Today hasn’t been so bad so far. Ok, well I had a mini break down earlier, but I know that my moods don’t last long. So now I’m Okay-dokay..LOL. I’ve got to hurry and do this before said mood disappears and I’m ready to hang someone again.
I was reading:yet again:about how a Pagan should represent themselves and the community when they appear in the media. The conversation centered around the guy who was on “The Daily Show” in all kinds of crazy “witchy” (read: Halloween get-up) attire. He had pitch black hair, long black fingernails, bad eyeliner, and huge:.HUGE pentacles dangling from all over. Of course, he was dressed all in black, too, and looked like he hadn’t been out in daylight in probably 10 years. Forget the fact that this guy was on “The Daily Show” to begin with and somehow thought he was being taken seriously (HA HA HA HA HA). He wanted to represent his version of witchcraft and, therefore, paganism. Was he wrong for not toning down his look a little bit?
I think, no. Not in that particular venue. That show is too flippin’ funny to be taken seriously by anyone. On other, more serious shows? Hell yes. He looks like some kind of freak and I don’t want some guy like that coming to represent me to anyone. When I say “I’m Pagan” to anyone they look at me like “Huh? You don’t look like a Pagan.” Because they think Pagans are supposed to look like this guy on television. They can’t look “normal” like me. NOTE: I look normal, but we all know the truth *sigh* The sad fact is that Pagans are stereotyped to look like this guy. People in general America (the ones that live on College campuses and in Salem, Mass.) look at these images and see something that is bad and maybe should be stamped out. They don’t want their kids joining up with something like that. This is why a lot of witch/Pagan groups won’t allow underage folk into the mix. They’re afraid of the backlash from the misinformed parents. This is why Pagans in towns like mine must fight to hold onto their kids when they’ve come out of the broom closet. Public perception is Paganism=blood sacrifice=ritual sex=devil (Christian version)worship=dancing with dead bodies=BAD. And they look at guys like the one mentioned above to validate their misconceptions. They think our rituals are bad and our beliefs stupid. They don’t even take the time to find out for themselves. Note to those who live in more tolerant areas: don’t move here! And so we have to fight to be taken seriously. It’s never ending.
I think that these people who want to be in the spotlight should show some responsibility. I think they should remember that most people in this country take what they see on t.v. as fact for the whole demographic (sterotypes of blacks and latinos, for example). Most of the populous is not so well informed. They sit around with their little cronies, spread venom and lies and say “I told you, Vern. Look at that freak show on t.v.” I think that the whole “let so-and-so just be who he is and to hell with the rest of them” is a bunch of bullshit. If it’s too hell with the rest of them, then keep your happy ass off of t.v. and out of the newspaper. Get with the program. In my opinion these characters are out for personal attention. They don’t care about anyone else. And they’re the first ones to cry “I’m being persecuted for my religious beliefs!! How come they don’t like me?” I think that anyone who goes out of the way to shock the general population (and takes pride in that) should just accept whatever they get. But don’t put it on the rest of us, for crying out loud.
“But you’re supposed to be open-minded and respect people for their differences!”, you say. Sure, I’m open-minded. I favor gay marriage, I think all religions are valid, blah, blah, blah. That doesn’t mean that I’m going to take advantage of some show poking fun at my religion by letting the world see that I am that stereotype. I also am disgusted when a couple gets in front of the camera and makes out for the shock value. Anyway you look at it.
There was a time when I had my nose pierced. I did it because I liked the look. I wasn’t trying to shock anyone. I had a simple little stud. I eventually took it out because I had a job that involved working with the public. I also have a tatoo. It’s quite cute and it’s located on my belly. Certain people have never seen my tatoo, because I don’t think they would care much for it. I also made sure it was in a place where it could be easily hidden. I’m still expressing myself but also being respectful of those around me. Is this wrong? Nope. I show off my tatoo when I feel it’s appropriate. There’s no shock value there. I’m too flippin’ old to try to shock people with my beliefs and ideals. Also, they’re too busy wondering if I’m mentally stable because of other things:.LOL.
I think that there’s a time and place for everything. I know that’s a tired cliche’, but it’s very true. And I think that anyone who wants to express themselves should do that, but also respect the decency of the general public. If they want to be taken seriously, that is. If they don’t care about being taken seriously then I don’t want them representing me or my beliefs. I think this kind of person is clownish and doesn’t really deserve to be taken seriously.
Also, someone mentioned the unshaven-obese-Earth-hugging-hippie-mama. Ha! That’s not me either. That, I think, is the other end of the spectrum. The love-light-and-lollipops crowd is too damned funny in my book. They follow the Rede to extremes and don’t get real life. These, I think, are mostly young ones and will grow out of that phase. They’ll learn about life and their views will change. Or they’ll come across a cynical bitch like me and have one helluva arguement when they start spouting off. My Gods aren’t very nice when they’re pissed off, so maybe my Gods will beat theirs. I don’t think, though, they do as much damage to our religion as the other. There are plenty of mainstream kids that feel the same way they do, about a lot of stuff. They grow out of it eventually (I hope anyway).
I don’t know why I even care about all of this. I haven’t even come out of the broom closet in my town. I would probably get tar-and-feathered. They’d certainly try to take my kids away. But I don’t like for anyone to make my religion look bad. And that’s why. Perception, I think, shapes laws and some of us have to fight that law when it threatens our way of life.
