| 
|
Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
| Total Views: 4,940,924
|
Article: 13570
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
7/29/2005
6:54:05 am EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 8,773
RSS: 20,794
Comments: 27
|
Neighbor Objects To Mountain Moon Pagan Festival
Author: Lorna Thackeray Source: The Billings Gazette (MT)
Title: NEIGHBOR OBJECTS TO MOUNTAIN MOON FEST
There's not much Gail Beauchamp can do about a circle of Montana pagans who rented a nearby church camp for a summer festival next month, but the Red Lodge woman says Bible-believing Christians won't let it pass unnoticed.
"I believe in the right to freedom of religion,'' she said. "But I also believe in my right to protest.''
Beauchamp, who has Bible verses at her fingertips and considers spreading Christianity a moral responsibility, said she and other like-minded people will try to organize pickets at the entrance to the Westminster Spires Camp during the Mountain Moon Circle festival Aug. 11-14.
Nytewind, a retired schoolteacher living in Billings and priestess of the Circle, said she doesn't understand the animosity and fear that people harbor for what she describes as a "very beautiful, very positive religion.''
| Options: [Read Full Story] [Comments Locked]
[Email to a Friend]
|
|
Community Thoughts: There are 27 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Actually, | Jul 31st. at 1:44:36 pm EDT
|
Mango (Mason, Michigan) - Email Me
if we had any camps in the first place, it would be rather hypocritical of us to deny the xtians the right to use it, as long as they repected the premesis and didn't decide "ok, we're here, it's theirs, let's trash it!" I wouldn't protest it at all. If they so much as left a gum wrapper though, I'd protest till my arms fell off. If you're going to use our mother's space, clean it up afterwards. But that goes for everything, if you borrow it, leave it at least as good as it was when you started. I could understand if they were protesting because they thought the Mooners (lol...sorry...) would trash the camp, but one would hope, anyway, that the earth worshippers would be the most likely to clean up after themselves, maybe even clean it up a bit more.
|
| Now Wait A MInute... | Jul 30th. at 8:53:10 pm EDT
|
Martha Karnes (Bradford, Pennsylvania) - Email Me
It seems to me that Nytewind probably knew this was a camp used by the xtians. I mean that could have been presumed when she had to make arrangements with the Presbytery for use of the land. What if a xtian group used one of our camps for a revival meeting? Especially if their application had been nonspecific? You can't tell me that we pagans wouldn't be parading signs at the gates. I would be the first in line.
I would rather have seen that Nytewind's application had been denied right at the outset because she had been honest regarding the purpose of the gathering. Then, she could have proceeded based on the rights of the group. Here, though, I believe she purposely underrepresented her intentions when requesting use of the land. Then she waited for the Presbytery to "discover" her plans. It could appear she was doing this just to rub the xtians noses in the fact there was a pagan gathering on "their" land. Yes, this is the kind of stuff the xtians did to us... so that makes it right that we do it back to them? I think not. Dishonesty is dishonesty no matter which religion's name is on it. We should know better.
|
| Hypocrisy Abounds. | Jul 29th. at 6:55:03 pm EDT
|
bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
She believes in the right to freedom of religion? Yeah, right. only her own! She conveniently forgets that those who worship in their own way believe in that too.
Frankly, I'd love to see what happens one day if her church got picketed for questionable practices. The more I see of these people, the more evil I believe their brand of xtianity to be. The more I'm glad I'm Pagan.
|
| I'll Just Bet | Jul 29th. at 3:56:54 pm EDT
|
OneWitch (Calgary, Alberta) - Email Me
It won't be so easy to book the camp for the festival next year.
I think it is probable that the camp administrators will now be asking people who wan to book it, just exactly what they intend to do there. If it doesn't meet with their personal approval, the answer will be "sorry it's booked". They may even have a shill or two in place.
|
| A Bunch Of Holy Crap | Jul 29th. at 2:38:25 pm EDT
|
Lady Dragonfly (Riverton, Wyoming) - Email Me
Out of one side of her mouth, this woman claims to be tolerant of others beliefs. Yet, out of the other side, she says that we need to be educated ( or is it converted?) to the ways of Christianity. If I had the time to attend this festival, I would most definitely be there as it isn't that far from where I live.
|
| Baaaaaaaaaa...... | Jul 29th. at 2:10:58 pm EDT
|
Rev. Heidi Andrews (Salisbury, Maryland) - Email Me - Web
"What I resent most about Beauchamp's comments and others of her ilk is the implication that we are deaf, dumb and blind, if not just plain ignorant."
Well....we're supposed to be sheep, don't you know? Just like them. We're supposed to blindly follow where we are led. Oh yeah, God gave us free will....but it was the *free* will to follow *his* word.
Gads.
I live near and ocean resort, and occaisionally these Bible-thumpers get out on the boardwalk and one dumb idiot drags around this 20ft. wooden cross grunting and groaning while his buddies try to force tracts into the hands of unwitting vacationers.
Last time they tried to give me one, I shook them off, and they tried to force my son to take it. (He was about 3 or 4 at the time) I LOST it! I mean, annoying the crap out of me is one thing...but trying to weasle your stuff into my home by pawning it off on my toddler....You've crossed the line!
