4.16.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
Jane Baker, from the Australian paper The Yass Tribue, holds up Hypatia of Alexandria as a beacon of inspiration when confronting various fundamentalisms and maintaining independent thought.
"In a time darker than ours, a time when reason was held hostage to fundamentalism, when only one form of thought and belief was permitted, when scholars were denounced and their works destroyed, Hypatia kept teaching and standing up for reason. "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all," she told her students. Those words should stay with us when we read the papers, listen to the news, hear the latest demagogue spruiking his zealotry. We have to think. We have to question. We cannot accept what we are told without thought and consideration. That is what stands between us and the darkness of ignorance and fanaticism."
Now that Hypatia's story is being adapted into a film, one wonders if the famous Neoplatonist will indeed become a sort of Pagan saint, invoked against intolerance and religious extremism by a variety of groups.
Students from Pagan/Wiccan club and Native American club at Joliet Junior College, inspired by one of their teachers, joined forces to create a Relay for Life team and raise money for Cancer research.
"Students from the Native American Club and the Pagan Wiccan Club joined together to create the JJC Thunderbirds team for the All-College Relay for Life being held this weekend at Lewis University in Romeoville. In a final push to raise funds for the walk, they created an event - 'Clips for a Cure' - on the JJC bridge Thursday afternoon. Anyone donating a foot of hair to Locks of Love was eligible for a free hair cut; others were given a hair cut with a donation as small as $5. Hairstylists from J&M Hair Salon in Joliet donated their time and talent to the cause, cutting both men's and women's hair."
Thanks in part to the efforts of these clubs, Joliet Junior College has raised over $25,000 for cancer research in the past two years. This is a wonderful example of young Pagans involved in making the world a better place, and showing that the future of our religious movement is in good hands.
The Florida Sun-Sentinel re-tells the myth of Eos and Tithonus.
"Naturally Tithonus loved Eos. Who could resist the love of such a beautiful goddess? Just as she does today, in those years long ago, Eos woke the world each morning with curling rings of light, and every morning she mystically brought the world out of darkness. Whenever Tithonus looked at her, he felt a glow, the way so many people feel at dawn - as buoyant as an April morning on those days when the first buds begin to bloom."
Just the myth. No commentary, no moral lesson, just the story. If re-printing the great stories and myths in newspapers is a new trend, I approve! Perhaps they can run a serial of the Trojan War?
A Druid from Portsmouth has turned in his ritual sword to the police in order to make a statement on the recent growth of stabbing incidents in the UK.
"A Druid who had to fight a legal battle to get his sword back after police confiscated it has now handed the weapon in to promote world peace. Merlin Williams used his blunt sword, Taliesin, to create a circle of safety around members of the druid order at ceremonies ... He said: 'The thought to hand the sword in to police came to me when I was meditating and thinking about world peace and the stabbings you read about in the papers all the time. 'I wanted to show that druids are peace-loving and although the sword was never used for violence, I thought handing it in to the police station where it was confiscated would be a good way of doing this. I also want to discourage others from carrying knives as it can lead to violence and people being hurt.'"
Williams is a member and chief bard of the The Insular Order of Druids, an organization that has had more than one run-in with the law over confiscated ritual blades.
The Oshawa Public Library in Ontario has generated a bit of scandal over providing a tarot workshop to local teens.
"It's not often that a school librarian takes issue with a library program. But Oshawa's Susan Packer said she was driven to act last week, after learning Oshawa's public library will be offering tarot card workshops for teens later this month. "I believe that tarot reading is a dangerous practice. Teenagers who might attend the program offered at the library will be dabbling in the occult," said Ms. Packer, who is the parent of three teenagers and a teacher-librarian at an Oshawa elementary school ... Ms. Packer shared her concerns with the Durham District School Board and sent a letter to the library board and local politicians last week, asking that the program be dropped."
While such a controversy might have played out differently in America, it seems that Canada has little tolerance for religious hysteria. A librarian at OPL said that "we don't let small groups of people dictate what large groups of people can see or do or learn", and they plan to go ahead with the workshop. The workshops are being held on April 19th and 26th, and will feature Zsuzsana, author of "The Now Age".
In a final note, a couple people passed along a link to a story from late last year that I missed. It concerns an ongoing rivalry between two Baltimore candle stores on the same street "Grandma's Candle Shop" and "Lucky Star Candles: Home of Old Grandpa."
"Grandma's and Grandpa's have both been caring for the spiritual health of downtown Baltimore for three decades, squabbling like an old married couple the whole time. The feud isn't as hot as it was when Old Grandpa ran his store, but despite their similarities, there's no love lost between the candle merchants."
