| 
|
Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
| Total Views: 4,938,091
|
Article: 14844
[Civil]
Date Posted:
1/29/2006
7:26:07 pm EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 6,136
RSS: 17,299
Comments: 12
|
Store Discriminates, Class Leaders Testify
Author: James Merriweather Source: The News Journal (DE)
Title: STORE DISCRIMINATES, CLASS LEADERS TESTIFY
It may not have the impact of a tussle over displaying the Ten Commandments in a courthouse, or teaching evolution in public schools.
But the five people behind a table in a small Kent County conference room last week say they also are the victims of religious discrimination and want the state Human Rights Commission to set things right.
Two are Christians, two are self-described Wiccans and the fifth is a pagan. They contend that the Boscov's department store bowed to pressure from church leaders and illegally dropped classes they planned to teach at the store's Campus of Courses event last fall.
They claim they were told by Sybil Harvey, the local store's public relations manager, that the classes were canceled because the Rev. William Jeffcoat, pastor of Capitol Baptist Church in Dover, objected and threatened a boycott if they were not dropped.
Submitted by and Thanks to: Solitaire and Wendy
| Options: [Read Full Story] [Comments Locked]
[Email to a Friend]
|
|
Community Thoughts: There are 12 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Delaware Local... | Jan 30th. at 7:09:41 pm EST
|
Rev. Amy Blackthorn, HPS, DD, Ph.D (Newark, Delaware) - Email Me - Web
Being a Local, and having dealt with this paper before, I know I need to speak up. I sent a letter to the author admonishing his use of "Self-described" and got this back:
You -- and about five others who have written or called -- are right, of course. i used self-described just to point out that they call themselves wiccans, but, since hearing responses from you and others, i know
that i shouldn't have qualified the description as i did.
best regards, james merriweather
|
| Good Luck! | Jan 30th. at 1:53:09 pm EST
|
Embreis (Athens, Georgia) - Email Me
For Wiccans or Pagans to prevail under a state public accomodations law would be a rare thing; I don't know of a similar case.
Speaking as an old newsie, I can tell you that reporters use "self-described" to distance themselves from the self-describers for two reasons: either they consider the description opprobrious and are making it clear that they, the reporter aren't making the harsh judgment it implies, or because they think that the person is making an absurd claim and the reporter wants to make it clear that he doesn't believe it. I think reporters -- and most people who get their information from television and movies, which almost inevitably portray witches as having in-born "powers" -- assume that people who say they are witches or Wiccans are claiming to have magical "powers" and the reporter wants to signal the readers that he doesn't believe in those magical powers.
|
| New Link... | Jan 30th. at 10:44:08 am EST
|
Wendy Hawksley (Osan AB, Delaware) - Email Me
[Web LINK]
For some reason, the article has been moved (perhaps due to so many hits) . Above is a new link to the same article.
Blessings,
Wendy
|
| We Need Your Support! | Jan 30th. at 9:25:35 am EST
|
Wendy Hawksley (Osan AB, Delaware) - Email Me
PLEASE, if you can make it to the hearing on February 13th, we NEED your support!!!
Pastor Jeffcoat is filling the seats with his congregation; we need to fill the seats with people who believe in freedom FROM the Christian religion!!!
Blessings,
Wendy Hawksley
(one of the teachers)
|
| Good Point | Jan 30th. at 4:06:03 am EST
|
Solitaire (San Luis Obispo, California) - Email Me
Yes, I also noticed the 'self-described' label attached in the article. In other articles, I've also seen 'so-called' and 'who calls him/herself a' used as well. Fortunately, I've started to see a trend of more openminded news articles where they simply use the word 'witch' or 'pagan'.
|
| "Self-described"? | Jan 30th. at 3:34:26 am EST
|
Holly DarkMoon (Clare, Iowa) - Email Me
I take exception to the constant reference by the media, to any Wiccan or Witch, as "self-described". That offended me almost as much as the idiots in the story. They need to know they are being offensive by using that phrase.
We should insist that NO one who is writing a story about people that include Wiccans, Witches, or Pagans, identify them as "self-described", unless they label the Christians in the story also as "self-described"!...It would seem to be more descriptive and correct to designate THEM that way!...at least as shown by their actions.
Let's see... how could we do this...
"self-described' Christian.
...Just wanted to see it in print....
|
| As My Old Math Teacher Used To Say..... | Jan 29th. at 9:56:50 pm EST
|
Winddragon (anderson, South Carolina) - Email Me
GO BUST HIM IN THE MOUTH! Probably not the best way to do things. Head Cleric, Rev. William Jeffcoat of the Capitol Baptist Church Terrorist's Asylum, should be reported to Homeland security. Then organize a Sunday morning Pagan demonstration at his church along with PETA fired up over the church's mistreatment of elephants in the baptismal pool. The church is also filtering money undetected due to not having to pay taxes. GO GET'EM!
|
| Too Similar? | Jan 29th. at 8:06:11 pm EST
|
Cloudspeaker (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan) - Email Me
In the article - the store claims that the reason for dropping the classes was due to similarity of curricula/subject...
Ummm - Tarot, Meditation, candle magick, creative talismans and herbology - seem different to me - no?
It's similar to saying that Latin, Yoga, Candle-making, cross-stitch and tea-making are too similar...
Pretty poor excuse - je ponce...
Blessings;
Cloudspeaker
|
Disclaimer: The Witches' Voice inc does not verify the accuracy of the details stated in this listing, nor do we vouch for the value of the goods or services presented here... As with all contacts and financial dealings in cyberspace, we encourage you to use caution and wisdom in your dealings with strangers.
Political Statements: 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 non-profit, non-partisan educational organization.
|
State/Country flags created by 3dflags.com and are used with permission
Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2009 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.
| |
