A Line Drawn in the Sand

     Somewhere, there is a line drawn in the sand. The sand is not owned by someone, the line is not owned by anyone, but it is there. That line, a marker of some inevitable boundary, a symbol of some limit of safe and excess, showing to all who would observe, that 'this is all that can be allowed'. A single and simple thing, a line drawn in the sand, that represents so much to so many, that we can easily be confused on it's original intent or reason for being. And simply looking at this line, we wonder why is it there and not here, how did this become so close to us, and most importantly, who drew it out so?

     We look around and find many things that we think to be normal, to be inevitable, to be okay and accept them without question, … until that is, we see that line in the sand. Some of us see beyond the thin veils of selfishness and illusions of egos. Some see through deception in motion, covering hidden actions against the majority of observers. Those people were targeted first, removed from play in a game so engrossingly enormous that even fewer realize that they play a part in it all. But there it is, still drawing our attention to it, beckoning us to see it and recognize it, that line in the sand. Did we draw it? When did it appear? Why hadn’t we noticed it before?

     Boundaries have always been a part of our world, allowing us to separate land, property, and people. Boundaries show us where it is safe to be, where we are allowed to be, and keep danger and harm safely away. Boundaries allow us to see the group and the individual, selecting for us areas of understanding or understood information and conceptual ideas. These all exist, and have existed, and yet are changed by consensus and definition often. But by who hand did those lines become drawn? And is this just another boundary that can be moved, this line in the sand?

     Maybe ignorance is bliss for it is blind to these things. As the Fool card in the Tarot teaches us, for the Fool walks blindly forward unaware of the dangers, yet not falling to the harm nor heading any perceived warning. Maybe that is why many do not see these things and have grown accustomed to the illusion of safety and secure passage in life. But why do some of us see these things? Are we questioning the realities of our world, do we challenge things that do not make sense to us? Is there some hint at 'wrongness' that awakens our instincts of survival? Maybe. Maybe that is why there is that line drawn in the sand. Maybe that is how it came to be.

     If we ponder too long on the why's and the how's and the who's, we loos sight of the simple fact that it is there, and it represents, if nothing else, a limit, a safe factor, a boundary. We know that we must defend it, for it is the marker of our safety. We come to understand that like so many other lines that have been drawn out, this one too was done as a consensus, and for reason. We know, instinctively, that this limit is ours, of where we must not be pressed beyond, where we would find not just harm, but find damages beyond our own ability to repair. This simple line in the sand.

     So we stand here, claiming all that is on and in our side of that line, and stand, and stand. Yet we have given so much without notice, that once we look down, we see that the line has been pushed to it's extreme elasticity of almost breaking. Now we understand, and are shocked that this has happened, while we were standing guard over it. How could this be? When did this happen? We question and begin anew by observing what we once thought of as clear information, yet now see illusions fade and false pretense fall. This is our line, and it falters, as we stand in it's defense. The pressure pushed into and against that line is great on both sides, yet we can see no relief either way. What happens when it is breached? Who's side will give first?

Somewhere, there is that simple line drawn in the sand, and we are just the grains that give it definition and purpose.

- In Solidarity, Sean Bigham

My take on the 'Bill of Rights'

Here is my personal take, on the original 'Bill of Rights' as given to us by our Founding Fathers in our U S Constitution...

   ( My comments in italics )

Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Petition 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

---I can worship or not of my own choosing without punishment. I can choose to worship what I want. I can say what I want as long as it is truth or not against anothers right. I may assemble with others to say my piece or to observe, and I may petition the government for change.---

Right to keep and bear arms 

A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

---I may possess and maintain personal firearms and am free to own and use them as long as I do not violate criminal laws by thier use.---

Conditions for quarters of soldiers 

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

---The government cannot house soldiers in my property without my permission nor without compensation for the use.---

Right of search and seizure regulated 

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

---No government official, acting in official capasity, can come into my home, collect any property or harrass me or my guests into statements, without a due processed warrent given by legal reasoning and securing said search and confiscation of proerty. And if said warrent was given without proper due cause and under false statement, I can address the government body with petition and legal defence.---

Provisons concerning prosecution 

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.

---I am protected by the laws of the government unless proven guilty of accused crimes against me.---

Right to a speedy trial, witnesses, etc. 

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

---That if accused, I am allowed a council and jury, an impartial judge to hear facts of witness and evidence on both parts of the case and to be held in such process in a timely manner.---

Right to a trial by jury 

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

---That I can request a jury trial of common folk to hear my case.---

Excessive bail, cruel punishment 

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

---That I will be treated fairly and justly in all cases against my person.---

Rule of construction of Constitution 

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

---That these rights, given to me by the Nations Government, are to be ensured and protected by the government, the officers there of, and by the people there given unto.----

Rights of the States under Constitution 

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

---That when there is doubt to the coverage of Law, or to the jurisdiction there of, or the ability to uphold or enforce, that the States and or the People, by vote and judicial proceedure, can set presidence and incure laws and enforcement that would be just.---

