What about Pagan recognition?

[knight_of_the_star]

Any idea what the thoughts of the candidates are on Neo-Pagans and Wiccans? I don't care if they make it public or not, but I would like to know what they think about us, especially considering Bush and Co's opinion of us is.

[usregimechange]

1. yes

Me too, from another unpopular minority. :)

[Terwilliger]

2. might as well forget it

these folks aren't going to talk about pagans or Wiccans

[usregimechange]

3. True

someday

[knight_of_the_star]

4. We can hope

I long for the day when I can wear my jewelry in public WITHOUT getting stared at or people saying that the pentacle is "satanic". I just wish I knew what the candidates stances were, even if they didn't make them a big issue until after election or something like that.

[Solomon]

5. Yep. It would kill a campaign dead.

Too much hypocrisy in the world yet.

[knight_of_the_star]

6. Still

I wish I knew what their PRIVATE thoughts were on that issue. That would somehow make me feel better. Maybe I'll figure out how to do that with Clark next time I get the opporunity to see him speak.

[usregimechange]

7. work to do

:(

[Terwilliger]

8. Actually, I may have been wrong

Kucinich would probably talk about pagans or Wiccans...definitely talk to them.

But, then, we know how that whole Kucinich thing is going to turn out, so... :eyes:

[knight_of_the_star]

10. That'd be cool if he did though

At least SOMEONE with a known voice in the Democratic Party will be saying something. That's all I ask.

[usregimechange]

12. organize

meetup.com

[charlie]

15. Clark might, if someone asked

Wiccan recognition is US Army policy. And one of the last big flameups where the Army sided with Wiccans against persecution was at Ft Hood, one of his old commands.

[knight_of_the_star]

18. I'll ask him about that

If I ever get the chance. If he says that he supports the stance the Army took, that will be enough for me!

[frank frankly]

9. well, I'm a fan of y'all

very much so!

:hi:

Happy Rush Limbaugh Destroyed Day!

[JasonBerry]

11. I Hope They Have Nothing To Say

As all religions are nothing but superstition (including Wiccan and pagan philosophy - which refer to "holy books")....I hope they say nothing about about ANY of them. I want men or women who are RATIONAL and reject all such silliness. Just my opinion.

[usregimechange]

14. I think

they could support pagan and atheist respect, stand up against the hate, and help us get into the protected minority status where all other minorities are.

[knight_of_the_star]

16. We aren't based on "holy books"

A Book of Shadows is holy, yes, but it is not a holy book in the sense of the Bible. It is more a like a journal that would be kept by a monk and contains personal thoughts, poetry, chants, songs, rituals of the author's creation, that kind of thing. That and I find your dismissal of all religion as nothing but superstition to be offensive.

[JasonBerry]

20. Sorry, I find religion to be offensive

More people have met a violent death for these silly superstitions than anything else known to man. It IS okay to voice a position different to that than the religionists. Nothing personal to you - it's your choice as mine is only my choice. But, you gave your opinion - and I gave mine. Why is one any more offensive than the other? (Rhetorical, I don't expect an answer.)

[knight_of_the_star]

22. Because of how you said it

Dismissing all religion as mere superstition shows fuzzy thinking that is usually present in those who use stereotyping to define people, for one. For two, no one has meet a violent death because of us, unless you count Tempest Smith who committed suicide rather than face the religious harrasment of her peers at school. Painting with a broad brush tends to gloss over the details. That's why artists don't use them often.

[usregimechange]

23. well

the communists weren't too religious and Stalin took out a good number (most in world history).

[usregimechange]

24. didn't

mean not to call Russian communism of the time not a religion, it was.

[0rganism]

13. You've seen how much good "gay recognition" has done...

...why invite trouble? Why sow the wind?

Let's just hope the Democratic candidates ignore us Pagans, Wiccans, Gnostics, neo-Manicheans, agnostics, atheists, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Rastafarians, and all those other "commie" religions. Americans, by and large, are simply not ready for a true open diversity.

Let me put it this way: in a poll conducted a few years back, various religious attitudes were rated on a scale of how they would affect one's political career. Know which one scored worst? Atheism. Now Atheists believe in only one less god than Christians, but apparently they're the most abhorrent of all. The next-lowest was Satanism, and while you and many other Wiccans may contend you aren't a Satanist Devil-worshipping madman, good luck explaining that to the media clowns.

[usregimechange]

17. much good from their movement

As you know, years ago homosexuals were considered mentally ill and it took a long time for them to gain concern from our profession and from society. Now we have DHHS publications like "A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse Treatment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Individuals", civil unions, inclusion in the NASW code of ethics, hate crimes legislation, thousands of articles in professional literature on homosexuals, etc...

