The wit and wisdom of the outrageous Brigit Brat
reprinted from the Compost NewsLetter
Mabon 1989
The need for Pagan Politicians
OK-- most of you just said "WHAT!"
But just read up, sillies. I feel it is high time that we as pagans took
a much higher profile in local, state, national, and international politics.
Why, you ask? Simple SURVIVAL.
The Born-Again moneymakers and
the sensationalist media scum have already done a very good job of distorting
the public's view of pagan practices. After the Geraldo (Jerry Rivers)
special, I even had to reassure my mother that we have never killed babies
or raped children in our rites.
It is all too easy for people
like Geraldo (the bastion of journalistic integrity), thermally damaged
overweight ex-cops (Maury Terry), and sexually frustrated evangelists
to associate witches with Satanists, child abusers, junkies, and (of course)
head-banging cock-rock heroes.
Now most Pagans live in fear of
public exposure (I could lose my job, the police would be watching me
along with the FBI, CIA, and any other wacked twice-born christian groups).
OK, that is a valid fear, but an unnecessary one. If witches are shown
to the public in a positive INTELLIGENT and RESPONSIBLE fashion, our numbers
would increase and public opinion change from fear and humorous amusement
to respect and empathy.
The problems as I see them:
We need to be publicly accessible
We are not going to be arrested for our religion. The more we hide,
the easier it is for those who profit from turning the fear of the unenlightened
population into a political moneymaking power base to misinform the
public. This could quite conceivably result in our annihilation. If,
however, we are highly visible, vocal, and ready to debate with the
would-be Witch hunters, then we can maintain a useful presence in society.
There are great number of people searching for something like Wicca
(it is after all becoming politically correct and quite fashionable
- check out Vogue's big fall issue). If we can not be found we can't
be joined.
Pagan representation
If the media wants to have a witch on a talk show, they almost always
dig up the spooky types, the majority of whom are inarticulate, uncomfortable
with debates, and a few steps removed from being Rainbow-Chasing Smurf-Worshippers.
This is not good for our credibility. We need hard-nosed spokes people
appointed by region (and if applicable expertise in specific areas to
be publicly debated).
Networking facilities
I know if I open up my copy of Drawing Down the Moon I can find listings
of numerous organizations, most of which are loosely organized and slow
to respond. We NEED a hardened, fortified, permanent national/international
24 hour networking service with an 800 number. This service could serve
as a communications link between multiple established groups, as well
as a link for those seeking others or other established groups. This
network could also put people in contact with the talent and services
that exist in the Pagan community. and serve as a Pagan community news
service.
Airplay
BACs (Born-Againers) have nationally televised shows and even networks;
we need air time. I am not suggesting aPagan PTL, but rather a televised
news and networking show that could cover areas from ritual structures,
research of the numerous traditions of earth religion, to earth (eco)
News.
Pagan Lobbyists
That's right -- stuffed shirts in Washington who get paid to whine and
plead the case of the group they represent to the congressmen and -women
who ultimately write the laws. If we don't have them, laws are written
that don't take into account the pagan perspective. This is extremely
important if we would wish to separate the Church (christian) from the
State.
Attitudes and Actions
I feel that the only measure of a religion's worth is whether it can
create attitudes in its followers that are conducive to the survival
of the human race on the planet. Since Pagan beliefs teach the interdependence
and synchronicity of all things and events, we probably would serve
as excellent guide and models for humanity (but, then again, looking
at all of the airheads and 60's leftovers and the yuppie mystics, maybe
not). If our goal is to heal the earth and assure our survival, we need
to get serious about our goals and how we will achieve them.
I have lost count of the number
of spooky-type self-proclaimed Witches I have met who are wacked out
of their skulls on delusions of egocentric deification. Come on, be
real. These people destroy our credibility. They are a joke, and a
potentially dangerous one.
Co-operation
The best analogy of the Pagan community that I can think of is that
we are a bunch of squabbling hill tribes. I would not for a minute condone
the idea of forming one great big religious body; our individuality
is precious. But we need tighter coordination within and between groups.
I have personally witnessed unbelievable levels of confusion and apathy
at numerous gatherings and events. This shit has to stop! If we can't
even pull off simple inter-community events, how can we ever expect
to deal with the world governments and the mega-money witch-hating churches?
Face it, if we can't organize and mobilize in response to complications
that may arise when we have to deal with these organizations, we are
dead.
In Conclusion: If we
want to enjoy the same types of freedom and protection now enjoyed
by the Xtians and Jews, we need to establish or empower a group of
persons to deal with the governments (not to be governers of the population
they represent; read that carefully and relax). Further more, these
organizations should be full-time working organizations, unlike those
that exist and claim to serve this function already, i.e. COG.
NOTE: the opinions expressed
are MINE. If you don't like them, GREAT, write a letter to the editor.
This will give us copy for next month. Complacency is Death; Thank
You.
The lovely and talented Ms. Brat