Now I print out pagan educational material whenever we go and if they try to give me stuff, I do just the same.
|
| Beautiful | Jul 29th. at 12:25:26 pm EDT
|
R. Cicero (Seattle, Washington) - Email Me
Nothing so satisfying as seeing the feds trump bass ackwards church people--that is, when they're not busy killing foreign nationals. The Mountain Mooners may be asking for trouble--there is no doubt they pulled a fast one. But the law is for all, is it not? And they have Isaac on their side--what a great biblical name! He may be a hardcore kitty-petter but get his dander up and war is on. I'd pay good money to see Bonewits square off with that church lady.
|
| Two Things... | Jul 29th. at 12:25:15 pm EDT
|
Gary Penzler (Burlington, Ontario) - Email Me
1) Protest is one thing, picket line is another. If they plan on making a picket line in the sense of blocking the Pagans' access to the site, then they may be committing a crime. That is not within their rights.
2) Maybe the Pagans will show up with a huge pile of papers of *our* educational materials. It will be offered to them, they'll maybe want to burn it. They might be dumb enough to dump in all in the middle of the driveway and set it alight. Then they'd be up on fire code and public endangerment charges, too.
If you're going and taking materials... take LOTS.
~Gary
|
| 3 Cheers For The Forest Service! | Jul 29th. at 11:56:24 am EDT
|
Sea Raven (New Haven, Connecticut) - Email Me
Good on them for forcing the non-discrimination issue!
Funny how the whole sub-letting thing works, huh?
As for this woman... she's well within her right to protest peacefully if she wants. I hope ALL her friends see her for the two-faced, back-biting shrew she really is!
C
|
| Hypocrite | Jul 29th. at 11:49:33 am EDT
|
William (Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia) - Email Me
"Our posters will be a plea to forsake these evil religions, '' she said. "I really feel these women are wasting their time.''
Yeees, she believes in freedom of religion alrighty.
I think the pagans should have flyers to hand out to the protesters explaining the falsity of the bible and how they should all convert to paganism. How the stories of incestual behaviour, sacrifice, stonings, and general evil atrocities by their God are wrong, and they must change their ways and convert to a more life-affirming and positive religion.
Fight fire with fire I say.
Either that or just call the police and have them arrested for disrupting a religious service.
|
| An Oxymoron | Jul 29th. at 11:37:23 am EDT
|
Kelly (New Kensington, Florida) - Email Me
"I believe in the right to freedom of religion, '' she said. "But I also believe in my right to protest.''
I know she has the right to protest, but If she truly believed in the right to freedom of religion, than she would not want to infringe on that right by disrupting thier religious gathering.
Blessed Be,
~Kelly
|
| I Hope They've Got Good Security Planned. | Jul 29th. at 11:20:09 am EDT
|
Lora (Leominster, Massachusetts) - Email Me
The last "peaceful" protest I saw at a public ritual where the property lessees were hostile to the ritual was not so very peaceful at all. The property lessees did as much as they could to disrupt the ritual. The protestors yelled so loud many people couldn't hear what the HP and HPS were saying, and some walked around to nearby shops and coffeehouses attempting to intimidate the neighbors who supported us. Police protection, feh. The local PD probably would have showed up with marshmallows if we'd been burned at the stake, then told the local newspaper that everything was completely peaceful and that those fundies have a right to burn people at the stake because it's their First Amendment Freedom, dontchaknow. SO glad I don't live in the Midwest anymore!
|
| Overall - But | Jul 29th. at 9:48:48 am EDT
|
Dee Moonhawk (Florence, Mississippi) - Email Me
Overall, I found that article refreshingly positive in the way the Pagan group and its beliefs were reported.
BUT - "Beauchamp, who said she has been called intolerant and worse for her stand against the Mountain Moon Circle, said posters on the picket line will attempt to educate the pagans."
Educate us? Like if you can live in this country and have even LIMITED access to a television, radio, books or were born with EARS and EYES you haven't already 'heard the Word'!! Puh-leeze! Add to that the fact that most of us, if not all, came from a Christian upbringing.
What I resent most about Beauchamp's comments and others of her ilk is the implication that we are deaf, dumb and blind, if not just plain ignorant.
Sheesh!
|
| If It Were Me | Jul 29th. at 9:33:51 am EDT
|
Erihu (Sunset Beach, North Carolina) - Email Me
I have to admit, I'd get a bit onrey. I'd be carrying my own signs, complete with Scripture. You know, Judge Not..., Pray in secret..., What you do to the least of my Brethren...., and last but not least, Do Unto Others.... (not scripture, but still) .
But that's just me :)
I, too, hope that the protests remain peaceful. And that everyone at the festival has a wonderful Spiritual experience. Who knows, maybe by not being onrey, they'll educated a few of those protesting by example.
|
| Peace And Quiet | Jul 29th. at 9:14:52 am EDT
|
MoonBear GreenOak (Colorado Springs, Colorado) - Email Me - Web
I guess I don't have a problem with the protest as its within their rights, but I better not read an article next week how the pagans get arrested for doing the same thing outside this lady's church.
As long as they're respectful and only quote scripture and wave a few signs, I'm ok, but I really dislike being told that I'm going to hell. That just really irks me!
Also, the protestors had better pack up once everyone has gone through the camp entrance and not try to be be disruptive to the ritual itself!
|
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.
| |
