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Skydancer Windwalker
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AmethystMoon RiverWolf
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Now The Children...
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Now the Children...
The battle for the acknowledgement of freedom of religion goes on, the battle for that right has been won.
Witchcraft is a legally recognized religion, but still today the war still goes on.
As far back as 1300 C.E. the persecution of Witches was at the height of its era, people being killed for their religious beliefs or what others thought was their religious beliefs. Most of those who were murdered were Christian people labeled a witch out of hatred of some sort. Religion was power and control and used as such. Innocent lives were taken because of that power and control. In the Late 1600’s to early 1700's, laws were passed to stop this massacre, and in 1985 Witchcraft became a legally recognized religion.
This country is built of laws that protect and give rights to all that live within it, so why is this religion still being tormented and persecuted against? What are we teaching our children? It is O.K. to fight, torment, or persecute, because someone may believe, or live, or think differently than they do? Well that is family structure for you. Now these children are picking up on the actions of adults and here we are again, back to the days of persecution. It may be a different script but the plot is the same and the ending deadly. Now with the Children.......
With permission I have added a editorial written by Wren Walker of The Witches' Voice. You may find it at their website, http://www.witchvox.com/. This site is also included in our "links" section. The Witches’ Voice (AKA Witchvox), offers the very latest in news (updated daily) related to the modern Pagan community, as well as educational sites. Keep in mind, these are the fighters for your freedoms today. Thank them and Support them.
The editorial is as follows:
Hidden Hatred Haunts Pagans
The can be only one explanation: A spell has been cast upon the United States.
Thanks in part to the popularity of the Harry Potter books and television shows such as ‘Charmed’ and ‘Sabrina’, The Teenage Witch’; everyone in America knows what a spell is. Spells are something cast by Witches. Maybe even by a whole coven of those Witches. Witches and spells are linked forever in Americans psyche-sort of like ballots and chads.
Only the million or more Witches, Wiccans and Pagans that reside within this country didn’t cast this one.
Take a bubbling cauldron of mainstream religious arrogance, toss in a pinch of two thousand-year-old stereotyping, add a dash of governmental indifference and top it all off with a measured dose of bland media platitudes and what have we brewed up?
If two young people dress in black, they are teased and taunted at their school and presumed to be ’Goths’ and interested in Witchcraft. ( they weren’t.)
And if these same two young people then one day decide to go to that school with some guns and kill several of their Christian classmates ( and themselves), the media just can’t get enough of it.
Every written and spoken word takes a new meaning. Every aspect of their home life and school interactions are scrutinized. Every pundit on every talk show and every editorial writer from the New York Times to the Rocky Mountain News has a theory, a commentary or a soaring inspirational piece about the tragedy. And in the end, a new Christian martyr, Cassie Bernell, is the subject of a book and the name ’ Columbine’ is forever branded into American History.
And we learn that guns don’t kill people; people kill people.
If a young girl dresses in black, she is teased and taunted at her school and presumed to be ‘Goth' and interested in Witchcraft. (She was.) And if she resolves not to go to school one day with a gun, but decides instead that she will simply end her pain by taking her own life, well-- that doesn’t make her book material really; it makes her just another teen suicide.
What may make this case different from the first is that twelve-year-old Tempest Smith’s tormenters ARE the Christians. And their weapons of choice were not guns, but “Christian hymns”.
Will the notebooks and computers of Tempest’s classmates’ be seized and searched now? Will their CDs be examined for subversive anti-Pagan lyrics? Or will their parents be questioned about their family’s prayer life at the local police station? Will they be sued for not exerting proper parental control over their vocalizing offspring?
“ The last thing we want to do is make our students feel guilty.” said Lincoln Park Middle School Principal Robert Redden. “ But maybe there is a lesson to be learned here: that we should strive to treat each other with more kindness.”
No it doesn’t look like Tempest is going to be elevated to Cassie Bernall status anytime soon. But,” maybe” she will make an interesting lesson plan.
“ Gunman targeted Christian girl because of her beliefs.” BIG story there! And why not?
“ Christians target girl because of her beliefs”. No big story there. And why not?
And we learn that Christian hymns don’t kill people; children of another religion who can no longer endure being mocked with Christian hymns day after day kill themselves.
And Pagan shop owners like Jamie Cain Walker, Louisiana, aren’t driven out of towns by Christians marching into her place of business and shouting bible passages, such as “ Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”, either.
Christians don’t actually perpetuate hate crimes against Pagans; they just don’t want ‘that kind’ in their town of pretty white churches.
And we learn that one person’s death threat is just another person’s scripture passage.
No big story there either. No CNN Crossfire. No Larry King Live. No “ Breaking News Story’ on MSNBC or Fox.
America must be under a spell.
What other reason would the great liberal editorial voices of the New York Times and The Washington Post not be lifted up in outrage?
What else would prevent president George W. Bush from calling for an official investigation-- or at least calling Tempest’s grieving mother to offer some sort of comfort?
And what else can possibly account for the eerie silence of the American people- a people who swear to uphold rights of liberty, freedom and justice for all when confronted by the hidden hatred that haunts Pagans and haunts gays- and eliminates the names of black voters from rolls.
America must be under a spell.
And it is a spell only real Americans can break.
In Your Service
Wren Walker
The Witches’ Voice Inc.
Year 2001- March 12
“ The Staff and friends of Witches’ Voice extend our heartfelt condolences to Denessa Smith, Mother of Tempest Smith upon the untimely passing of her daughter. As Pagans we believe that life goes on albeit in another form reunited with our loved ones- both in the other world and in future lives,- we will live again, laugh again, and love again.”
What You Can Do:
If you are a Pagan parent and your child has experienced harassment, taunting or excessive teasing at school because he/she is Pagan: Write a brief description of the incidents, what the school ( include school info and contact names) has/has not done about the situation. Send your letter ( and/or e-mail ) along with a copy of this editorial to your state and national government representatives. Include you legal name, address and phone number: write that you are a voting constituent; most importantly, tell them what you expect them to do about it. This is a serious issue that demands serious action.
*Note from Editors of Enchanted Moon and Covenant Of The Sacred Moon :
When will this stop? When will the lives of our children be more important than what someone else believes?
Freedom of religion is for all, not just the ones who feel they are right. Don’t let the burning times return in our children. Stop the hatred. Be a UNITED States of America.
“This is Why the Freedom Quilt.” A piece will be donated in the memory of Tempest Smith and added to the Quilt.
“Your pain will not go unnoticed or unmarked in history.” To the Goddess you go until we meet again. Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again and upon your return may there be freedom for all. “ I will fight for you.”
With Light, and Love.
Skydancer Windwalker
An Eternal Candle
In Loving Memory Of Tempest Smith
