| 
|
Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
| Total Views: 4,937,770
|
Article: 21311
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
10/27/2009
5:56:11 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 8,063
RSS: 20,056
Comments: 9
|
New York's Pagan GOP Candidate Examined
Author: Steven Thrasher (blog) Source: The Village Voice (NY)
Title: GRAND OL' PAGAN
Conservative. Republican. Pagan?
It was an odd news story that briefly upended what should have been a sleepy City Council race in Bayside: the Queens Tribune reported that a conservative Republican was running a strong race in the 19th district and had a chance to win in the overwhelmingly Democratic city. But this was a conservative Republican with a difference: Dan Halloran is the spiritual leader of a local pagan group that worships Norse gods.
Although the Tribune's story had no hint of derision for Halloran's religious affiliation, the newspaper was immediately attacked for its perceived ties to Halloran's Democratic opponent. Other publications were quick to defend the Republican lawyer, some sounding offended that a candidate's religion, however unusual, should become a news story during an election.
But Halloran's beliefs are newsworthy. As far as we can tell, he has a chance to become the first pagan elected to political office in the country's history. (He is certainly the first major party candidate approaching an election with his pagan beliefs already made public.) And while pagans have been growing in numbers for decades, the word "pagan" usually conjures nature-worshippers with interests in faeries and magick. What is a conservative Republican doing with the goddess crowd?
| Options: [Read Full Story] [Comments Locked]
[Email to a Friend]
|
|
Community Thoughts: There are 9 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Clearing Up A Few Things | Oct 29th. at 5:08:26 am EDT
|
Chicago Heathen (Chicago, Illinois) - Email Me
Theodists do, usually, believe in a sacral king. Howevewhat needs to be understood is that the Anglo-Saxon heathen concept of kingship is not the same as our modern concept. It was a position of honor, and the king was the person people followed. However, it was not necessarily hereditary, and, in times of "bad luck", it was the king who would be held responsible. He could be removed from kingship, or even killed. I am not certain what the removal process would be in Theodism. However, groups can always break away, with the king's approval or not, and so the king is dependent on the good will of his followers. The kingship is a religious thing, and a sub-cultural thing, but it does not mean that Theodists do not believe in democracy. They just don't believe in it, necessarily, as part of their religion.
|
| My Only Real Issue | Oct 28th. at 5:23:06 pm EDT
|
Eran Rathan (Old Town, Maine) - Email Me
is that he is Theodish, i.e. believes in 'sacred kingship'. I have a bit too much hope in the idea of the Republic to agree with that.
"Democracy is based on the assumption that a million men are wiser than one man. How's that again? I missed something."
"Autocracy is based on the assumption that one man is wiser than a million men. Let's play that over again, too. Who decides?"
-Robert Heinlien
|
| Of Course It Matters | Oct 28th. at 1:21:22 pm EDT
|
Finn (San Marcos, Texas) - Email Me
The religious beliefs of a candidate always matter. When Pat Robertson ran for president, I recall his extreme religious views, i.e. his religion being endless grist for the mill here and elsewhere. The religion one chooses to profess and endorse bears on the attitudes and beliefs of th candidate. To say otherwise is naive or hypocritcal.
It is also newsworthy in that a candidate is a pagan and that said candidate is a Republican. Of course the media (and the man's opponents) are going to make sure the public knows all about it. That is how our society works. What people choose to do with the information is their own affair.
|
| This Is Outragous! | Oct 28th. at 1:10:29 pm EDT
|
Angel Fire (Claremore, Oklahoma) - Email Me
I think this is outragous!
First of all, religion and politics do not mix, and there is no reason for people to discriminate against him for his religious beliefs.
Then there is this association with Odinism and Neo-nazi skinheads. They don't mix either because, like ohter pagan beliefs, they took an oath to do no harm. The candidate, Hallorin, has assured the public this, yet the article are making too big of a deal of this.
|
| Dualism | Oct 28th. at 10:26:28 am EDT
|
karrie9 (Kenosha, Wisconsin) - Email Me - Web
Left Wing Pagans = "nature-worshippers with interests in faeries and magick"
Right Wing Pagans = heavy spurious association with uber religious racism, things Hitler
That's pretty much what Steven Thrasher of the Village Voice just did, but then...The Village Voice is no longer a leading voice in avant-garde intellectualism quickened with diverse opinions and keen observations. (E Pluribus Unum!)
This blaring dualism dulls the intellect and journalistic integrity.
Sigh.
Is this one of (one of!) the major reasons the turn over rate at The Village Voice has been so high?
|
| Good Candidate, Not The Best Article | Oct 28th. at 8:36:51 am EDT
|
Laura C. (Weston, Florida) - Email Me
I appreciate the article's reminder that racism occurs in nearly every religion and that most practitioners of Asatru have nothing to do with neo-Nazi skinheads.
I appreciate their unbiased discussion of Halloran's religious beliefs, and a reminder that Pagans and Heathens are, in fact, ordinary people.
But I don't much care for the article's derogatory tone toward Wiccans. Maybe it's because I am a Wiccan who was introduced to Paganism by an Asatruar, but I just don't see any reason for the two religions to smear each other.
|
| I'M A DEMOCRAT.... | Oct 28th. at 5:15:16 am EDT
|
Whitewolf (Schenectady, New York) - Email Me
Even though I live here in upstate NY, I'D vote for him! I think it's LONG past time that the Pagan Community was represented in politics. Bright Blessings to him and I hope he wins!
Love to all
|
| I'm Libertarian | Oct 27th. at 11:14:22 pm EDT
|
Roy Linford Adams (Buxton, Maine) - Email Me
I'd vote for him.
The only way I ever thought this would happen is if one pretended to be a christian. But I do find it disturbing that the right-wing has in the past attacked paganism with no remorse and yet here they are defending one against anyone who questions it or talks about it in the lightest sway. I bet it's because he may get them a political seat.
My band mate, Dave, has a Thor's hammer tattooed on his arm. Not too many things get him madder than asking if he's a white supremist because of it.
|
| I'd Like To See Him Win | Oct 27th. at 9:18:37 pm EDT
|
Medea (Somewhere, Massachusetts) - Email Me
I know something of the Asatruar, and I think that he might be an honourable, ethical candidate.
It'd be interesting to see what will happen if he does win.
I have a high degree of respect and reverence for the Norse Gods. Racism sucks, and the bad press given to a small percentage of white supremicists who practice of Heathenism gives a lot of people the willies, but if anyone does there research, they'll discover that there are more non 'folkish' heathnii than "folkish" groups.
|
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.
| |
