Heritage and paganism
Re: Green pagans find way to White House funding and Dancing Druids
I was reading your article in response to the man that wrote you, Mr. LaChance, I believe was his name. I understand that he basically went off on you like a bat out of hell. I also understand that he attempted to bring your heritage into his argument when in fact, he had no idea what he was talking about. However, in your article you manage to miss the entire point of his letter to you. He is assuming that you completely hate Pagans and Wiccans, and it is an understandable assumption for which you will have to forgive him. Being Pagan myself, I know what it is like to find people all over the place who think they know what they are talking about and then attempt to scold me over my faith only to show that they in fact know nothing of what they are talking about. This is not to say that this is the case with you, although I would like to point out that voodoo dolls, referenced in your article, are not used by Pagans and Wiccans, or by Voodoo practitioners for that m atter, but are instead a triviality of pop culture.
Still, you missed the point. The point is this. We are a group of people with a common faith just like any other. If one faith group gets to dig into your tax purse and mine, because I pay taxes too, then why shouldn’t another? No matter how outlandish or unconventional, if they are meeting the requirements of these charitable programs, then why shouldn’t they receive such funding. After all, my tolerance starts to wane as well, when I find Christian groups who teach homophobia, racism, and sexism receiving federal funds from the taxes that I pay out of my hard earned check. However, if this is an advantage given to one group willing to put their necks out on the line to serve the community around them, it must be given to all groups willing to put their necks out on the line to serve the community around them.
So, Mr. LaChance may have made a poor argument, but if you intend for anyone to take you seriously then you must answer the question and the argument itself, instead of simply attacking his method of argument.
Sincerely,
Rev. John Medellin
