The Pagan culture is one full of amazing beauty. The music, poetry,
stories, art work, dances and even family and/or group traditions
reveal much of the wonders that Paganism has to offer followers. Almost every
Pagan could tell of discovering that beauty for themselves and how it
made them feel. And almost every Pagan could also tell you about a
Stasis Pagan, a community war, or an interfaith war.
The community has more than it's fair share of Stasis Pagans... those
that are so set in their ways (or opinions) that they refuse to budge,
even if it means damaging the community and thus, the culture. We have
those that retreat into the closet every time even a hint of
discrimination is present. We have those that moan and groan about how
unfairly Pagans are treated, but just ask them to help create change
and you will see just how quickly they start to gripe about you
creating waves and being "dangerous" to the community. We have those
that have automatic ear muffs and blinders that fly into place at so
much as the mention of the word Politics. The list goes on. And with
each listing comes a new chink in the Pagan culture.
Witch wars are, sadly, all to common in communities across the
country these days. What starts out as a personal issue between two or
more, quickly escalates into a community free for all. Those that are
not involved or are fed up retreat from the community, disheartened
and full of frustration. Others are pushed by one side or the other to
choose sides, and they too, disappear from community activities.
And what about the interfaith wars? At one time or another we have
all been guilty of griping about another religion, but that's not
quite what I am talking about. I'm talking about those that complain
about another religion no matter what they do. "A Christian preacher
sat down to talk with a Pagan priestess? What a hypocrite!" "A Muslim
article was featured in the newspaper? Time to write nasty letters to
the Editor!"
Every single one of these things poses a threat to the Pagan culture.
The Stasis Pagan poses a threat by their unwillingness to fight to
preserve our very culture so that it may be passed on to future
generations. Each disappearance of a disheartened and totally
disgusted Pagan because of a community free for all means that the
stories and poetry, the music, the traditions, dances, art work and
every other masterpiece they had to offer goes with them. Instead of
being shared and enjoyed by all, that beauty is lost to the community,
sometimes forever. And every interfaith war means yet another instance
when the Pagan culture is presented in the worst possible light.
Instead of sharing that beauty, it is lost underneath layer upon layer
of anger, accusations and crap flinging.
We have much to offer future generations, ourselves, our communities
and the world. I just wonder... How long it will be before it is all
lost because of our unwillingness to stand up? We love our culture,
but how many are willing to fight to preserve it?
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