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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 21196
[Politics]
Date Posted:
9/27/2009
3:52:30 pm EDT
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Views: 3,178
RSS: 19,978
Comments: 16
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Pagan Rites For Queens GOP Council Candidate
Author: Tom Robbins (blog) Source: Village Voice
Title: PAGAN RITES FOR QUEENS GOP COUNCIL CANDIDATE
Forget the mayoral, comptroller and public advocate races. The best political show in town is taking place in Bayside, Queens where leaders are wrestling with the question of whether a strong Republican city council nominee should be forced from his race -- just because he's a card-carrying pagan.
The candidate in question is GOP council nominee Dan Halloran who was revealed in a September 17 story in the Queens Tribune to be a member of a religious organization that is, well - heathen.
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Community Thoughts: There are 16 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Time To Be REALISTIC | Sep 30th. at 10:08:02 pm EDT
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nasionnaich (Stanchfield, Minnesota) - Email Me
So the article does not portray the man as "the best ever", or even "a great guy". Call the cops. So the article does not go out of its way to completely debunk previous articles. Again -- call the cops.
But the cops, when they are called to investigate the allegations of libel, will laugh.
"Libel" is the act of publishing anything that is "defamatory or that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents", most often done deliberately. Far as I am aware, "The Village Voice" just follows along with what more reputable news organizations print, and in this case they simply ran an article that happens to share similarities with the original article in the "Queens Tribune". There is no actual evidence of libel in the "Village Voice" article.
The article does seem to have one difference, though: it shows how shallow politics has become -- a "us or them" proposition, where "us" is "the good guys" and "them" is "the scum of the earth". The "choice" offered never allows for any middle ground whatsoever. Those who push that "us or them" so-called "choice" do not seem to want anyone to know the real story, that there are many more options than just the "us or them" two-party "choice". (and both "us" and 'them" always gang up on "those others" - effectively removing 'those others" from any real consideration....)
Unfortunately, even this article falls a bit short of actually condemning the standard "us or them" two-party political "system".
So go after the "Queens Tribune". THEY ran the first story, the one that was slanted in such a way as to make the guy look like a complete wacko. All the "Village Voice" is really guilty of is not investigating the allegations raised by the "Tribune".
By the way, if y'all want to have a news rag that prints or airs only the truth -- 100% unvarnished, unaltered truth -- start your own "paper". Just be sure to investigate every single story before it is published, 'cause if even one tiny detail is found to be wrong you just might be brought up on charges of libel.
--nasionnaich
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| Rights & Parties | Sep 30th. at 11:40:03 am EDT
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Finn (San Marcos, Texas) - Email Me
Membership in a "Party" is a double edged sword. You get the money and the backing but you are expected to toe the party line. I agree that he has every right to run and doesn't have to back down. Of course, the Party is unlikely to back him and they have every right within a certain context to remove their support. My personal view is the man should probably give some thought to reconsidering his party affiliation.
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| He Has Every Right To Run Regardless | Sep 30th. at 11:06:16 am EDT
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Angel Fire (Claremore, Oklahoma) - Email Me
This candidate has every right to run against the democratic candidate regardless of his religious affiliation. Religion and politics do not mix, and it is wrong to side-swipe this candidate for his religious preferences.
In our country we have the right to worship the gods and goddesses as we choose. NO ONE has the right to tell you different.
The politician should stand his ground like he has been doing so far. Way to go for this politician!
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| Religionism Is Divisive In Politics | Sep 30th. at 7:27:11 am EDT
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karrie9 (Kenosha, Wisconsin) - Email Me - Web
United we stand, divided we fall. E Pluribus Unum.
Americans must **differentiate** between majority vote/presence and tyranny of the majority.
Compare the if-then statements:
If candidate and issue-based votes
Then majority vote is correct
If faith-based votes
Then majority vote tumbles into the territories of tyranny of the majority, creedism, theocracy, heterosexualism, and other problems.
In the U.S., when defining a strong candidate, it's wise to define a strong United States government. [Web LINK]
Theocracy, even crypto-theocracy, ensures that factions/denominations fight each other for dominance-- whole political spectrums may move further right, deominations try to define (own) ____ (fill in with dominant monotheism) values for the rest, and political corruption committed in the name of faith-based moral and political superiority (domination) go increasingly unchecked.
United we stand, divided we fall. E Pluribus Unum. A de facto crytpo-theocracy doesn't make for a strong democratic republic and it's nothing goo with which to toy.
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| Pagans For Now Make Weak Candidates | Sep 30th. at 2:22:43 am EDT
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Shadow Dragon (nashville, Tennessee) - Email Me
He should had told them he was pagan first thing. They want to win. They need to pick the candidate that will get the most votes from the xians. It’s not bigotry, it’s strategy. The voters are the bigots and they got a right. Pagans for now make weak candidates. Though you still have the celebrity effect. Look at arnold schwarzenegger.
But he still is part of the team. They’re still using him. He’s arguing. They’re talking it over. They may keep him. Or he may drop out. They’re working as a team and they want to win. He should have told the truth sooner. And don’t believe the newspapers. They never get the story right.
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| My Queens Does Not Have A King | Sep 28th. at 1:06:04 pm EDT
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Randgríðr (Glen Cove, New York) - Email Me
Religion should NOT matter in politics... the problem I have with Theodism - again - is that via the practice of sacral kingship, politics are fundamentally incorporated into the religion. On a religious level, no Theodsman believes in the separation of church and state. I would have a problem with that.