Gotta love mood swings
Today hasn’t been so bad so far. Ok, well I had a mini break down earlier, but I know that my moods don’t last long. So now I’m Okay-dokay..LOL. I’ve got to hurry and do this before said mood disappears and I’m ready to hang someone again.
I was reading:yet again:about how a Pagan should represent themselves and the community when they appear in the media. The conversation centered around the guy who was on “The Daily Show” in all kinds of crazy “witchy” (read: Halloween get-up) attire. He had pitch black hair, long black fingernails, bad eyeliner, and huge:.HUGE pentacles dangling from all over. Of course, he was dressed all in black, too, and looked like he hadn’t been out in daylight in probably 10 years. Forget the fact that this guy was on “The Daily Show” to begin with and somehow thought he was being taken seriously (HA HA HA HA HA). He wanted to represent his version of witchcraft and, therefore, paganism. Was he wrong for not toning down his look a little bit?
I think, no. Not in that particular venue. That show is too flippin’ funny to be taken seriously by anyone. On other, more serious shows? Hell yes. He looks like some kind of freak and I don’t want some guy like that coming to represent me to anyone. When I say “I’m Pagan” to anyone they look at me like “Huh? You don’t look like a Pagan.” Because they think Pagans are supposed to look like this guy on television. They can’t look “normal” like me. NOTE: I look normal, but we all know the truth *sigh* The sad fact is that Pagans are stereotyped to look like this guy. People in general America (the ones that live on College campuses and in Salem, Mass.) look at these images and see something that is bad and maybe should be stamped out. They don’t want their kids joining up with something like that. This is why a lot of witch/Pagan groups won’t allow underage folk into the mix. They’re afraid of the backlash from the misinformed parents. This is why Pagans in towns like mine must fight to hold onto their kids when they’ve come out of the broom closet. Public perception is Paganism=blood sacrifice=ritual sex=devil (Christian version)worship=dancing with dead bodies=BAD. And they look at guys like the one mentioned above to validate their misconceptions. They think our rituals are bad and our beliefs stupid. They don’t even take the time to find out for themselves. Note to those who live in more tolerant areas: don’t move here! And so we have to fight to be taken seriously. It’s never ending.
I think that these people who want to be in the spotlight should show some responsibility. I think they should remember that most people in this country take what they see on t.v. as fact for the whole demographic (sterotypes of blacks and latinos, for example). Most of the populous is not so well informed. They sit around with their little cronies, spread venom and lies and say “I told you, Vern. Look at that freak show on t.v.” I think that the whole “let so-and-so just be who he is and to hell with the rest of them” is a bunch of bullshit. If it’s too hell with the rest of them, then keep your happy ass off of t.v. and out of the newspaper. Get with the program. In my opinion these characters are out for personal attention. They don’t care about anyone else. And they’re the first ones to cry “I’m being persecuted for my religious beliefs!! How come they don’t like me?” I think that anyone who goes out of the way to shock the general population (and takes pride in that) should just accept whatever they get. But don’t put it on the rest of us, for crying out loud.
“But you’re supposed to be open-minded and respect people for their differences!”, you say. Sure, I’m open-minded. I favor gay marriage, I think all religions are valid, blah, blah, blah. That doesn’t mean that I’m going to take advantage of some show poking fun at my religion by letting the world see that I am that stereotype. I also am disgusted when a couple gets in front of the camera and makes out for the shock value. Anyway you look at it.
There was a time when I had my nose pierced. I did it because I liked the look. I wasn’t trying to shock anyone. I had a simple little stud. I eventually took it out because I had a job that involved working with the public. I also have a tatoo. It’s quite cute and it’s located on my belly. Certain people have never seen my tatoo, because I don’t think they would care much for it. I also made sure it was in a place where it could be easily hidden. I’m still expressing myself but also being respectful of those around me. Is this wrong? Nope. I show off my tatoo when I feel it’s appropriate. There’s no shock value there. I’m too flippin’ old to try to shock people with my beliefs and ideals. Also, they’re too busy wondering if I’m mentally stable because of other things:.LOL.
I think that there’s a time and place for everything. I know that’s a tired cliche’, but it’s very true. And I think that anyone who wants to express themselves should do that, but also respect the decency of the general public. If they want to be taken seriously, that is. If they don’t care about being taken seriously then I don’t want them representing me or my beliefs. I think this kind of person is clownish and doesn’t really deserve to be taken seriously.
Also, someone mentioned the unshaven-obese-Earth-hugging-hippie-mama. Ha! That’s not me either. That, I think, is the other end of the spectrum. The love-light-and-lollipops crowd is too damned funny in my book. They follow the Rede to extremes and don’t get real life. These, I think, are mostly young ones and will grow out of that phase. They’ll learn about life and their views will change. Or they’ll come across a cynical bitch like me and have one helluva arguement when they start spouting off. My Gods aren’t very nice when they’re pissed off, so maybe my Gods will beat theirs. I don’t think, though, they do as much damage to our religion as the other. There are plenty of mainstream kids that feel the same way they do, about a lot of stuff. They grow out of it eventually (I hope anyway).
I don’t know why I even care about all of this. I haven’t even come out of the broom closet in my town. I would probably get tar-and-feathered. They’d certainly try to take my kids away. But I don’t like for anyone to make my religion look bad. And that’s why. Perception, I think, shapes laws and some of us have to fight that law when it threatens our way of life.
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