[usregimechange]

19. that

I wrote to my professor, social work.

[usregimechange]

21. more

That is good, it should be there and I support it 100%. However, when it comes to another minority, one that by many measures faces more prejudice, we hear resounding silence from every profession.

People who lack a belief in God are feared and hated with the full force of our culture, Congress, and our leaders (although courts will sometimes intervene):

Then Vice President George H. W. Bush stated in 1987, "I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots." This apparently included the many nontheists that were serving in the armed forces at the time. There was no political backlash.

According to a recent Gallup poll 95% of Americans are willing to vote for a Black candidate for President, 92% for a Female or Jewish candidate, 59% for a Gay candidate, and 49% would vote for an atheist candidate.

US Senators Miller, Nickles, and Inhofe all said in a recent interview that they would not confirm a Supreme Court Justice if he/she did not believe in God.

In 2002 Atheist Tyler Deveny was beaten (made the police report section of the local newspaper!) by classmates who said "Oh, you hate God(?)” before punching him in the face.

Darrell Lambert was kicked out of the Boy Scouts (BSA has a policy on this) because he would not profess belief in a supernatural being.

As of 1996 seven state Constitutions require belief in a supernatural being for public office. This is in direct violation of Article VI of the Federal Constitution, which mandates that there be no religious test for public office. Their enforcement was struck down by the High Court about 40 years ago. For the majority of this nations history this was legal, yet no body knows to what extent it was practiced because no historian has cared to document it. As recently as 1993 South Carolina refused to let Professor and atheist Herb Silverman become a notary public because of such a provision(reversed in court).

Our currency says, "In God WE Trust" apparently ignoring the 30 million or so people who do not believe in God and as a consequence can't possible trust him. If we do not trust in God and as our currency states, "we" (meaning Americans) trust in him, 30 million of our citizens have been codified as not being American. To this day the national motto is cited by conservative to moderate Judges and Justices as being a reason to affirm similar policies. Much like saying, prior to Brown v. Board of EDU., segregation at water fountains is legal so then should segregation at the school house.

An organization has been formed to change the title of "Atheists" to "Brights" like the Gay Rights people did in changing "Queers" to "Gays", in order change societal views about nontheists. http://www.the-brights.net/the_movement.htm

A class mate asked me, "Aren't atheists satan worshipers?" the same semester I was denied in a SWK class the opportunity to choose (like everyone else did) a minority to discuss for an assignment in class.

The term "atheophobia" (the fear and hatred of atheists) is not contained within any minority text (designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of minority relations) any where. In fact, I believed for months that I was the first to think of such a term.

[usregimechange]

26. for sources

e-mail [e-mail]

[0rganism]

27. from THEIR movement, not from political pandering

If the neo-Pagans have a lobbying arm and a bit of political clout, then it makes sense for politicians to speak to them in particular. The politicians could actually gain something from it, however minor. Being that gays are around 7% of the population and have substantial economic power, they were able to make themselves heard by politicians. And they're still coming close to risking a constitutional ammendment establishing exclusivity of heterosexual marriage that could do heaps of trouble to the search for equal protection.

Politicos are supposed to respond to the concerns of their constituents. But any time a politician takes an unnecessary position, she expose herself to attack. The current set of players are capable but they face a withering attack when the RNCC starts flexing its muscle, and exposing a religious flank at this time would be damaging to the candidates and dangerous to the rest of us.

If the religious minority groups want to come together to take some kind of unified stand for equal status within the law, then that's something entirely different. I haven't seen it happening yet, except with Jews and, to a lesser extent, Muslims. That doesn't mean it can't happen.

[kimchi]

25. Kucinich would be my only guess at being Pagan-friendly.

In the scheme of things, at this point in time, it is a lesser priority, even for me. A more open society for everyone will also mean a better environment for all NON-White/Christian/Straight/Rich Males like ourselves. Every little bit helps, and the main thrust must be reversing at least a little of the social/fiscal/political/environmental damage accelerated during this misadministration.

[LeftCoast]

28. I'm Wiccan

In terms of religion, I just want the US gov't. to not get involved. I want to be free to practice my religion - this is still a problem for Wiccans in some parts of the country.

As to atheists, I respect their views. I think a true practitioner of any faith must admit the possibility that what they believe in could be wrong. For me though, I get a great deal from my religion and I feel sorry that some people don't get to experience that. Maybe atheists find it another way.

From a purely political perspective, I would hate to put any of the Dem candidates on record as "supporting pagan rights". The vulgar pig-boy would wet himself with glee if he ever got ahold of a quote like that!