This blog is in response to Teachings & Information About Wicca’s blog. www.fubar.com/blog/171003/669922
Let me start out be saying the whole bank thing would have been instant lawsuit, (unless is was a PRIVATE institution), under the non-discrimination law of race, color, creed, religion, and nation origin. There are a lot of Wiccan lawyers out there (just have to find them) that love “stickin’ to the man.” But that is a whole blog onto itself.
As far was being pagan we all know the difficulty of that and I will pray for you and all of us when it comes to this subject, but lets try a different approach. I grew up in a Wiccan home in the middle of the Bible Belt of Georgia and I can say I have seen ALL kinds of discrimination. But I’ve rarely had any kind of negative events because of my religion and I think its because I never told anyone that has asked me what religion I am that I was “pagan”. I’ve always said, “I’m a Wiccan.” I got strange looks but most of the time that’s all was it and life went of its marry way. Maybe I was just lucky. I don’t know.
Most of the discrimination I have seen in my life has not been do to ones religion beliefs but the way those beliefs appear to others. What I mean is I have a friend back home that was raised Wiccan just as I was, but in high school he started dressing in all black and doing the whole “Dark Imagine” thing. That’s when the discrimination started for him. Those of us that know him knew that he had a heart of gold but he looked like the vilest death incarnate. He was called satanist and other colorful names.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where “imagine” seems to be EVERYTHING regardless of anything else. It’s a sad-sad thing but it is the way it is. I personally combat this with a lesson I learned as a child: Dress your soul. What that is to me means that if your soul is light and full of life and love, like all Wiccans should be, reflect that in your outward appearance (i.e. demeanor, attitude and yes even your dress). I personally am just a T-shirt and jeans person and I’m by no means telling anyone to change his or her ways. I’m nobody to tell anyone anything of the sort, its just food for thought. My childhood friend is now is a DJ at the local rock station and his “Dark Imagine” is looked upon as part of his job and not his religion. I don’t know what “looks” have to do with a “radio” job but …hey, funny how that works.
Remember, pagans, (i.e. Wiccans), are not the only ones out there getting religious flack because of their religion. Those guys you see on the bikes with the black ties and white shirts. You know the ones. I practically use to run from those guys and for what, because they’re proud of their religion and want to share it. They don’t care what people think of them because they have faith and love in their beliefs. That taught me to have more faith and love in my own beliefs did any lesson growing up. Let’s not even get on the Jehovah Witnesses. Even my wife, a devoted Roman Catholic, has been discriminated against from our HARDCORE Baptist neighbors. They will not talk my wife at all but will me knowing that I’m a Wiccan. Now figure that one out.
I guess what I’m trying to say is the religious discrimination is everywhere if your not main stream. It’s a damn crying shame, but it is the nature of the beast. The lesson that needs to be learned maybe is not to get pissed about it but to find ways to combat it so it doesn’t happen to you and to others. Also for those “people” that come up to you and say you’re going to hell and blah blah blah, just smile and tell them to leave immediately and go pray for you. Or simplest and hardest thing to do is just ignore them. Like my Grandma use to say, “You have to be kind to dumb animals.” I hope this rambling makes sense.
Blessed be and Peace be with you.