This story has it all: drama, allegations of intellectual property theft, bad blood, and different religious backgrounds (Grandma's is Pagan-friendly, Grandpa's is decidedly Christian in tone). Both uneasily co-exist while selling mojo and magical supplies to the locals. A must-read!
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: activism, Baltimore, Canada, candles, Druidry, Druids, Hoodoo, Hypatia, Myth, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Tarot, UK, Wicca
3.17.2008
Update: Starhawk Deported From Israel
Starhawk has posted two accounts of being detained and deported from Israel. In them, she explains that her past involvement with the International Solidarity Movement was the reason for refusal.
"I was refused entrance because of work I have done in the past with the International Solidarity Movement, a group which supports nonviolent resistance against the Occupation ... Four years ago, I spent a month or more working with the ISM. When I left the country, I was questioned and warned that I might have difficulty returning. But I chose to try, anyway. This time my intention was to work with ecological groups, doing permaculture presentations and trainings. I had invitations from three green Isrtaeli organizations, and the assurance of a lawyer that that would be enough to get me in. The lawyer was wrong."
After spending a day in detention, Starhawk decides to forgo a legal challenge (which could have meant months in detention) and return to the United States.
"In the night I am jolted awake with the conviction that I have made a terrible mistake in abandoning my case. But in the morning, when I might still get word to my lawyer to carry on with it, the cards say over and over again that it is useless, and time to make a strategic retreat. I can't ever know, really, if they're right or wrong, if I've lost all objectivity, if my own inner sense of agreement with their verdict is accurate or influenced by the stress of going cold turkey from all my usual addictions and comforts: food, tea, exercise, and above all, work. In the end, I have to make some decision, so I decide to go."
Was Starhawk's deportation justified? I think not. While the debate rages over whether the ISM is or isn't a terror-supporting group, Starhawk's personal motives seem grounded in non-violence and empathy. Further, this trip was in no way connected to political activism (unless you count bioremediation as a political action), and she was invited by Israeli groups to come to Israel. Her deportation, rather than making Israel safer, has only confirmed for some that voices of dissent against government policy are increasingly unwelcome.
NOTE: I understand that merely invoking the name of Starhawk (especially in the context of Israel) can cause heated political discussion, so I'm asking that commenters keep things civil and respectful. Strong opinions are fine, ad hominem attacks are not.
Labels: activism, deportation, Israel, Starhawk
3.13.2008
Starhawk Deported From Israel
Author, activist, and Reclaiming co-founder Starhawk has been refused entry and deported from Israel. Starhawk (born Miriam Simos, a descendant of Russian Jewish immigrants), who was there to teach a permaculture course in the northern West Bank, has long been critical of Israel's policies concerning the Palestinian-controlled West Bank and Gaza. A stance that very likely prompted the deportation order.
Starhawk
"Starhawk, author of many works celebrating the Goddess movement and Earth-based, feminist spirituality arrived in Tel Aviv Wednesday, 12 March. She was here to help teach a permaculture course in the northern West Bank as well as working with earth activists to develop a project in the Bethlehem area. Dr. Joanne Taylor, a British psychologist commented on the deportation "clearly the Israeli authorities are paranoid even about letting people grow crops and conserve rainwater on their own land." Declaring herself as 'a peace, environmental, and global justice activist and trainer, a permaculture designer and teacher, a Pagan and Witch', perhaps this earthy combination was just too threatening for the powers that be."
The deportation order seems surprising since Starhawk is an outspoken proponent of non-violent solutions, and while critical of the Israeli government's policies towards Palestinians, has continually reiterated her Jewish identity and "true love" for Israel. It should be interesting to see what reasons the Israeli government ultimately gives for this deportation, and if Starhawk's relationship with news organizations like The Washington Post will result in mainstream media coverage of this event.
Labels: activism, deportation, Israel, Starhawk
1.21.2008
In Fullest Honor
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when the nation celebrates the birthday
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." -- Martin Luther King Jr.
A short excerpt from King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail":
"You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" You are quite right in calling, for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. My citing the creation of tension as part of the work of the nonviolent-resister may sound rather shocking. But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word "tension." I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, we must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood....I must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection."
Regular blogging will resume on Tuesday, January 22nd.
* Martin Luther King's actual birthday is on January 15th, but the Federal holiday is observed on the third Monday of January.
Labels: activism, justice, Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King Jr. Day, racial equality, Religious Freedom, social justice
9.12.2007
Standing Up, Being Heard
The O.C. Register has a profile up of Orange County Witch Yvonne Conway, national spokesperson for the Covenant of the Goddess, who was recently involved (along with COG) in the fight to get the US Department of Veterans Affairs to include the Pentacle on grave markers and tombstones.
