OK, I have tried one last message the folks in the Obama campaign tasked with dealing with various faith communities. Unless things change, it looks as though Pagans will be shut out of the interfaith event on Sunday of the Democratic National Convention.
Before you turn off your computers and rush out to register as Republicans, take a minute to think and read further. Unless you truly believe that John McCain and those he will being with him mirror your beliefs and would create a more Pagan-friendly America, feel angry, but make a rational decision on what to do about it.
As a leader in the Democratic Party who believes this country will be better if Obama is elected and worse, far worse, if he is not, I can see why the campaign wouldn't welcome endorsements from Pagan leadership. There's already enough "swift boating" going on, and this would only add to it. Let's face it, folks, most mainstream Christians don't understand us very well, and our overt support might well push center and right Christians squarely in the McCain camp. I get it, really.
However, let's remember a few things. First, we're considered the fastest growing religion in the country. Second, according to the Pew Religious Forum, there are already more Pagans than Muslims, Friends (Quakers), Jehovah's Witnesses, Greek and Russian Orthodox members combined, Congregationalists, and many other smaller Protestant faith communities. Third, the Democratic performance (percentage who say they vote Democratic on polls) of Pagans is higher than Catholics and mainline Protestants.
Add it up. There are more of us than you think, Democratic Party leadership, and most of us vote for your candidates. Truth be told, we probably also work hard to help your candidates win elections. I know many Pagans here in Maine doing just that.
Here's my question (actually two questions, since I've got your attention): first, why are we overlooked by the liberal-leaning candidates we support; second, what should we do about it.
I can tell you my answers.
I believe we're overlooked because most of us want (or have) to be. We are so often misunderstood--or worse, that we have learned to be very quiet about our beliefs.
The second question is more difficult. What I did, as you know, is devote lots of time and energy to getting good Democratic candidates elected. I've done this as an openly Pagan person, and have found subtle ways of reminding leadership of this (Happy Solstice, governor!). While I'll admit to a passing fantasy about organizing a demonstration outside the interfaith service in Denver, I most certainly will not. I will, however, participate in Reclaiming's circle to be held later that week (more details as they become available).
So....the questions still stand. What are your answers?
Monday, August 18, 2008
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5 comments:
I think there's a certain amount of fear involved in the ... I'll call it marginalization ... of our voice in current politics. Conservatives within "traditional" (primarily the monotheistic religions) have a hard time accepting that we're not the personification of their fears while Liberals maybe willing to accept that we're not all that bad, but they fear associating with us could damage their public image.
The only way to combat this is to continue to be good people and work to combat the stereotypes in positive ways. I work hard to get local pagan groups to coordinate interfaith trash pick-ups or other environmentally friendly endeavors, for example.
Most people fear what they don't understand, and people don't understand things that are different. If we continue to work hard at showing people that, fundamentally, we're not all that different, things will begin to become more clear.
Will we ever become universally accepted? Of course not. It'd be a hard argument to prove that Christianity, Judaism, or Islam has reached a universality of acceptance throughout the world, but I'd like to think that we could become more accepted than we are now.
If nothing else, proving to authority figures that we are not the sum of all fears will help those people to publicly indicate that they listen to us and that are willing to acknowledge our voice and our views.
I think it's best to work quietly and diligently behind the scenes, all the while anticipating that moment when you're able to reveal, "Why, yes, i'm a pagan and let me tell you why and what that means." I think that does more to win people over than by staging protests and being obnoxious.
It's worked to a degree with groups such as the GLBT community. However, the word "included" is tricky. No matter the obvious clout and influence gay groups have today, I still sense a distance within the Democratic party. They're more comfortable with GLBTs than in the past, but there's still a ways to go. And I think there always will be as long as others in this country use the Democrats' inclusion of certain groups--whether it's pagans or GLBTs--as a weapon.
Until that changes, keep up the good work!
There are two answers.
1. tolerance and protection for pluralism, which I believe we get with Obama
2. defense of the Constitutional principle of separation of church and state, which we also get
I don't need them to love me, just respect my rights and leave me in peace.
Interesting. I haven't really thought about the intersection of my religious beliefs and my politics in this way before.
Technically, I am registered Green; here in Massachusetts, though the Democratic party is certainly dominant, it is awfully right-leaning. It has been my sense that by registering Green, I keep a pressure on the party I'll almost certainly wind up voting for (the Dems) not too move too far to the right, trying to pick up those few Republican or undecided voters they are otherwise so keen on.
That's one point of view.
But another might see me more involved (and so more visible) in Democratic Party politics. I know that, in all other arenas in my life, showing up, using my energy and my brains, and simply being visible as a Pagan, I've probably accomplished more than I ever would standing at a vigil or signing onto a petition.
Showing up and getting it done are pretty good ways to garner respect for a minority.
Of course, there is more that I ask of Democrats than religious tolerance. Stronger stances against war, in protection of the environment, to fight poverty, properly support health care, education, and so forth--a typical progressive agenda. Which is why I have focused, till now, on trying to apply my small grain of influence on pushing Democrats leftward.
But there may be ways to have a greater impact, at least on the single issue of religious pluralism.
You've made me think, Rita. (I bet you've made a few politicians think, too--and I think you are right that the influence your "subtle reminders" have had has been significant.)
So much of life is showing up. And probably, if more of us showed up, did the work, and wore our pentacles, Thor's hammers, etc, quietly outside our shirts as we folded letters and sealed envelopes, we'd wind up having a much stronger voice than we do at the moment.
Hmmm...
I don't know the answer, but I have sent a message to Obama's campaign, referencing this post, wondering why pagans are being shut out. Nothing vitriolic, just a simple question. We'll see if I get an answer from them.
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