I think that you put this very well. I've seen a lot of rants on this comm, and have been, frankly, somewhat disappointed. I had to actually go back and read the profile, to be sure I was on the right comm. I thought that this was a website for all types of people who were interested in learning more about the Asatruar and the Norse Gods. I thought at one time I might be interested, but after reading a lot of the posts, I kinda felt like maybe I was in the wrong place. I have seen a lot of bickering and ranting, and felt that what I read on the profile didn't seem to match the state of the comm. I have had to ask myself if this was a place where I really belonged. I've stayed to watch and see what will happen, but I'm still having a lot of doubts about my membership, and my affilitation. I'd like to see more postings like this and less bitching. I think you opened a very nice door for more open discussion. Kudos!
Good for you! I am so glad that you were not turned away. I'm so sad for those who have been lost to our faith because of the bickering and judgmentalism by what I hope is a very outspoken few. And I promise in advance that am going to rescan this picture. My apologies for it not coming out better.
Please, next time you see something in this community that you feel is inhospitable, please drop me or one of the other moderators a line--or speak up yourself in response. People who are only happy with one kind of heathenism--or who don't like any other religion--have a right to their views, but they shouldn't be telling anyone they can't be heathen, least of all not here or in a Heathen Thing venue. But I don't look here every day. And I can't stop people from whining and bitching, you know . . . just tell them off when they're whining and bitching at fellow heathens.
Frith, M Founder of A Heathen Thing --and this comm
Thank you, and it's not just this heathen site that I've seen some things I found that way, actually, so it's been interesting to see just how fractured heathens in general can be. It got me a bit steamed, considering that I've been trying to find my path, and I felt very blunted, let's just say. I'm glad to see that this site seems to be taking all of this a lot more seriously, as the last post I replied to on another site I found very rude and intolerable and intolerant went unnoticed and unresponded to. So, kudos to you all for responding in a kind and open manner, and my hope is shall it continue! <3 and light, Jen
Thank you for this post. I'm Heathen. I have fibromyalgia and endometriosis (soon to have a hysterectomy at 31). I get a *lot* done considering that sometimes I'm in so much pain I really just want to curl up in a ball. Life doesn't work that way, and my kids won't raise themselves. I get frustrated with those who think that people with illness 'brought it on themselves' by not being good enough or something. Or that I'm not self reliant enough. I know we tend to be an opinionated bunch, but.....
I have fibromyalgia too, and there are people who like to debate that it's not a real affliction. Ooooo, just try living with it a few days. They would change their tune so fast and frankly, if they keep it up, the Gods tend to take care of their situation, I think. Yeah, I know about being in such bad pain that it takes huge effort to get out of bed. I do up to 21/2 hours of yoga some days and I still can't get rid of the pain. I've been reading a lot of argumentative posts from heathens who seem to think that strength = anger and who have been "Saga-thumping" (rigid definitions of text taken out of the Havamal, like Fundamentalists have taken passages out of the Bible and narrow definitions of the Nine Noble Virtues) and I just had to start speaking up. That encouraged others to speak up. I'm so glad.
I know I posted to HeathenThing and I'll add the same here. The gods care about what's inside, not the outside. You do what you can. Everyone has a role to play and we're all different. Don't like it? too bad. We're all human and we all have scars and we all have to deal one way or another. For anyone to say "you can't be heathen because you're not completely self reliant" is absurd. No one of us is completely self reliant. well a few may be but no one I know.
Well I don't know about in the US, but in Australia rejecting people with disabilities is illegal.
As a Heathen who has folk with disabilities within his folk, I find such attitudes without honour.
As a person who works as a Support Worker for people with various disabilities I am outraged and disgusted.
This is another issue that I have come across on US lists that I have never heard of occuring here in Australia. Of the 3 or 4 Australian Heathen organisations that I have regular communication with, none would find such actions as acceptable.
I'll certainly vouch for that. In my short time in the Heathen community, I've not seen any of this type of bigotry in my country, Canada...other types yes, quite unfortunately, but nothing with respect to judging and dismissing people who live with a or numerous disabilities. We too have laws about such things in Canada. We have very very strong Human Rights legislation which deals with this kind of nonsense. So I can quite honestly say that the only time I hear of such prejudice against people with disabilities is on these various fora. I get the feeling that much depends on where one lives and one's country and its population's overall treatment of people with disabilities. I might be wrong in my assessment here, but this does seem to factor into the equation somewhat imo.
First, I suggest you work on posting in a coherent manner. This diatribe of yours is hard to follow.
This is unpalatable at best because you advocate removing prejudices against those with handicaps (I'm good with that), but in the same post bash other religions. In fact, you're titled user icon "hitlerpope" is highly offensive and your tirade about fundamentalists, Jehovah Witnesses and Jack Chick is basically a non sequitar to your original (I think) focus of the post.
I'm not sure if you're demanding that everyone be accepted in Heathenry or that you just hate Xtianity...possibly both. I'm not a fan of either as hatred breeds hatred and egalitarianism is best left ot the hippie communes.
Hmmmm, I just noticed the user pic of the Nazi, cartoonmayhem. I have to say, and I'll be quite blunt about it, I, being part of this community, don't feel comfortable seeing such things in a comm that is free of this kind of political crap. It makes me very uncomfortable and I have to say I think it highly inappropriate for it to be posted on this frithful comm. I'm all for freedom of expression but here I draw the line. I agree with Hundur: it is highly offensive. It has no place here imo. Let's keep politics out of this comm. Things are political enough on other fora.
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Please, next time you see something in this community that you feel is inhospitable, please drop me or one of the other moderators a line--or speak up yourself in response. People who are only happy with one kind of heathenism--or who don't like any other religion--have a right to their views, but they shouldn't be telling anyone they can't be heathen, least of all not here or in a Heathen Thing venue. But I don't look here every day. And I can't stop people from whining and bitching, you know . . . just tell them off when they're whining and bitching at fellow heathens.
Frith,
M
Founder of A Heathen Thing
--and this comm
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<3 and light, Jen
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I get a *lot* done considering that sometimes I'm in so much pain I really just want to curl up in a ball.
Life doesn't work that way, and my kids won't raise themselves.
I get frustrated with those who think that people with illness 'brought it on themselves' by not being good enough or something. Or that I'm not self reliant enough.
I know we tend to be an opinionated bunch, but.....
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Frau Astrid
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As a Heathen who has folk with disabilities within his folk, I find such attitudes without honour.
As a person who works as a Support Worker for people with various disabilities I am outraged and disgusted.
This is another issue that I have come across on US lists that I have never heard of occuring here in Australia. Of the 3 or 4 Australian Heathen organisations that I have regular communication with, none would find such actions as acceptable.
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and in the corner of Canada I've been in contact with - we're the same on this issue.
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Just my two cents...
Frau Astrid
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This is unpalatable at best because you advocate removing prejudices against those with handicaps (I'm good with that), but in the same post bash other religions. In fact, you're titled user icon "hitlerpope" is highly offensive and your tirade about fundamentalists, Jehovah Witnesses and Jack Chick is basically a non sequitar to your original (I think) focus of the post.
I'm not sure if you're demanding that everyone be accepted in Heathenry or that you just hate Xtianity...possibly both. I'm not a fan of either as hatred breeds hatred and egalitarianism is best left ot the hippie communes.
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Frau Astrid
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