Halloween Decoration or Hate Crime?

[icymist]

By WINK News

Story Created: Oct 13, 2007 at 11:28 PM EDT


What's supposed to be a simple Halloween decoration is now brewing up some controversy in Chicopee, Massachusetts.

One group is calling the decoration a hate crime.

Driving down East Street in Chicopee it's hard not to notice a witch hanging from a noose.

To many, it's an innocent Halloween decoration, but for Kelly Lynch it's offensive.

"We don't harm anyone, we worship god, we are not evil, and we don't cast spells, " says Lynch.
Lynch is a witch.
Read the full article

Ummm.... "we worship god"? Is she some kind of Christian witch or something? Worshiping the gods, to me, would be like, as Terry Pratchett once said, worshiping the postman.... I know them too well! Hmmmm.... "and we don't cast spells"? Is WINK News sure that Lynch is a real witch or just a play on the word 'lynching'?

The Wild Hunt blog covers this story pretty well. Scroll down and read some of the comments about what someone there calls the 'Hillary' witch!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. That would be a halloween decoration.

I wonder what this person's opinions on pimp and ho costumes is.

[icymist]

2. Frankly, I disagree. This effigy hanging is very touchy in the Pagan community.

At the least, it's tasteless. At the most, it's a hate crime just as much as hanging a noose in an area where black people congregate. Your inquires about pimps and hos show a similar tastelessness.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Too bad if it's touchy.

1. In order to be a hate crime, there's got to be an actual crime committed. Hangings in effigy is protected speech.

2. I'm perfectly fine if people want to be involved in a new religion and call themselves witches. But they're going to have to put up with the mythological image of the wicked witch in popular culture. If I wanted to call myself a vampire, fine, but I've got no business getting upset at my neighbor who's got a halloween decoration of a vampire with a stake through the heart.

3. Getting upset at this is every bit as dumb as getting upset at pimp and ho costumes.

4. What's tasteless is comparing this to threats of lynching against the African American community.

[icymist]

4. OMG! Somebody who's an expert!!!

Please tell me more about Wicca, Paganism, and Druidism. I have many question Oh Enlightened One. Your Authority is guiding me in my Spiritual Quest! By the Grace Of The Gods.....Please Proceed!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Well, let's see.

Wicca has its roots in the 1920s. It's a form of new age spiritualism.

Paganism is simply a blanket term for non-abrahamic faiths. Also widely used in New Age spiritualism.

the Druids were a sort of medicine man/authority figure among pre-christian celts, it was a job, not a religion, or culture in and of itself.

And witches were wicked women who cavorted with Satan under the full moon, and were responsible for many evil things, like the plague or the clap. Also, they didn't really exist. Often, practitioners of wicca like to call themselves witches, sometimes leading to confusion. Although rarely.

Questions?

[icymist]

6. OMG! Man don't enter into a forum and then try and piss the people there off!

Snip:
witches were wicked women who cavorted with Satan under the full moon, and were responsible for many evil things, like the plague or the clap.

Wrong way to get to know the general population here, dude! I suggest you start by apologizing to everyone who commons this forum and then humbling yourself. Let's put it this way: Do you want to piss off those who may someday be your friend? There is one thing in the Pagan community that will result in ever-shunning: a disbelief and criticism of the Pagan Religion.

Frankly, I like you. You have spunk. Make Peace here please.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. I'm not entering a forum to piss people off.

If people get pissed off over something I say, it's their own damn fault.

"I suggest you start by apologizing to everyone who commons this forum and then humbling yourself."

I don't owe any apologies. I'm just not participating in any sort of role-playing fantasy.

"Do you want to piss off those who may someday be your friend?"

If somebody gets upset over the well known, historical, mythological meaning of the term witch then I don't need their kind of friendship.

"There is one thing in the Pagan community that will result in ever-shunning: a disbelief and criticism of the Pagan Religion."

1. I doubt most pagans are that obtuse.

2. I doubt most pagans have no sense of humor.

3. Ever-shunning? Pff.

4. I disbelieve in paganism for the same reason I disbelieve in christianity, bigfoot, elves, pixies, Dennis Kucinich, sprites, and so on.

5. I'm fine with paganism as long as it's members aren't trying to co-opt history.

[icymist]

8. How the hell did Dennis Kucinich get included in that group?

I mean, come on! A vegan campagining on 'No War"? and 'Healthcare for all'? Someone actually living the life they preach?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. He reminds me of Leprachauns.

Twas a joke.

[icymist]

10. Oh, for crying out loud!

Dennis Kucinich does not look like a leprechaun. He looks like a long-time vegan vegetarian. It's too bad that more people don't listen to what he's saying.

[Why Syzygy]

11. I like ya.

:hi: I'm a Pagan. Not Wiccan. I follow a Shamanic path. I'm not sure your definition of Paganism is up to date. For me it means, "without religion". My practices are not dictated by religious traditions. Otherwise, I don't have a problem with anything you're saying.

I took your intro to be partially ironic since you mention the devil and then say it wasn't true. You got the right answer for the wrong reason, iow.

[knight_of_the_star]

12. Why should he?

Since when do you speak for me icymist? Who died and made you the rep for all the people in this particular forum? I know from how you are talking you certainly don't represent me.

[icymist]

13. Why should he ...what? Make peace?

I really don't want to see it explode into talk making Pagans out to be associates of the Devil. As for claiming to be spokesperson for the whole forum,.... most likely I choose the wrong words being as I was up very late (I work a midnight job) and the entire discussion was carried over from a much larger argument in the GD. It was kind of like having someone follow you home to continue an old and worn out confrontation. No, I don't speak for you or anybody else here.

Okay.... It's time for Icy to give it a rest.
Peace, Y'all.