From: cortese@hepxvt.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese)
Subject: Re: Worship of the Greek gods
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 7 Apr 92 23:45:40 GMT
Distribution: na

In article <29E22A6F.27011@noiro.acs.uci.edu> cortese@hepxvt.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese) writes:
>In article <loren.34@wmkt.wharton.upenn.edu> loren@wmkt.wharton.upenn.edu (Loren Miller) writes:
>>In article <29E0EF42.4253@noiro.acs.uci.edu> cortese@hepxvt.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese) writes:
>>>In article <loren.29@wmkt.wharton.upenn.edu> loren@wmkt.wharton.upenn.edu (
>>Loren Miller) writes:>>In article <1992Apr1.184049.28268@cbnewsm.cb.att.com> 
>>mls@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (mike.siemon) writes:>>>Roman history from the 
>>assassination of the Gracchi down to>>>Octavian's consolidation of power was 
>>a steadily intensifying>>>and increasingly brutal civil war with short 
>>pauses to deal>>>with rebellious allies, slaves or provinces.
>>>>
>>>>Kind of like La Cosa Nostra, eh?
>>>
>>>No, it's not "kind of like La Cosa Nostra" any more than the Nazis were.
>>>The Mafia started out as an IRA-type of pact between Sicilian farmers
>>>who were getting screwed by the landlord types.
>>
>>Whether or not the Mafia started out for worthy purposes, it soon turned 
>>into a rule by local bullies, with a political structure built along roman 
>>lines. This is actually pretty easy to demonstrate, but I don't have the 
>>books at work to do so.
>>
>>>Bad dagos aren't Mafia any more than bad things done by ancient Irishmen
>>>make them ancient IRA.  Sorry to snap so hard, but I am Italian-American
>>
>>I didn't accuse you or anyone else of being a Mafioso, Roman, or a 
>>criminal who carries a stilleto. Though I can understand that you were 
>>hassled for being a "vinny" (in the current philadelphia parlance) I also 
>>think that you're overly sensitive.
>
>I certainly am.  I haven't told you nor will I what I went through.
>

Sorry to appear like I'm harping on you, but I had to add to this.

Are pagans who have been shit on and are wary of xtianity "overly
sensitive?"  Would you tell a black person who has been beaten up and
almost lynched that s/he is "overly sensitive" for not subsequently
trusting white people?  Would you tell a rape victim "You're just too
sensitive" simply because she bears the scars of her attack, an attack
she did not ask for and would undo if she could?  I did not ask for what
happened to me and my family, and if I am "sensitive," that's just too
bad for the rest of you.  *I* bear the scars of what happened to me, and
if it's too much for *you* to bear, that's just too damned bad.

Blessings,
Janis C.

P.S.: I don't hate you, Loren.  I just want you to see that
"sensitivity" is not a way of invalidating someone's experiences and
feelings.  I have every right to be "sensitive."  I didn't ask to be
"hassled," as you so politely put it.  Simply because I am emotionally
involved with what happened to me and my family, does that mean that
others can ignore my emotions?  Does that mean that any old comment can
be made and then excused just by saying, "Oh, I don't care if it hurt
that person's feelings.  They're just sensitive."  That sensitivity is
exactly what we should be aware of.  I can and will always express my
opinions, but I will NEVER do so and tell someone, "If you have been
hurt by this, I don't care.  There's something wrong with you because
you're too sensitive."  I should always be aware of the possible
emotional impact of my words.
 
And I make no excuses for the Mob.  They are a filthy bunch of murdering
criminals who belong behind bars.
Newsgroups: alt.pagan