It should also go without saying (although thanks to the various loudmouthed knuckle-dragging white supremacist neanderthals who infest the Asatru community at large, it still needs to be said) that the volatile mixture of right wing politics and the Gods of Scandinavia bears vigilant watching for other reasons.
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| It Looks Bad | Sep 28th. at 11:26:31 am EDT
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Panthea Ge (T-Town, Michigan) - Email Me
except for the fact that this situation has put Pagans in the news in a political sense. It was great to read that he was a favorite until this flap started.
Maybe eyes will be opened to the idea that sometimes little stuff doesn't make a difference, and that being qualified is more important than being a clone.
Those epiphanies don't happen until situations like this arise. Here's hoping.
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| ... | Sep 28th. at 6:32:53 am EDT
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Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web
The Village Voice, when it's not running its frequent "gay in NYC" articles, often libels people for being different...unless you're an ethnic minority or gay. It's libel insofar that, unlike my frequent so-called "xian-bashing" where I provide CONCRETE FACTS to back up what I say (in spite of what some fluffbunny internet tough guy playgans "think") , they just go "BAD! NASTY! NAUGHTY! EVIL!" without posting the "WHY" of it. If I wanted to read libel like that, I'd buy either the NY Post or the NY Daily News.
Why is Hallorhan's religion even an issue? Is he capable of doing his job or would it get in the way the way Chimpy McFlightsuit's did? At least Barack Obama al-Honolulu has the sense to continuously deny he's a Mohametan.
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| It's Really Too Bad... | Sep 28th. at 3:32:12 am EDT
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Emrys (Sacramento, California) - Email Me
That Pagans of a conservative lean can't find a party sometimes. The NeoCon Christian fundies control the GOP, and right now, the Democratic party is just way too liberal, at least for my tastes. I feel bad for the guy, it's a kind of crappy in-between place to be in, and I hope it works out for him.
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| Much To-Do Over...What? | Sep 28th. at 12:34:06 am EDT
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nasionnaich (Stanchfield, Minnesota) - Email Me
Ok, so the "Village Voice" runs a story on some Republican candidate for the Queens, NY, City Council -- and the candidate happens to be Pagan. So what?
Oh, the story doesn't make the guy out to be what some folks want.
Well, don't blame just the "Village Voice", spread your blame to the other rags that ran the first stories: the "Queens Tribune", for running a story seemingly tailor-made to make the guy look like a complete whack-job; "City Hall", a blog that ran another story relating how the guy is not likely to even be considered by the Queens Republican Machine (apparently because of the Trib's story) ; and Tom Robbins for seeming to make light with the guy's religious choice.
The Village Voice's only real "crime"? That caption under the guy's picture. Hey, y'all better call the cops.
--nasionnaich
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| Yikes.... | Sep 27th. at 10:54:59 pm EDT
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Randgríðr (Glen Cove, New York) - Email Me
The Voice's coverage of this is pathetically slanted. It's nice to see Isaac Bonewits ripping them a new one in the comments attached to the article.
That said, I also agree that the attempt to run as a Heathen Republican is very likely political suicide.
My final observation is a personal one... I don't like the whole "sacral kingship" thing in Theodism and this is why I never went that route although my own practice is more Germanic than Scandinavian and Dan's group is very active in our area. (My husband and I had a member of Normanii living in our guest room for a while.) It's nice that Dan says he doesn't want to mix his politics with his religion, but the straight up fact of it is that Theodism mixes religion and politics by it's very nature!
Even if Dan was running on a left wing ticket I don't think I could bring myself to vote for a guy who calls himself a Councilman by day and a King by night. There's entirely too much corporate feudal mindset in our government today as it is. Feudalism is an inherently flawed, obsolete and non-representative system of government which inevitably leads to totalitarianism, organized crime, violence and worker exploitation. As a member of the SCA I see people whose supposedly recreational emulation of this style of government is taken far too seriously as it is. A person who incorporates it into their religious belief system? I wouldn't want to let that person near my democracy with a ten foot jousting pole.
I like Dan. Despite our political differences he's good people, and there's nothing wrong with his sense of gemutlicheit (sacred hospitality) or the seriousness with which he follows our Gods; but I simply could not vote for him based on these issues.
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| This Is So Unfair.. | Sep 27th. at 8:00:34 pm EDT
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Medea (Somewhere, Massachusetts) - Email Me
I really hate the caption ridiculing him beneath his photo.
I'd clean up after my dog with the Village Voice...that's about all it's good for.
I have a lot of respect for the Norse goddesses and Gods, and I wish they'd give this guy a chance, but it's not looking too good right now, is it. : (
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| I Hope This Is Overblown | Sep 27th. at 7:04:32 pm EDT
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Ahr-Ohn (Bridgeport, Connecticut) - Email Me
"In America, where Catholics have no special status, under the Law, they've been remarkably good neighbors." Payne
I don't know why any Republican Ops are going to press, before they've a strategy worked out, but this seems to be a furror over Lodge Membership.
Is there some reason to believe that he's the king, or other noble, of a foreign sovereignty, as with the Government of Malta in Exile? I don't know whether this would effect his elligibility for membership in any Christian Congregation.
Given how many of our politicians believe in Politics, it's nice we've a start of Diversity.
Arawn Graalrd
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| ... | Sep 27th. at 6:18:18 pm EDT
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Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web
So much for the Village Voice's illusion of a "liberal" rag. They won't capitalize "Pagan," either...then again, their editors aren't the best in the business.
I only picked it up a few years ago to read Maakies, but that's no longer in there.
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