“We've got trouble my friends…”
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C65989237/E488578252
An excuse to embrace victimhood, or a reason to seize our own power?
In my mainstream blog Pagan•Vigil, I talked here and here about the Wicca divorce decree.
When it comes to religious rights issues, I agree with Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance (religioustolerance.org), rights and freedoms are not limited to a single faith. I believe that this is a civil rights issue, not something exclusive to Wicca or Paganism.
That hasn't stopped certain people from banging the drum to proclaim that the Great Christian Crusade is upon us and all non-approved faiths are about to be ruthlessly crushed.
To which I say one word.
Codswallop.
I won't dignify their claims by identifying who said which when and how. If you follow the pagan sites, it's fairly easy to find out for yourself.
But this whole thing sounds awfully familiar. Almost like it was out of a musical. And of course, the people making the claims of "Christian intolerance" won't profit from their claims. Well, not much. Hardly any more than they deserve.
You get the picture.
Pagans and Pagan groups will never be taken seriously if the only social power we can claim is because we are threatened and oh so very put upon. Stars above and Earth below, do you really think that your Gods want you to exist as a victim and only at the sufferance of others?
Take the power that is your Divine right, look the bullies straight in the eye, and proudly claim your humanity and Paganism in that order. You don't have rights because you are a Pagan and because you have to be protected. You have rights and privileges because you are HUMAN.
Anyone messing with your HUMAN rights threatens the rights of every other human. That and only that is the reason why those rights should be defended.
Again, not because you are Pagan. Not because you are a victim. Not because you are oppressed. But because someone tries to make you less human by denying your rights, the same rights they claim for themselves.
Yes, I think that what the judge did was uncalled for, and at the very least I think he should be removed from the bench. But to start claims of a "culture war" that may end up in a shooting war as desperate Pagans fight to save their faith, well, that goes beyond irresponsible. And it does nothing except guarantee the kind of conflict that certain noisemakers will profit by.
So do me a favor. If you see one of these people claiming that the "Christo-Republicans" are out to start the next Crusade, tell them "codswallop."
UPDATE 01Jun2005 - Okay, I wasn't going to say who this was, but the press release got picked up at Wren's Nest. So I may have started a flame war. Oh well, my point about rabble rousers still stands.
Posted: Mon - May 30, 2005 at 03:58 PM
