I’m not the
type to be easily offended. I mean, other than the no-brainers. “You’re less
because you’re a woman.” “You’re white, so you’re…” Insert whatever comes to
mind. But on the religion front, I’m not that touché. Or, I try not to be. If
someone says Happy Kwanza to me, I just smile and nod in return. They took the
time to say something nice to me, why should I be offended because it’s not
Happy Yule? No, that kind of mess doesn’t bother me. However, what does bother
me is the blatant mocking of my faith. That’s strike one. Strike two comes when
it’s so obvious that you, small minded moron that you are, have no clue what
you are talking about.
I’m
referring to a specific small minded moron. Or, morons rather. Fox News
apparently runs this show called Fox with Friends and on February 17, 2013,
they aired what was perhaps the biggest demonstration of ignorance that I have
seen in my entire life. I’m young yet, which is scary given how bad this was.
The headline which grabbed my attention to watch this filth was “Fox News
Attacks Wiccans.” Number one, they didn’t attack per se, and number two, it
wasn’t just Wiccans. No, what they did was openly mock all Pagans and Wiccans,
even though our numbers are so insubstantial they barely acknowledge our legitimacy.
Not only did they mock my faith, they
got their facts wrong. So horribly wrong it was painful to watch.
I vibrated
with rage. I was, surprising to realize, highly OFFENDED! And that’s a word I try
to avoid in my life.
Apparently,
Wiccans have so many holidays that we can’t even keep track. Because eight is
really a high number. And all Pagans inhale so much incense we can’t even count
that high. But we sure know how to use twenty-sided dice. Also, Wiccanism is a
legit word and Halloween is a ridiculous holiday to put real stock in. They
just can’t take anyone seriously who looks to that as a real holiday. And we
should be offended that the University of Minnesota has put our holidays on the
calendar, because that’s just agenda pushing and we’re being used.
…Where in
the hell to even start? Dear, your lack of research is showing! It is my
sincere hope that anyone who might follow this blog at least semi-regularly
knows better. Pagans have eight sabbats. Samhain is the biggie, the last
harvest festival and the beginning of our new year. It’s part of a little thing
called the wheel of the year. Samhain is what modern day Halloween is based on.
Are you following me, class? Wiccans are followers of Wicca. Oh, and that agenda we should be offended for forwarding? I
assume, since it is Fox News, that they are discreetly referring to the liberal
agenda, which is all about free sex and killing babies. Of course. It couldn’t
be just because we want our own faith recognized, in however small of a way.
Then, one
of these lovely reporters had the audacity
to bring Christians into it. The same old argument that a Christian can’t
say Merry Christmas without being berated and accused of shoving religion down
someone’s throat.
…Sweetheart,
we’ll talk about interfaith equality when you get your facts straight. I still
haven’t picked my jaw up off the floor from the bullshit you just spit out of
your perfectly done face.
I’m in an
interfaith relationship. Bear is Christian and very much dedicated to that
path. There is nothing wrong with that and there is nothing wrong with me
talking to the Goddess every day. We are fortunate enough to live in a country
where that is accepted, as one of the aforementioned morons so lovingly tried
use to further her point, almost insinuating we should just shut up and be
happy with that. No. Just…no. Darling, so long as people like you walk the
earth, spitting out your ignorance and mockery, that’s never going to be good
enough.
I have my
moments of tree hugger behavior. Then I also have moments where I act like the
loud mouth redneck I was raised to be, drooling over that jacked up Ford F-250
that just drove by, with the pipes and mud down the sides. Not only did Fox
News mock us, they stereotyped us. Which, I’ll be the first to admit that
stereotypes don’t just appear out of thin air, but it’s like with anything
else. When they have to interview a person out of a particular group, like
Pagans, they somehow manage to find the craziest, most out there Pagan, tree
hugger, activist to represent all of us. And then dude sitting at home watching
this on his couch thinks that is how we all are. Dude proceeds to go out into the
world and he meets one of us. When it turns out to be his twenty year old niece
who he’s known her entire life, suddenly it’s as if the girl has grown horns.
That’s the
risk Pagans take when telling family members. That’s the line we walk every
single day. It’s one Christians will likely never have to deal with, not in
this country. And yet we’re not the ones being persecuted, they are. We’re just
being used to further some insane
agenda.
It’s not
fair. It’s most definitely not right. I won’t write Fox News off as the devil,
but now, when my anger has cooled down, I am just disheartened and
disappointed.
I’m including a link to the video in question and the petition asking Fox News to
apologize for this mess, even though it won’t repair the damage done.
http://witchywords.blogspot.com/2013/02/news-station-attacks-wiccans.html
http://witchywords.blogspot.com/2013/02/news-station-attacks-wiccans.html
http://www.causes.com/actions/1733105-demand-fox-news-apologize-to-pagans-and-wiccans
go article and as a follower as Asatru I to seen this as an attack on pagans not just Wicca.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly,well said!
ReplyDeleteI cannot log in to sign the petition, however I watched the snippet and was incredibly offended, not just on my personal behalf, but because now, people who don't know any better are going to assume that since Fox News (such as it is) spoke, then this must be correct. I agree with your article and your idea and would willingly support it, if I was able to log in.
ReplyDeleteWell said
ReplyDeleteThey took the video down. I didn't get to see it. Scaredy cats. Lol.
ReplyDeleteHey Crystal, the link I included is to a blog that has the video on it.
DeleteI agree with all you say,but let it slide over you and not taint your mood.They think we are so few because we are secure in our ways and dont have to preach,convert or stand up and be counted.Remember,we do not build Churches,Temples,Synagogues or Mosques to worship our Gods....ours was built for us...it is others who have forgotten this.We shall have the ground beneath our feet and the sky above our heads long after their places have crumbled into dust and blown away with the wind....until the day that the Sun comes and eats us up....and in a Universe so big and cold and dark being held close together in warmth and light is not a bad way to find yourself. Not to mention that dumbfucks just sound like dumbfucks when their lips are moving.:)
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the video, they ask if anyone knows a Wiccan to email at friends@foxnews.com. so, being a Wiccan, I certainly know a Wiccan. I emailed and gave them a little piece of my mind while correcting their stupidity. I love how 20% of holidays turns into 20 holidays. Morons. They may not even glance at my message, but it certainly made me feel better.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! I may do the same.
Delete