Organizing to help the world at large...

[Kaylara]

Many have tried and failed this task in our community. I only know a few Organizations who have stayed the test of time. My purpose of this post is to try to get feed back on your thoughts about organizing to provide help to our communities. The government will no long be able to discredit us or spread mis-information about us. Whatever our respective paths may be, I feel that I can honestly say that we would like to help heal the world, our communities, and other people. We have been silent too long. It is said that getting pagans together is like trying to herd cats; let us prove them wrong! We all have our parts to play in this world, and I think that we can effect positive change if we can unite as one voice saying "Enough is enough." We will not cower in the shadows waiting for the lynch mob to come. The literal Burning Times ended long ago, the emotional and mental burning times has never ended.

What do you think? Are you willing to help start this? Do you think it is a bad idea or a good idea? Any suggestions?

Blessed Be!
Kaylara

[Spider]

Very, VERY good idea in my opinion. I've been thinking of doing the same thing myself, actually. I would definately be up for helping out, so count me in. I'm sure it would really help to get those of other beliefs to understand that we aren't evil, or "satan" spawns...and it would really give a chance for us pagans to further enlighten and heal those around us.

I know most people have a *big* misconception about paganism and such, and are usually turned off when they hear the word "Witch." Not that we can really get upset about those of some faiths whos holy books do tell them that what we believe/practice is "evil," but we are entitled to let them know our side. Just because someone doesn't agree with a faith doesn't mean they have the privilege to bash it.

I think that we should all be respective of others' beliefs, but I also think we deserve the same - that they should be aware of our intentions, what we practice, and why we practice. Most people were just put in the dark, not really knowing anything at all about what we believe/practice and would base a judgement only on how they were raised or by what a religious leader would tell them, without getting all the facts. Even though that isn't fair, it does indeed happen...but we shouldn't get angry for that. Heh, but we are, however, entitled to frustration. Not that I'm bashing other religions, but I have a few friends...some of which are Morman, and some of which are Catholic. When they found out I am Wiccan, heh...it's almost as if they had seen a ghost. But after I had thoroughly explained my beliefs to them, they came to understand and be more resepectful of it. (Ack! I'm babbling again! LOL!) Anyway, in a nutshell...good idea, I'm for it, and I'll help out. :)

I think if everything is organized well enough, and there are enough people involved, then it'll work.

(And sorry, mates, if I jumped from subject to subject there so quickly...LOL! I hope it was easy to understand. I only got a few hours of sleep...and I keep rambling. Hehe, but I think ya'll get the idea of what I was saying there, eh?)

[Scarlet Swan]

Originally posted by Spider
I think that we should all be respective of others' beliefs, but I also think we deserve the same

Wonderful post, I hate to cut it appart, but wanted to comment on something. Many feel we "deserve" the same, unfortunately more times than not, it seems most "Pagans" DEMAND the same.

If we can get past the demanding part, throw out the "we respect others, BUT" aspect and just get on with our lives, many of us will become more tolerant, and in turn become more tolerated. Then we will get the respect we "deserve," and we wont even have to stomp our feet to get it :).

Scarlet Swan

[Spider]

Originally posted by Scarlet Swan

Originally posted by Spider
I think that we should all be respective of others' beliefs, but I also think we deserve the same

Wonderful post, I hate to cut it appart, but wanted to comment on something. Many feel we "deserve" the same, unfortunately more times than not, it seems most "Pagans" DEMAND the same.

If we can get past the demanding part, throw out the "we respect others, BUT" aspect and just get on with our lives, many of us will become more tolerant, and in turn become more tolerated. Then we will get the respect we "deserve," and we wont even have to stomp our feet to get it :).

Scarlet Swan



Good point. Though, it seems like in this day and age that you do indeed have to "stomp your feet" from time to time in order to get people to fully understand the concept, eh?

[Mairwen]

Though, it seems like in this day and age that you do indeed have to "stomp your feet" from time to time in order to get people to fully understand the concept, eh?


Hhhmmm.... As I was saying in the "Greetings" thread ....

[Scarlet Swan]

Though, it seems like in this day and age that you do indeed have to "stomp your feet" from time to time in order to get people to fully understand the concept, eh?

Originally posted by Mairwen
Hhhmmm.... As I was saying in the "Greetings" thread ....

And as I was trying to say, you shouldn't have to.

[Spider]

By the gods you people are nasty to each other. Why can't you just talk like civil people? Geez, Mairwen...do you have to contradict every single statement I make, like you did on the "greetings" board?

