Pagans against Hate - Why?

[illgrace]

Several people have asked "why this board" or have suggested that it's only function is to grind an axe regarding certain pagan boards or groups. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The groups mentioned were used as examples. These examples came about through 'recency' and 'prevalence'.

An apt metaphor would be a virus. A virus will penetrate a cell and lay hidden from the immune system while it replicates itself. When it has replicated to a large number, it will destroy the cell by breaking through the cell wall and then it will spread to other cells. The immune system will become aware of it at this point and mount a defense. This defense is what causes the 'symptoms' of a disease and are not always pleasant to deal with - but it can save your life.

Pagans as a group, of whatever 'belief' system, are beginning to become a 'voice' and a 'presence' within the greater social/political/religious community. If too many pagan groups carry within them hidden agendas of 'Racial purity', Homophobia' and 'Aryan power', these will also 'rise to the surface' in public consciousness and burst out like a virus. If this happens, all the gains striven so hard for by the pagan community will be for naught: pagans will only serve to remind people of the uses 'bent' forms of paganisms were put to by the Nazis and others in history .

The groups mentioned so far here are were mentioned because of both recency and because one of the groups (PN) has/had many of those kind of pagans that have worked so hard and so long for 'paganism' to be seen as both a legitimate 'path' and helpful to the greater community at large.

We MUST NOT let the virus of hate hitch a ride on paganism and lose what large gains we have made. To me, that is the purpose of this and other groups like it.

As this forum grows, other groups and areas will be explored to the same end. I would ask people to put away their fears and stand for what is right in Paganism in all it's forms.

Thank you,

Illgrace

[rowan]

illgrace said:

Pagans as a group, of whatever 'belief' system, are beginning to become a 'voice' and a 'presence' within the greater social/political/religious community. If too many pagan groups carry within them hidden agendas of 'Racial purity', Homophobia' and 'Aryan power', these will also 'rise to the surface' in public consciousness and burst out like a virus. If this happens, all the gains striven so hard for by the pagan community will be for naught: pagans will only serve to remind people of the uses 'bent' forms of paganisms were put to by the Nazis and others in history .

The groups mentioned so far here are were mentioned because of both recency and because one of the groups (PN) has/had many of those kind of pagans that have worked so hard and so long for 'paganism' to be seen as both a legitimate 'path' and helpful to the greater community at large.

We MUST NOT let the virus of hate hitch a ride on paganism and lose what large gains we have made. To me, that is the purpose of this and other groups like it.

Just wanted to highlight that passage as I'm still seeing posts on other message boards showing that some people still think this board is anti-PN when it clearly isn't.

I've absolutely no axe to grind against PN or any of its members. My gripe is with the racist and fascist groups who are promoting and using paganism alongside their own bigoted white supremist views in an attempt to associate themselves with us and the gains made by Pagans - including the PN as mentioned above.

I've always been proud to be pagan, but how many of us will still be proud if paganism becomes inextricably linked to race hate - THAT is what we have to work against, together.

[Boojum]

I suspect I speak for other people when I say that I'm pretty bored of the whole PN issue, to be honest.

[paulmitchell]

Just wanted to highlight that passage as I'm still seeing posts on other message boards showing that some people still think this board is anti-PN when it clearly isn't.

It's early days yet. The whole PN thing on this board is slowing down to a near standstill anyway. As the resources and discussions on the board widen t will appeal to more people as a useful thing.

[rowan]

paulmitchell said:

The whole PN thing on this board is slowing down to a near standstill anyway.

On this board, yes, but on other boards people are still accusing this board of axe-grinding.



You know something, I dream about the day pagans can all work together against a common enemy instead of in-fighting

[Boojum]

rowan said:

On this board, yes, but on other boards people are still accusing this board of axe-grinding.

Le shrug. That's because far too many Pagans are seemingly incapable of understanding the difference between political/tactical criticism and personal attacks.

It's also obviously not the case to those who actually read the board. And I'm not convinced those who don't would be much of an asset anyway. While building the board is still an objective, I'm personally more interested in quality rather then quantity. I think the way it's gone so far has been good- we've got a good mix of traditions and regular posters who are genuinely interested in the issue. And in terms of active posters (as opposed to members), we're actually not that much smaller then a lot of forums that have been around for a lot longer.

And a lot of Pagans and Occultists aren't going to get involved. Not because they're racists or fascists, but because they aren't prepared to stick their necks out on anything remotely 'controversial'.

Sorry, I am trying really hard to care about this. The rest of you go on. I'll catch up later.

You know something, I dream about the day pagans can all work together against a common enemy instead of in-fighting