From: donal@brewich.hou.tx.us (Donal)
Newsgroups: 1,alt.pagan
Subject: Tolerance
Date: Sat, 05 Sep 92 23:36:26 CDT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US

This was posted on Houston Chat Channel by a dear friend of mine, and I 
repost it here with his permission.


Message #1549
From: Morgan 25
To: All
Date: 09-04-92 10:09:21
Subject: Reasons

I think maybe it's time a few things were explained here that
some of us pagans seem to take as common knowledge.  It has to
do with the way we see the world and may perhaps explain some
of the reactions you've seen here from some of us, myself included.

When you hear the word "Witch" what is your first thought?  If
you're like most people, it's of an old, gnarled, ugly woman
dressed in a black dress, wearing a peaked hat, riding a broom
and cackling in ann evil manner.  It's probably someone evil
who eats children and performs evil magic to get revenge on the
world for everything.  This is what most people think when they
hear the word "witch."

This perception is something that we (witches) have to deal with
constantly.  I have told people I am a witch only to be yelled
at and cursed to my face.  Others I have known have been similarly
treated and in one case, spit upon!  Why?  because of what most
people think of when they hear the word "Witch."  We live in
a world where everywhere we look, there are things that reinforce
this image.  Everywhere we look, there is the typical stereotype
of the witch or the typical stereotype of "the occult" that has
become a simple catch-all phrase used by the media to lump everything
together.  To the media, we are all members of "the occult,"
as if it were a group one could join or a club one pays dues
to be in.  They make no distinctions at all, and thus, feed the
images that people have.  Why?  because it makes money.  It boosts
ratings to show "Geraldo's special on Satanism" or "Inside Houston's
Church of Satan."

Even my children have to deal with this every day.
My two girls ages 6 and 7 attend public schools.  They recently
brought home an order form for books.  (If you're a parent with
kids in school, you're probably familiar with this stuff...).
The order form included a couple of books about witches.  Yes,
it was the typical stuff, showing the typical evil witch on the
cover and talking about how some brave children who foil the
plot of the evil witch to do some unspeakable evil to the town
where they live.  You see what this means?  I have to live in
a society that teaches my children that their daddy is an evil
person who harms other people by magic.  is this right?

Think about what it means to be a pagan.  Many of you here have
a better understanding of it because of explanations made by
us over ther course of time.  At least some of you have accepted
the fact that we are not Satanists, that we do not seek power
and that we seek to harm no one.  And for this, I am grateful.
 But the truth remains... you here are but few.  I may ask you
what pops in your head when I say the word "witch" and now, I'd
get a different answer than I would have 6 months ago.  But...
most people STILL have that image of the old woman on the broom,
eating children.  We STILL have to live with it each day in some
way or another.
Hell... even dictionaries still define "pagan" as a godless person,
and "witch" as a practitioner of evil magic.  Our very fundamental
definitions are skewed!

There's an old indian saying... "Never judge a man until you've
walked in his mocassins."

Maybe we can all just try to understand each other a little better...
and don't let it end here... if you honestly believe what we
have told you about us... if you can accept that we are just
a different religion from yours, and not evil, nor out to steal
your virgin daughters for a sacrifice... then do something about
it.  This Haloween, instead of putting up the typical decorations
featuring witches and ghosts and goblins, leave them down.  Put
up something positive.  Halloween (or Samhain as we call it)
is a harvest festival.  It's the last harvest before winter.
It's also the time when we remember and commemorate those who
have lived and died before us.  It's not a time when we hold
hideous rituals featuring dismembered corpses as someone once
swore to me was our practice... It's usually a time of contemplation
of the past year and remembering those who have died.  It's our
new year as well.. and a time for new beginnings.  All of these
things are positive things.  It's a good thing to remember those
who have died, and to render them respect and commemoration.
 It's a good thing to remember the past year and reflect on what
we've learned.

And if  you really want peace.. if you really are willing to
"love your neighbor as yourself" then spread the word.  You may
not believe in what we believe, but if you truly believe what
we have said, then try to stop the hatred.. try to spread understanding
and caring.  After all... Isn't it better to spread love than
hate, friendship than enmity, peace than war?
                         Morgan
-------
end of post

My friend posted this in the "religious discussions" sub-board after a 
series of pagan vs. christian bashing fests, and a series of 
reconciliation attempts. I think my friend is a wise man, and his words 
have power.

Blessed Be

--------------------
Donal, SysAdmin of The Brewer's Witch BBS -- +1 713 272 7350
(Internet) donal@brewich.hou.tx.us  (Work) bill%pssi@lobster.hou.tx.us
(CIS) 76460,1443 
(SCA) Ld. Donal Dubh, IC of Dun Bruddair, B of the Stargate, K of Ansteorra
Newsgroups: alt.pagan