Yup, CodePINK.
The group that trots around anywhere they can get on camera and rant about how evil things are with President Bush. (Ignoring that their ability to do so kind of disproves their arguments about our lack of rights. For References, see Communist USSR and 'dissenters')
In an attempt to raise their numbers, they're having a "Witches, Crones and Sirens" day. And you thought they couldn't get any more humorously creepy.
"Women are coming to cast spells and do rituals and to impart wisdom to figure out how we're going to end war," Zanne Sam Joi of Bay Area Code Pink told FOXNews.com.
Well, apparently their oh so intelligent arguments aren't working, so they'll turn to spellcasting. . . . right.
Reaction by the Marines? As could be expected by such fine men and women in uniform:
Capt. John Paul Wheatcroft said he's unfazed by Code Pink's antics.
"They're always in pink and wear funny things, half-shaved heads, one side with hair and the other one bald, yeah, I'm pretty much used to anything," he told FOXNews.com.
Frankly, if you have half of your head shaven, why do you ever expect to be taken seriously? If someone is talking to me, about anything, and they have HALF of their head shaven, all I think is "Do they really think that looks good? It looks like they started something, then got distracted by small shiny objects."
Wednesday's theme was "bring your daughter to the protest," where daughters explained why they don't want their parents fighting the war.
Now, calls regarding 'scripting' children and possible mental child abuse aside, I don't understand this tactic. Their entire complaing about not wanting their parents to fight the war is countered thusly:
"Ok, little Stephanie. Your parent's don't have to fight the war. We have a volunteer military, which means that only those who sign up go to fight. If you don't sign up, you don't fight. Only Democrats have enacted Drafts."
Then again, those against the war on terror aren't known for logical arguments.
What are the results of the protest? (Being a conservative, I'm more worried about results than how doing something makes me feel.)
Well, once again, here's the Recruiter:
"Ironically, it's actually helped us by putting our name out. We're now well known. And people know who we are, and where we are, and they come in to talk to us about enlisting. They've gotten us the publicity that we could've never afforded to pay for ourselves," Wheatcroft told FOXNews.com.
"Just in the last three weeks, 10 people came in looking to apply, looking to become Marine officers, and that's much higher than normal," he said.
Huh. Well, then it looks like (as predicted), CodePINK is a failure. They've managed to not only HELP the people they're trying to get rid of, but they've made themselves look stupid in the process.
As for the spellcasting? Well, I'm sure it won't be noticed. It'll just sound like the rest of the babbling.
If you can't tell, I don't have much respect for a group that vandalizes military property.
Crazy enough, I just got done reading the same article on Fox about this. While I do think that people should be allowed to protest what they want, and should be allowed to do (almost) anything they want to promote their cause, witchcraft is just weird, regardless of right or wrong!
Honest curiosity, why do you consider it weird?
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
Just because witchcraft isn't something yiou normally do to get attention. Flashy signs, music bands, theme songs, streaking - these are pretty normal to get attention. Witchcraft?????
Ah, I see what you're saying now. That their idea to use it is weird. Okay, thanks.
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
...that there's nothing better than religion to make a whacky group seem even whackier. I'm curious, though...do you think its just as weird when christian's do it? For example, the Good Friday Prayer used by many chrisitian denominations to pray for the conversion of Jewish people to christianity?
Just curious,
Blackout
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Yes, I've changed my username from "percivale" to "Blackout." Go here if you want to know why.
I had actually never heard of the "Good Friday Prayer" until I read that article. I actually agree the most with the last version of it (released in 1973), but still not quite.
I do think that we should pray for the Jews, just as we should pray for the Chinese, Russians, Egyptians, Spanish, and any other kind of people. I don't think that Jews (or any people for that matter) should be singled out in an official Catholic prayer.
Oh, I think there is a difference between praying, during church services (which is primarily where the "Good Friday Prayer" you reference takes place), for others to find Christ (The purpose of the "Good Friday Prayer") and using witchcraft as a part of a protest (and kind of poking fun at it as well, making it little more than a PR stunt to attract members).
There is, assuming a level playing field, a difference between prayer asking for intercession and trying to manipulate the fields of magic in order to alter the course of events. One is asking, the other is an attempt at forcing your own will.
However, regardless of what they try, the net result is that there are more people heading to that recruitment center than before.
Those who would join the Marines, by and large, find the CodePINK people to be little more than a joke anyway.... so the protest really isn't going to do anything. If the CodePINK people REALLY cared about what they protest about, they'd stop their counter-productive efforts and focus on donating their gobs of money to the poor.
There is, assuming a level playing field, a difference between prayer asking for intercession and trying to manipulate the fields of magic in order to alter the course of events. One is asking, the other is an attempt at forcing your own will.
That's not...entirely accurate. I don't know where most of your knowledge on witchcraft comes from (assuming you're talking about any of the hundreds of Witchcraft Trads) but many witches will tell you that spell casting has little to do with manipulating anything - magic or not.