"Conway is the national spokesperson for the Berkley-based witchcraft organization Covenant of the Goddess. She may also be Orange County's most prominent witch. The 37-year-old Huntington Beach native organizes three Meetup.com social networking groups for Orange County witches, pagans and ghost enthusiasts ... In 2008, she will help co-host a four day national conference on witchcraft near Yucaipa. As a fully "out-of-the-broom-closet" witch, Coway says her job is to put a public face on Wicca, the pagan faith she estimates up to 1,000 Orange County residents practice."
Conway represents a newer generation of Pagan leaders who are transcending the limiting politics of lockstep unity and are instead helping to build strong coalitions around issues that diverse Pagan and Heathen groups care about (like our religious symbols on Veteran grave markers).
"It's tough for (wiccans) to find a way to work together ... But this was about prejudice and being treated like second class citizens or less because of our religious beliefs. There was absolutely no controversy."
The Veteran Pentacle Quest is now evolving and moving forward to work towards the approval of Heathen and Druid symbols, something that activists like Yvonne Conway will no doubt be involved in.
Labels: activism, California, COG, Paganism, Veteran Pentacle Quest, Wicca, Yvonne Conway
4.04.2007
Sacred Lands Safe Once More
Back in October of 2005 I posted about a story concerning a coalition of 13 Native American Tribes who were trying to stop a ski resort on the San Francisco Peaks (a mountain range that is deeply sacred to the indigenous peoples from that area) from pumping recycled (non-potable) waste-water onto the mountain for snow production. At the time I summed up the issue as "Screw Your Religion! We Want To Ski!" due to the attitudes taken by park officials and the owners of the resort.
"Nora B. Rasure, the supervisor of the Coconino National Forest, wrote this year in the report that the resort "has and continues to provide a valuable recreational experience to many people, and that in order to continue providing that experience in today's physical and business environment, changes are needed."
In January of 2006, the U.S. District Court ruled against the coalition and for the U.S. Forest Service and Arizona Snowbowl. The Coalition vowed to appeal the decision to a higher court.
"Regrettably, there is often a rift between what is legal and what is right. We will pursue all legal means to stop this project ... Snowbowl is not a destination ski area. People do not travel from across the Country and around the world to ski at Snowbowl. Indeed, many of the press reports on this issue have overstated the economic contribution that Snowbowl makes to the Flagstaff economy - which is marginal. People do, however, travel from around the world to the Flagstaff region to experience the ways of, especially the Navajo and Hopi Tribes. Other than to preserve the economic viability of a private entity, there is no adequate justification for this project." - Howard Shanker, lawyer for the Navajo Nation
Now it seem that the coalition has finally triumphed. On March 11th 2007, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled against the pumping of waste water onto the sacred mountain for the purpose of recreation.
"We reverse the decision of the district court in part. We hold that the Forest Service's approval of the Snowbowl's use of recycled sewage effluent to make artificial snow on the San Francisco Peaks violates [Religious Freedom Restoration Act] RFRA, and that in one respect the Final Environmental Impact Statement prepared in this case does not comply with NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act]...If Appellants do not have a valid RFRA claim in this case, we are unable to see how any Native American plaintiff can ever have a successful RFRA claim based on beliefs and practices tied to land that they hold sacred."
Members of the coalition celebrate their victory.
Photo by Chuck Seiverd
This is a strong ruling for the rights of Native groups. The court states unambiguously that this sort of ruling is exactly what the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was created for (though this may be the first time it has been used to stop governmental action), and that Snowbowl and the U.S. Forest Service didn't take environmental impacts into consideration in this decision. As strong as this decision is however, it may not stop an appeal to the Supreme Court, since the "mountain recreation" industry is up in arms, and the owners of Snowbowl are bitterly lashing out at the Native tribes in interviews.
If this ruling stands, it could revolutionize the struggle for the preservation of sacred lands by tribal communities, and bring forth more legal challenges under the RFRA.
"This is a national wake up call for those that will try to desecrate sacred mountains like the San Francisco Peaks. We will not allow our voices to be ignored." - Robert Tohe, apprentice medicine man and Environmental Justice Organizer for the Sierra Club in Flagstaff, Arizona.
I personally feel that justice has been done in this case, and I am happy that the sacred land for several indigenous peoples were not carelessly desecrated for the profits of a single business. Congratulations to the Save the Peaks coalition.
Labels: activism, American Indian, indigenous, Native American, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, San Francisco Peaks, Save the Peaks
