MySpace is yielding some good chatter. My response on another forum:
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I've found that an indulgent smile takes the steam right out of most folks who try to get a rise out of you. If you become reactionary, they go right for that weak spot, because if they hadn't hit a nerve, you wouldn't be reacting emotionally.

It can be frustrating, the little encounters that pop up. And we can let them build until it seems the whole world is judging us. But we must remember that these are personal issues of individuals, not a problem or agenda of the majority. If your faith truly IS a solid foundation for you, then the opinions of others are simply that - opinions. No threat.

Even family comes into this equation. It's more bothersome because we want to get along with our relatives, but if it's not possible, don't beat yourself up over it. They are who they are. Continue to be a role model as a stable, spiritual individual and they will decide how to take that, or not.

I find that firmness works best. Getting prayer Emails? Block 'em. Someone won't talk to you? Sorry, I'll miss you, but breaking off a connection is their problem; don't make it yours.

I could say more; I'm sure you'll find out in time that I usually do. ;) But I think my point's been made here.

Tags: beliefs, bias, conflict, pagan, persecution

My response to a 55 Underground discussion.
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

Free exercise includes, IMHO, the right to religious privacy. If my kid has to stand and say the Pledge with "under God" and she does not want to, she has two options. One, to suck it up in silence, or sit down and mark herself. Either way, her right to religious privacy has been taken at that moment. Include a Deity she does not follow in a sacred pledge, OR reveal herself.

If you think that sitting down is a harmless alternative, I give you my husband's experience in high school. He refused to stand for the Pledge, and a classmate physically leaped over a desk and attacked him. Within the pagan community, we have many stories of direct and subtle threats in relation to this.

So I'll leave with this small observance - it's about so much more than a couple of words. I refuse to put my child in a compromising moral position, or potential physical danger, because the popular kids' noses are out of joint at the idea of taking out those words. It's very easy to say, "what's the big deal," when you are in the position of not having to worry about such things.

Tags: america, beliefs, conflict, political, rant

My response to a comment on wiccan where a 17-yr-old was confronted in a bookstore while examining a tarot deck.
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"The tarot isn't specifically Wiccan, so she really wasn't attacking your religion. However, it was disgustingly rude of her to butt in. If it ever happens again, the best way to throw them is to stare at them with a "is there a reason you're butting into a private conversation?" and then say to them directly, "and this is your business how?" Then just stare at them until they go away.

You don't need to explain or apologize to anyone who sticks their nose in where it doesn't belong. Your turf, your table, you're the one with manners. Even experienced persons can get flustered in this sort of situation, so don't feel bad about your reaction. But the best way to keep control of the situation is to be blunt and short on words. It keeps you from stumbling over anything, and puts rude people in their place by changing the focus from what they've attacked to their own bad behavior."

Tags: conflict, wicca