[Mairwen]

And as I was trying to say, you shouldn't have to.


:D You got that right! ;) Tis great having you here!

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Spider
By the gods you people are nasty to each other. Why can't you just talk like civil people? Geez, Mairwen...do you have to contradict every single statement I make, like you did on the "greetings" board?

I'm still trying to figure out why you think I'm contradicting you at every turn ~ because I'm not. :mad:

[Scarlet Swan]

Originally posted by Mairwen
:D You got that right! ;) Tis great having you here!

Scott is still too hard headed to get on, so I am filling in :D

Oh, and sorry I missed wishing you a happy birthday :(

Scarlet Swan

[Spider]

I want to know exactly why you feel you have to blow up at everything I've been saying. I try and make a GOOD point, and you spit down my throat on that other forum...then have the NERVE to bring it to another!! I dunno where exactly you got such a bloody bunch in your pants because of what I said in my first post on the "Greetings" forum, but whatev'a.

[Scarlet Swan]

Originally posted by Spider
By the gods you people are nasty to each other. Why can't you just talk like civil people? Geez, Mairwen...do you have to contradict every single statement I make, like you did on the "greetings" board?

Greetings girl, don't be angry :(

Mairwen was just trying to say, as you did, "you have to stomp your feet now and then," to make a point. She was stomping her feet about constantly being called a Wiccan. She was not saying anything bad about you, in fact, she was agreeing with you.

I was just making the comment that one shouldn't have to "stomp their feet."

No one is being mean here, at least not as far as I can see.

Sometimes a little "harm" is necessary to do good. Another argument of ours against the rede, but that is another story :D

Brightest Blessings Spider!

Scarlet Swan

[Armitage]

Can't we all just sit down over coffee and be nice?
*gives the arguing parties each a mug and a puppy-dog look*

I personally think that the Pagan community's strong point is that it's *not* structured...It does start one of the major arguments of the bigger religions against it, that there is no central governing of what's being taught, but isn't that the power of it? Taking the general teachings and adapting them to who you are and how you believe? Ehh, maybe structure *would* be good, but someone may get carried away with it too.

[Spider]

Ahh, sorry to bring you into this, mate. We're just having a bit of a "quarrel" because of something we aren't agreeing on in another board. But, I'm not going to hold my tongue. I would quit with this, but you know...I feel some people go too far to make others feel bad about what they believe. Maybe it wasn't intentional, but it DID happen Mairwen, and I WAS offended. I'm not one of the people that always jumps down your throat about the problem you explained. I was stating my opinion and I had my tail stepped on for it. So you know what? That's fine. I'm sorry you feel the way you do, but you have COMPLETELY offended me now. I honestly wish it hadn't gone to a level like this, but oh well. I don't like fighting with people, but you seem to want to constantly snap back at me. Heh...I wun' take it any more though, hun. I'm leaving this Community...you've made me sick. I make a point about how I feel it is wrong that ALL religions are being discriminated, and you tell me that I said something wrong? Well now...ain't that sumpthin? I usually don't fly off the handle like this, but I believe you were extremely rude, and I do hope that in the future you are a bit more respectful to those on this board. Thanks girlie, you jus' lost a member to your community. Heh, thanks for the TOASTY warm welcome!! Really makes a person feel great when someone looks at their religion like it's a piece of dog meat.
(And do note, that I DID agree with you...it is irratating to be called Wiccan if you're Pagan, and vice versa. So don't act all holy about that with me, because I WAS agreeing with you. You had to take something personal of mine, something I feel strongly about, and make it out like I was trying to cut someone down. Not nice, man...really not nice. I dun' like having to bite people's heads off, but in all jolly good fun, I think you deserve it).

Blessed be, everyone.

[Mairwen]

Scott is still too hard headed to get on, so I am filling in :D Oh, and sorry I missed wishing you a happy birthday :(

Well, you tell his cutie patootie to get back on here, because I said so. LOL! ;) And that's okay ~ you just did, right? :D

[Mairwen]

and you tell me that I said something wrong?


Can somebody, anybody, purdy please tell me when/where this occured?! :mad:

[Kaylara]

You all have valid points, but can you please stop it with the personal attacks. Please do not rip each other apart over personal opinions or terminology. This is a NO WITCH WAR ZONE!

Blessed Be!
Kaylara

[Mairwen]

I beg your grandest pardon, but I was nver attacking anybody or anything. What I hate is that it came across this way. What's wrong with trying to explain yourself?

