For those of you that don't know by now (how could you not?), I'm Pagan and do a lot of activist and volunteerism things in that direction. One of those things is my involvement in the Pagan Unity Campaign... which brings me to the point of this post.
As I've mentioned about this time of year for the last two years, it's time for the annual I Am Campaign. For those of you not familiar with this campaign, during the Summer Solstice, individuals gather together postcards of local landmarks or those of personal significance and send them into their elected officials with the line "I am a Pagan ______." (fill in the blank with appropriate term... teacher, student, voter, etc)
For those that aren't Pagan and get involved, the line obviously says something a little differently. In the past 7 campaigns, we've seen everything from "I'm the Christian mother of a Pagan teacher," to "I'm the Buddhist friend of a Pagan voter," to "I am a supporter of religious diversity" to "I'm the teacher of a Pagan freshman." The list goes on.
We're often asked what we hope to accomplish with a single line. The short answer? Nothing really. The campaign is simply a non confrontational reminder to elected officials at all levels of government that we are a religiously diverse nation and that they represent, at all levels and in all states, people of many, many different religions.
For many of you, that probably doesn't seem all that important. To me, however, it's a very important reminder. I read emails daily from religious minorities that are combating religious discrimination in their workplace, in the court system, and in their own families and don't know where to turn or what to do. I've talked to those individuals who have been affected by things such as the decade long fight to get the Pentacle (Wiccan symbol of faith) approved by the VA, seen the violence and vandalism that has occurred when people like Darla Wynne stand up, cried over the losses of people like Tempest Smith who felt, at age 12, that suicide was the only answer to the discrimination she faced at school, listened to intolerant folks like Pat Robertson call a friend evil for being Pagan after she requested that her children's school allow a Pagan event the same consideration they gave a Christian event and have fought against things such as the Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act.
Religious discrimination is, unfortunately, still very much alive in this country and while it may never touch your life personally, it can affect you any way. I've never been ostracized for being Pagan, but I know many that have... that saddens me just as much as it angers me.
One simple line to elected officials may not accomplish much in the grand scheme of things, but we're not expecting to solve the issue with the campaign; we simply remind elected officials, through this campaign, that it does exist, that it does affect their constituents and that those constituents do expect their support as we fight to put an end to the insanity.
So, having said all of that, I'd like to encourage all of you progressive folks to get involved again this year. It doesn't require much time or effort, it doesn't cost a fortune, it doesn't mean turning your back on your own religious beliefs. But, it is important nonetheless.
You may find contact information for your Representatives here, your Senators here, for Bush and Cheney here, for those running for office here and for those in state and local offices here.
Cheers,
Fallon
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