shocked and horrified
SHOCKED AND HORRIFIED
A couple of days ago, a woman on one of the forums I regularly visit posted a weblink. The weblink directed me to a site quoting from a selection of influential figures in American politics.
To say that I am shocked and horrified is an understatement. I'll post the link for you down there, in a moment, I don't want you to click on it just yet.
"The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians." Pat Robertson, Founder and Chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network.
Now this one in particular got to me. I suppose that makes me a feminist then - aside from the fact that I adore and worship my children and as far as destroying capitalism is concerned - well I think my spending habits are probably holding up the economy at the moment!
What I noticed, looking through some of these incredibly misguided and bigoted quotes is that religion and homosexuality were recurrent themes.
I'd like for a moment to touch on religion. Anyone that has been reading here for a while, or that has dipped into the 100 things about me, will know that I am a practising pagan. A witch. Not a wiccan. Please don't label all pagans as wiccans because actually we're not. Thats a little bugbear of mine, but I'll save that explanation for another post another day. Just call me a witch and I'm content with that. I've lived my whole life as a witch, I honour the earth, the Goddess and the God, the cycles of the moon. I live by the Rede - 'an harm ye none, do what ye will'. I take my faith very seriously. I don't sacrifice children or animals, I don't worship the devil - in fact I don't even believe in the devil (again, another post for another day). And I don't, ever, attempt to convert anyone to my beliefs. Not even my children.
So I get a bit annoyed when I see the sort of narrow-minded and hateful comments that are bandied around in the name of religion.
I'm an open-minded person. I have friends from all walks of life and from all religions. I honour and respect their religions, be they Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu - whatever their faith I respect their right to follow and practice it. One of my closest friends in real life was a practising Jehovah's Witness. She is now a fairly committed Christian. I love her, and I don't have any issue with her faith. Nor does she with mine. S was brought up as a Christian. Her family still are strong Christians. Some of the bloggers that I regularly visit are committed Christians. My mother is a Catholic. One of my work colleagues is a Muslim. None of us have any problems at all with the others' religions. We show tolerance, understanding and acceptance.
I don't believe that there is one definitive religion that everyone should follow or else be condemned to the fiery depths of wherever. I believe that people will find a faith, a religion, that resonates in their hearts. And if that faith empowers them, gives them understanding, gives them the ability to be a better, more loving and compassionate person, then what the heck does it matter what that faith actually is.
And then there was homosexuality. Well, I could wax lyrical for hours and hours here. I spent all of my life denying my sexuality. I married. As a result of that marriage I have two wonderful and inspirational daughters that I would never be without.
But again, as regular readers will know, I fell in love with someone of the same sex. Another woman. This was not merely a physical thing - although I did realise that physically I am attracted to women and not to men. It was love of the whole person. The complete person. In some ways, the fact that she was a woman was secondary - I fell in love with her not because she was a woman, but because of who she was as a person. That does not make me a bad person. It makes me an honest one.
Under the skin we are all the same. We have hearts that beat, souls that breathe, blood runs through our veins and we all feel the same emotions. The faith we practice, or the sexuality we feel should be as insignificant to others as what colour socks we are wearing.
There endeth my one and only serious post - I don't normally do serious stuff, butI felt strongly about this. I don't know that I made any sense at all, but I had to say it anyway.
Now, go and read the rest of these shocking quotes - you can find them here.
And to finish....
AN HARM YE NONE, DO WHAT YE WILL
***Just wanted to add***
I wrote this post a few days ago and hadn't posted it because of the broken foot news - since I wrote it, look what has happened over here...
Fantastic news, and I think Mr Robertson would be seething into his champagne...
A couple of days ago, a woman on one of the forums I regularly visit posted a weblink. The weblink directed me to a site quoting from a selection of influential figures in American politics.
To say that I am shocked and horrified is an understatement. I'll post the link for you down there, in a moment, I don't want you to click on it just yet.
"The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians." Pat Robertson, Founder and Chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network.
Now this one in particular got to me. I suppose that makes me a feminist then - aside from the fact that I adore and worship my children and as far as destroying capitalism is concerned - well I think my spending habits are probably holding up the economy at the moment!
What I noticed, looking through some of these incredibly misguided and bigoted quotes is that religion and homosexuality were recurrent themes.