[Kaylara]

There is nothing wrong with trying to explain yourself. I think that there were misunderstandings here that resulted in people getting their feelings hurt. It's over, lets leave it at that.

I have a request here though, please try to stay on topic. This thread degenerated until it doesn't resemble the original topic.

Blessed Be!
Kaylara

[mol]

Originally posted by Mairwen
I beg your grandest pardon, but I was nver attacking anybody or anything. What I hate is that it came across this way. What's wrong with trying to explain yourself?

I will say as well...nobody did anything wrong. You were in a discussion and it twisted into an argument of everyone trying to explain what they were saying. People did get hurt. It happens. As I said before, this is a large and growing Community which is only going to get larger...and as it grows we will have more disputes.

[~*Mar C*~]

Originally posted by Kaylara
Many have tried and failed this task in our community. I only know a few Organizations who have stayed the test of time. My purpose of this post is to try to get feed back on your thoughts about organizing to provide help to our communities. The government will no long be able to discredit us or spread mis-information about us. Whatever our respective paths may be, I feel that I can honestly say that we would like to help heal the world, our communities, and other people. We have been silent too long. It is said that getting pagans together is like trying to herd cats; let us prove them wrong! We all have our parts to play in this world, and I think that we can effect positive change if we can unite as one voice saying "Enough is enough." We will not cower in the shadows waiting for the lynch mob to come. The literal Burning Times ended long ago, the emotional and mental burning times has never ended.

What do you think? Are you willing to help start this? Do you think it is a bad idea or a good idea? Any suggestions?

Blessed Be!
Kaylara

Well, Kaylara, I think it's a good idea, and it might be a good idea to get this thread back on topic. I also don't like it when people get kinda freaked when you mention the words "witch", "wicca", or anything that relates to Wicca. It bothers me because they don't know what anything really means and they're scared of something they don't understand. Does that bother anyone else?

[mol]

I had mentioned the word Coven and someone popped up.."I dont like that word, it sounds dark"..not a perfect quote but it'll do..anwyay, that sparked something right there for me. Wow. Even fellow Pagans are believing the hype! So, yes...I think that there is a lot of fear out there...and not just on the outside, but on the inside as well.

[Kaylara]

I can understand why some non-wiccan pagans may have a hard time describing their path to a public who only hears "Wicca this, Wicca That." I personally cannot guess at how many different paths that the word paganism encompasses. I cannot tell someone who is a ceremonial magickian, or a tantra follower that their paths are invalid, or not as correct as my own. It is not true, because the fact that they are following it validates it as a religious path. If I choose to worship the next door neighbors' golden retriever, and in doing so I do not hurt anyone(the doggie included) and do not steal the dog, then what right does anyone have to tell me that I am wrong in doing so?
There are a lot of misconceptions about pagan morality that the society as a whole believes because no one who actually knows about pagan morality stands up and tells them otherwise. Pagan morality is personal morality. This means that my morals are no better or worse than yours. We all have our personal ethics, and that is how your life should be lived, in accordance to those morals and ethics.

That is why I think it important for us to let our voices be heard. Then when people hear those misconceptions, they will take it as a grain of salt. Not completely ingoring it, but understanding that there are other view points. I also think that it important to "practice what we preach". If we say that we want to help heal the world and the people in it, lets' do it!

Blessed Be!
Kaylara

[Mairwen]

{answering two in one, here}

It bothers me because they don't know what anything really means and they're scared of something they don't understand.

That's it exactly ~ they're afraid of something they don't understand. I think that's basic human nature ~ people do tend to fear things that are "foreign" to them. What they don't understand, see, is outside their "comfort zone"; it's simple psychology. People hear the word "Pagan" and automatically assume "wicca", which means "Witch", which means "evil". It's all miss-education. Ignorance is one of the "best" breeders of fear. But it is something that, with proper education, we can "fix". Granted, it won't happen overnight, but what ever does?

I had mentioned the word Coven and someone popped up.."I dont like that word, it sounds dark"..not a perfect quote but it'll do..

Yeah, I remember seeing that. I didn't respond to that comment, however. How we view things plays a great role in how we tend to "use"/interact with them. When I first read that person's comment, my thought was that someone needed to get a grip and take a step closer back into reality (which is why I didn't say anything). Now, however, I see it this way ~ some people in this life are like my mother-in-law: they only see the positive ~ if they "ignore" the negative, it'll go away. Unfortunately, that's never the case. However, in this case, this in an instance where something positive can be made out of a "perceived" negative. This is a chance to teach that something with a negative connotation is, generally, really a "good thing". See?