evil but intolerance…" But where do we draw the line? When does the effort to be tolerant become the method of self destruction? When does the worry of harming none become so consuming that it harms all? What I am talking about, of course, is apathy and indifference.

As a culture, it seems our striving for tolerance has had an adverse effect on some. Many people have mistaken tolerance to mean that they must be indifferent or apathetic. I have been told that if we stand up for what we believe in, if we rock the boat, or become activists, then, in a sense, we are being intolerant of others.

I am an activist in the G.L.B.T community, and in the Pagan community. I never had to give any real thought to this path because it is what I felt to be right as a person striving to be tolerant and accepting. However, my world is routinely shaken with the harsh reality of our own community. I recall only a few days ago being told that by possibly being a speaker at a public function where I would be promoting tolerance of diversity, that I was being too intolerant and narrow minded. "Well, if they don’t like gays, then you should just accept that they don’t like them and learn to tolerate them rather than try to change them." This comment was not meant in jest or sarcasm, it was a genuine comment from a truly concerned individual in the Pagan community. I do not wish to be misleading; I have not, in fact, been capable to this date to address a crowd for a purpose such as this. I am an activist in practice of my everyday life only due to a location that lacks very many groups I could possibly join. I do not hide behind my tolerance of diversity, but rather use it as a teaching tool.

Another individual, a close relative, not so long ago had this to say: “Some people have just opened their minds so much that the circle has come back and closed them off in reverse.” I must admit that the context in which this was said was actually directed at me over my warning to this person on the dangers of accidentally stereotyping people. But in the comment itself, my eyes were forced to focus on a growing issue within our own backyard. I was forced to think about something that has been bothering me for some time. Even my wife was brought into this very discussion with me eventually, and she told me that some people just aren’t cut out to be activists. I could not agree more, but I do feel that everyone is capable of action.

Has anyone stopped to notice that in America in the past decade, we are reaching out for more movies and sources of entertainment that center around heroes? I don’t just mean policeman or fireman… I mean over the top, do whatever it takes heroes. I believe it was once said that “The art of a people is the greatest reflection of their deepest needs and desires.” So what is a hero? A hero is quite simply someone who sees an injustice or a wrong and does something about it. It is really that simple. Look at the movies of the past years. They seem to fall largely into three categories (other than the campy comedies and kids movies):

1. Characters that push against impossible limits to do the right thing: Harry Potter, Spider Man 2, X-Men 2, Batman Begins, The Chronicles of Narnia, The LOTR series, Star Wars (Obi Wan’s character and in a confused way, Anakin’s), Serenity, War of the Worlds

2. Directors who push impossible limits to make the movie an activism statement: Rent, Brokeback Mountain, King Kong, Crash, X-Men (the whole series) , The Constant Gardener, Cinderella Man, War of the Worlds

3. Movies that allow for people to vent their discontent with society by depression and death: Saw, Saw 2, War of the Worlds, Sin City, Hostel

So what does this all mean? What do the movies have to do with the country? A lot of us feel helpless. We don’t like the world we have to live in, but what can we do about it? “One person can’t make a difference.” Some of us feel like it isn’t our place. Some of us just don’t feel anything. “This is just the way it is, right?” Or even, “What gives you the right to go around changing things?” These are all feelings that lead to the popularity of the movies above. If we feel helpless, we need to see a hero. Those of us who need guidance, need to see how to be a hero. However, those who have given up hope, don’t want a hero; they just want to survive. This is enough to worry me on a daily basis. However it is in our own community that the strongest opposition to the act of activism and action itself has been voiced.

“We are supposed to be accepting.”

“We are supposed to be relaxed.”

“We are supposed to let everything roll off of us like water off the leaves.”

Or the dreaded “I’m too busy with my own life.”

But are we not supposed to be passionate? Are we not supposed to be the stewards of the earth? Are we not intended to help each other grow and learn? Is the message of movies like in category one not incredibly similar to our own goals as Pagans? I know it sounds cliché but look at the famous quote from Spider Man: “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Must we not take responsibility to do what we can?

At this time I am reminded of quite a few other quotes that arise in my mind from various sources, ranging from film, books, music and even personal experiences. I am reminded of the reason I began this path as an activist and a Pagan in the first place.

"The greatest evil of all is the indifference of good men."

"You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything."

"The real crime, the true evil, lies not in the diabolical plans of a so-called mad man, but in the indifference shown by the local communities and the world around them."

"Concealing a truth is the same as actively telling a lie."

"Inaction is equated to deceitful action."

"Indifference is as bad as active participation in the crime because indifference is PASSIVE participation."

"To compromise what is right, is to take wrongdoing onto your shoulders."

"Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand."

“If you don’t have the fortitude or the will to do something about the problem, then you forgo the right to complain about the results.”

And at last my favorite three:

“If you aren’t trying to make the world better, then you’re an active participant in making it worse”

"What chance does Gotham have when the good people do nothing?"

“An it harm ye none, do what thou wilt.”

I am a fan of heroes. I have always been inspired by individuals who were willing to stand up for something. It didn’t matter if I agreed with the cause or not; I believe that the strength to do what is needed is fading from the world, and now more than ever, we are in need of heroes. Unfortunately it seems that the truth is that most people are just too content in their lives to try to change anything. They have no desire to exert any effort to make things better because they are simply ok with the way they are. They are able to watch the news and ignore it all, to be happy with just not being caught up in it. But for those of us that are Pagan, I find this course to be a double-edged sword. Being an animal lover, we may become a vegetarian. We, being pacifist and tolerant, may find the thought of war abhorrent. We may say that politics and government are corrupt and controlling. We may think to ourselves what a shame it is about others starving across the world. We may even think to ourselves how awful it is that others or even our own are being persecuted or even attacked. But by doing nothing, are we really harming none? Could more of us not speak out, petition or even vote? Where is karma when we do nothing to help?

I believe it is doing the exact same thing for us.

Strength and peace be in the hearts of all who read this.

Deshtrai’

Copyright: some of the quotes above are from songs and movies, however as I memorize lines easily but not names i do not know where some of them are from.

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