I'd like for a moment to touch on religion. Anyone that has been reading here for a while, or that has dipped into the 100 things about me, will know that I am a practising pagan. A witch. Not a wiccan. Please don't label all pagans as wiccans because actually we're not. Thats a little bugbear of mine, but I'll save that explanation for another post another day. Just call me a witch and I'm content with that. I've lived my whole life as a witch, I honour the earth, the Goddess and the God, the cycles of the moon. I live by the Rede - 'an harm ye none, do what ye will'. I take my faith very seriously. I don't sacrifice children or animals, I don't worship the devil - in fact I don't even believe in the devil (again, another post for another day). And I don't, ever, attempt to convert anyone to my beliefs. Not even my children.
So I get a bit annoyed when I see the sort of narrow-minded and hateful comments that are bandied around in the name of religion.
I'm an open-minded person. I have friends from all walks of life and from all religions. I honour and respect their religions, be they Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu - whatever their faith I respect their right to follow and practice it. One of my closest friends in real life was a practising Jehovah's Witness. She is now a fairly committed Christian. I love her, and I don't have any issue with her faith. Nor does she with mine. S was brought up as a Christian. Her family still are strong Christians. Some of the bloggers that I regularly visit are committed Christians. My mother is a Catholic. One of my work colleagues is a Muslim. None of us have any problems at all with the others' religions. We show tolerance, understanding and acceptance.
I don't believe that there is one definitive religion that everyone should follow or else be condemned to the fiery depths of wherever. I believe that people will find a faith, a religion, that resonates in their hearts. And if that faith empowers them, gives them understanding, gives them the ability to be a better, more loving and compassionate person, then what the heck does it matter what that faith actually is.
And then there was homosexuality. Well, I could wax lyrical for hours and hours here. I spent all of my life denying my sexuality. I married. As a result of that marriage I have two wonderful and inspirational daughters that I would never be without.
But again, as regular readers will know, I fell in love with someone of the same sex. Another woman. This was not merely a physical thing - although I did realise that physically I am attracted to women and not to men. It was love of the whole person. The complete person. In some ways, the fact that she was a woman was secondary - I fell in love with her not because she was a woman, but because of who she was as a person. That does not make me a bad person. It makes me an honest one.
Under the skin we are all the same. We have hearts that beat, souls that breathe, blood runs through our veins and we all feel the same emotions. The faith we practice, or the sexuality we feel should be as insignificant to others as what colour socks we are wearing.
There endeth my one and only serious post - I don't normally do serious stuff, butI felt strongly about this. I don't know that I made any sense at all, but I had to say it anyway.
Now, go and read the rest of these shocking quotes - you can find them here.
And to finish....
AN HARM YE NONE, DO WHAT YE WILL
***Just wanted to add***
I wrote this post a few days ago and hadn't posted it because of the broken foot news - since I wrote it, look what has happened over here...
Fantastic news, and I think Mr Robertson would be seething into his champagne...
posted by Deadly Female at 4:33 PM
9 Comments:
Wouldn't the world be a better place if everybody followed one simple rule.
Live and let live.
How is the foot?
If I had a motto for my life, it would be "do no harm". However, the Rede says it so much more beautifully. I'm not a witch, but I can easily adopt that statement as a way of life.
Mr. Robertson would do well to think the same. He is the reason I'm ashamed of my faith.
I like your Rede. I wish more of humanity would follow that general concept. It would sure make the world a nicer place.
Those of us on this side of the pond have been exposed to his brand of "religion" for a long time.
So sorry you had to stumble across him. You'd be better off not knowing!
I try and avoid religion as much as I can hon.. I too have the people asking me if I sacrifice anything. Maybe I should say to them "yeah the next person that says do I sacrifice anything, I will sacrifice them", then see what they say. My mum was a classic, when she found out I was a witch she told me I was a devil worshipper..err get real mum!!
I was glued to the news when they showed the wedding in Belfast yesterday :) Today its Scotland that has its first one and tomorrow its Elton John here (UK), how appropriate I think it being Solstice :)
Deadly Female said...
Can I have the strawberries and massage and stuff just because, Romey??
anytime babydoll :)
Those quotes made me sick! People like that are the very reason I cringe and leave the room when people start to talk religion.
Add a non-observant-but-born-into-it-and-fairly-traditional Jew to your list of good friends, Deadly, sweetheart.
That's what I am, sure. What you are is wonderful. Whatever anyone is, is wonderful -- creed, gender, sexual identity, religon, colour --it's all a personal issue, not a group decision. Multiculturalism is all about celebrating our many diversities in all the ways in which we humans choose to live our lives.
These people, the quote people... they don't phase me. I am well aware of the circles of life. What goes around, comes around. They're not equipped to judge anyone or anything and i have no doubt that they'll get theirs.
To quote Douglas Adams (also not a great proponent of religion): when the revolution comes they'll be the first against the wall.
To which the answer could only be: AMEN!
All love
La Minxxxxxxxx
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