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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 13843
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
8/29/2005
10:07:27 am EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 6,954
RSS: 25,230
Comments: 10
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Pagan Pride Day Dispels Myths
Author: Lee Williams Source: The News Journal (DE)
Title: PAGAN PRIDE DAY DISPELS MYTHS
Donna Jackson has divined the metaphysical spectrum for 35 years, for more than 10,000 people, in person, over the phone or via the Internet.
Jackson gave tarot readings Sunday on Dover's Legislative Mall, during the fourth annual Pagan Pride Day. The event, which is growing larger every year, honors beliefs about spirituality and provides an opportunity for community.
Pagan Pride Day is a national organization with events in most major cities. Dover was chosen because of its central location, said Helen Haughey, founder and organizer of the event.
Paganism, she said, is broadly defined as any nature-based polytheistic spirituality, including: Wicca, Druid beliefs, Buddhism, gnostic Christianity, shamanism, many American Indian beliefs and more.
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Community Thoughts: There are 10 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| From Diana- A Coordinator And Sponsor | Aug 31st. at 1:46:23 am EDT
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Bell, Book, & Candle (Dover, Delaware) - Email Me - Web
First I would like to say the Dover PPD was an amazing and glorious day. We had twice the number of attendees as last year (probably 1000) making ours one of, if not THE largest PPD on th east coast. Everyone was well behaved and the atmosphere was excellent. We hold the event in a huge, city block long square, lined with ancient old oaks and the center a grassy field. It was laid out by William Penn, and he did a lovely job.
The moment - and I reiterate- moment of christians passing out pamphlets was hardly worth a mention as it did not impast the day and, in fact, I think they learned a little about Paganism.
The classes were amazing, the volunteer staff was incredible, performers and musicians were awesome, and everyone had a great day.
We anticipate even more next year. Dover has welcomed us and the city is very supportive --Helping us at every turn. An interesting historical note - Dover never had one single witch trial in the times when all other New World Colonies were persecuting "witches" wholesale. Dover in it's almost 400 year history, seems to be a oasis of tolerance. It is why I live here.
Blessed be and see you next year!!!
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| I Think The Word You're Looking For..... | Aug 30th. at 2:19:00 pm EDT
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Rev. Heidi Andrews (Salisbury, Maryland) - Email Me - Web
is annoying, lol. Because, yes, they were that.
My fear with the taunting is that it will only snowball. We taunt them, they taunt us, more of us taunt them, then they bring out the whole church congregation. Then you have religious battle royal and then NOBODY can hold an event. But like I said, I give kudos to Diane for keeping it cool and under control.
My organization is trying to plan a similar event in the opposite half of the year (closer to Beltane) down in Salisbury, MD. We've talked to Diane, and she thinks it's a great idea. Unfortunately, the location we are looking at is just around the corner from some evangelistical type churches, so I forsee us having to deal with similar circumstances. I hope we are as able to keep things cool as Diane was. ^_^
Rev. Heidi Andrews
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| If I Was There. | Aug 30th. at 6:27:00 am EDT
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Roy Linford Adams (Buxton, Maine) - Email Me
Luckily at Paganstock last June, the only Xtian trying to crash the party was my guitarist's girlfriend (we kicked both of them out of the band on the way home) . Had someone came up to me with handouts like that, I would have immediatly got ahold of the nice security guards petroling and had the person removed.
I like to fantasize about tracking these people down to what church they go to and bust in during their sunday service with handouts quoting what parts of the bible tell you things like to kill your kids and the part about cutting women's breast off. And top it off with an essay I've been meaning to write on why jesus never existed.
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| A Slightly Different Take.... | Aug 29th. at 10:48:15 pm EDT
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Rev. Heidi Andrews (Salisbury, Maryland) - Email Me - Web
I was also at Dover's PPD, but I have to disagree slighly with a previous comment.
I wouldn't call the tract-toters "zealous". Fundies, probably, zealous, nuh-uh. Of course, maybe I have a different take on things. I see the zealous type as those stand there and howl and preach at you, and that I didn't see. Yes, they approached many and tried to get them to take their literature, but all it took was a simple "No thanks" and they were on their way. I know, I said "No" a couple time to different ones.
One of my fellow Board of Directors for my church gave them a pamphlet we wrote to teach them what Paganism is really about, and she did take it and read it with him standing there. She did try to show it to one of her fellows, but unfortunately they declined.
These people were only there because a family member of theirs is a Pagan. He was there. I spoke with him. He was very distraught and blamed himself for their appearance. Several of us, including Diane, I believe, reassured him that it wasn't his fault, and that he shouldn't blame himself. It could have been worse, but I don't think it was all that bad.
Unfotunately, I saw more of the Pagans diliberately taunting the Xians and seemingly trying to start a fight. I heard one person yelling "You're not welcome here!" to the backs of a couple of the Xians. I have read all the info on the PPP website. To quote them "This event MUST be media friendly and designed to provide positive public relations for the Pagan community as a whole. Local Coordinators must be out of the broom closet, and prepared to do outreach and interaction with the non-Pagan community." PPP expressly states that ALL are welcome.
Now, I'm not defending what they did or looking to start a fight, but hollering at the Xians that they aren't welcome doesn't strike me as providing positive public relations. Diane saw the potential issues and took the proper steps to resolve them. Picking a fight could have ultimately resulted in the city of Dover deciding not to grant her a permit to hold the event next year, or PPP itself taking it away from her. I'm pretty sure we don't want to see THAT happen.
Rev. Heidi Andrews
Find More info -- HERE
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| At Least Something Was Dispersed- If Not Dispelled | Aug 29th. at 4:02:58 pm EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
While I am happy the day went over fairly well, I am sorry that the mannerless xtians tried to crash the party to reinforce what everyone had been trying to dispell. You can bet they would have raised a stink if a group of Pagans did the same thing at one of their little gatherings.
I do agree with one other comment. The fight is a political one rather than merely on of supposed "faith".
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