Spellcasting is a form of a prayer.
The main difference between when Christians go to pray (whether at church or at home, in Mass or alone) they are asking their God for a change in something (i.e., please let me get through this, please let him live, please let me win the lottery, and etc.) They are asking for the Divine to implement a change...
When a witch prays, he or she is also asking for the Divine to implement a change, but he or she is also placing their own energy into helping bring about that change - rather than leaving it entirely on the shoulders of a God.
In a nutshell, if a Christian (generally speaking) were to pray to lose weight - they could pray everyday. And who knows - it might work. Perhaps they will lose the weight somehow. If a witch prays to lose weight, they will put their own energy into it by dieting, exercising, etc. - Helping to bring about the desired change using their own energy. A Christian might also go on a diet - but not as part of their prayer, and not to help the Divine...
But, other than that inaccuracy - I agree with you, These codePINK people need to stop acting like a joke if they want to be taken seriously. Witchcraft is not something people do "just 'cause" - that's like saying "Well, praying to the Christian God didn't help me - so now I'll go pray to Arianhrod...maybe she'll help me".
Chances are Arianhrod would ignore them ;)
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"when you have nothing else to say, "Fwonk" is always the perfect thing."
"yeah well, fwonk"
--Devon
Fanaile Essence
I think we're close to the same point, just an issue with wording.
Given my religious beliefs, I try to not speak much of witchcraft at all, so as to avoid insta-flame wars.
It is enough to say that, were I a practicing member of some form of witchcraft, I would be highly offended by these CodePINK folks.
As it is, I am highly offended by just the similar nature between their DNA and mine.
As it is, I am highly offended by just the similar nature between their DNA and mine.
rofl <-- 'nuff said.
It is enough to say that, were I a practicing member of some form of witchcraft, I would be highly offended by these CodePINK folks.
While I don't consider myself a practicer of witchcraft, I do study and identify closely with those who do, and I am somewhat offended by this group and their gross misuse of spellwork, as well as the fact that they're adding fuel to the fire that Pagans in general have been working diligently to put out.
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
So let me say, "fair enough," and "welcome back."
TTFN,
Blakcout
:-h
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Yes, I've changed my username from "percivale" to "Blackout." Go here if you want to know why.
I thought some of this post was a little condescending, but I agree a half shaved head and pink outfits doesn't help further their cause.
“I hope the departure is joyful and I hope never to return.” - Frida Kahlo
I'm gonna betch slap the dumb outta you
Calling something condescending then having "I'm gonna betch slap the dumb outta you' as a tag on your comments is kind of mutually exclusive, however, you will find that when it comes to CodePINK, I do get condescending.
I have dealt with their local chapter at their own gatherings. Nothing but hatred of anyone who is not in lockstep with them. TOTAL hatred. (They even protest Pelosi, who they fought to get elected, because now she isn't anti-war enough for them.) They do not care about the cause they rant about. So much so that, even when shown that their efforts are counter productive (i.e., enrollment at the recruitment center they are protesting has gone UP due to their efforts) they just continue to seethe.
They are so vile and do such a disservice to the anti-war movement that even I, a big conservative and highly pro-WarOnTerror, feel bad for the anti-war movement for having to be on the 'same side' in such a debate.
That is probably one of the goofiest things I have ever heard.
"Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos."
Homer Simpson
I've heard of goofier things.
As I mentioned, I get CodePINK emails. When they wanted to go to Canada to protest Canada being too pro-war (heh) they were denied entry due to their criminal records.
They blamed President Bush.
Yup. President Bush's fault that they had criminal records that kept them out of Canada.
What were the crimes? Being arrested at protests. Disorderly conduct. Disturbing the Peace. That kind of thing.
Yup, that's the President's fault.....
I don't think very highly of peole who, that horridly, refuse to take personal responsibility.
I don't know....
Blaming the President for being arrested at protests makes a bit more sense than using witchcraft as a publicity stunt....
"Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos."
Homer Simpson
My mother-out-law was arrested at a Bush rally in Iowa because she was standing on the sidewalk with a piece of notebook paper that read "Bad War No More." She and her fellow 50-something teacher were the only protesters. There was no designated space for protesters. The rally was in a park, they were on the sidewalk outside the park. They were wearing John Kerry buttons. They were not yelling. The police told them they would have to move, so they moved off the sidewalk. The police told them they would have to move again, so they asked where they WERE allowed to stand. The police arrested them for disorderly conduct. In jail, both 50-something ladies were strip searched and left in jail for twelve hours. Their lawyers were there within an hour, but they were not allowed to see meet with them for almost twelve hours. No one told them their counsel had arrived. The lawyers were having a fit about the runaround they were getting, but the ladies had no idea what was happening and they just had to sit in jail.
Go Homeland Security. The cops got Homeland Security bonuses for their bravery.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
they know how to get the job done, that's for sure.
I've thought about asking them to protest my bank account. Like the Marines' recruitment in Berkeley, I'd like to see my bank account grow.