Apathy, a non-action verb that destroys our Nation

In the last dozen years, we citizens have been asleep. Figuratively so, and so much so that the actions of our Nations government and political offices have gone almost unnoticed and definitely unchecked. It has been the 'status que' that our government wants, to keep us as uninformed as possible to what policies they want in place. They have lulled us into complacency, feeding our ego's, dangling 'shinny little goodies' and directing our thoughts by redirecting our media. We fell for it...
Apathy, it is a word that has come up many times in conversation lately in our household, our neighborhood and our social gatherings. I had to look it up in the beginning, and that alone ashamed me somewhat. I though myself informed and educated, up to date on news and current civil laws, I found myself lacking and in want of the actual reality of the world events. I had to re-evaluate what I had seen, heard, read, and understood. I began to research and question a lot about the policies that had been put into place. I was no longer complacent, I lost my 'apathy'. And in doing so I gained a few things I didn't count on...
I discovered that the Nation had changed, so much so, that we were no longer a Democratic Republic, That our Nation was no longer defending it's citizenry against injustice, that our education was not indulged in teaching civil laws and citizen rights, and that multinational corporations had somehow gained and had laid claim to our rights as a citizen. Our monetary system was in the hands of world banking tycoons and not our government, that alone made me question our Nation's leadership and values of our ability to govern and sustain our Nation. I discovered that there was legal differences in the terms,'Citizen of the United States' and a 'United States Citizen'. I also stumbled across the information that there are quite a few differences in the term 'unlawful' and 'illegal'. And of course I researched the legal, government, definitions of 'Right' and 'Privilege', and found a disturbing amount of regulation on both...
So, armed with information, and asking questions, I assumed that it was a good idea to share these things and inform my fellow American citizens of these and many other things. I joined internet groups and forums, stood with other active citizens in protests, rally and gatherings, contacted civil liberty and civil law activist groups, and exercised my 'Rights' to help inform others and stand against acts and proposals that were being offered by government officials that I did not believe were in the best interests of the citizens of my Nation.
By doing so, and as a product of past legislature and current laws being accepted by Congress, me and my fellow active citizens, were easily identified and labeled as 'low level terrorists' and seen as a political threat to this Nation. Excuse me? Now I am suspect to terrorism? By speaking my mind and sharing information? By not only protesting but by calling for public vote and voice in matters that affect us, as a Nation of 'Free' citizens? And this is being done with the majority of our Nations public not even aware of the Federal Governments ability to arrest and detain citizens without bond, trial or by any other lawful or legal reason except that we challenge our governments position on governing our media, our taxes, our trade and our borders.
Well I am no longer apathetic to these unjust, unlawful and un-American acts of our supposed Congress of the People. Patriot and Terrorists as closely defined as actors in a movement for or against a government. I am for this Nation, for the principals of it's People and will always side on the betterment of our People that have made this Nation a place to be proud to live in. Our Government needs it's citizens to support it, not the Banks and corporations that continue to bleed it dry and cast harder economics on it and bigger debt into it.
I am no Terrorist, I am no Patriot, I am something more powerful and dangerous...
I am a free citizen, educated and better informed, alert and aware of my government and political officials actions, and I not only have contacts and friends who are like me, I plan on continuing to inform and educate the public.
We have just over 400 political officials in office. We have over 7 million service personnel in our branches of military service in country. There are less than 4 million police officials in active duty rosters. But there are 1.8 billion U S Citizens and Citizens of the US. Do the math.
Yes there is a lot of groundwork for a Police State to be enacted in place, and a lot of talk about Martial Law being set into our countries Cities and States. That is not my 'paranoid ramblings', that is facts based on reports and statements made by our current government. So which way will this turn? Me, I hope for the best and the sovereignty of our Nation and it's People, however I have planned for the worst...
Apathy, a non-action verb, that our Nations Government hopes you continue to hold onto....

Blogs and Journalism

   I read, a lot, online, and from news sources and printed media. I enjoy the 'outside views' and the 'insider information'. As a hobby, I 'people watch', in my vocation I listen to people. All theses allow me to see a bigger picture than what my own eyes can observe, and allows me to understand, a little better, than where my own thoughts can lead me to understand about my world. I am a creature of curiosity, a student of questions and a philosopher of life that takes me many directions. However, I can and do make mistakes in my observations based on the information I observe. Sometimes we do not always see the same things, sometimes we miss a detail or two, and sometimes, we only see what we want.
   I tend to forget sometimes that there are resounding differences between Blogs and Journalism. Blogs are for the most part personal writings and observations of others who wish to share their visions, opinions and interpretations based on emotions, information and personal experiences. While these Bloggers do tend to do some if not extensive research into and for these Blogs, these are not non-bias reports. Journalism, from what I was taught in High School, is reporting of facts and information in a non-bias base to educate or inform the general public of events and ideas. There is usually much research involved, and references are given to ensure that this information could be cross-checked and continually researched for further developments and later date fact checking allowing for a historical record of information. Although much alike, the two are very different.
   In today's information age and society of internet access, we tend to blur the lines between 'good reporting' and 'open source informational blogs'. We find good information in both, and select lines of information to follow, yet we forget about news and tend to follow opinion, and in doing so, we also find sources that we disagree with and feel the need to 'comment' on either source; blog or news journal source. Yes, I agree and point out frequently myself, that today's "News Journalism" is not so non-bias and many are all but blogs for the producers side of the 'story'. Case in point would obviously be anything from a FOX News outlet. But all of today's media, at least the mainstream media (ABC, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, USA Today, ect,ect) has fallen prey to corporate owned and or backed entities that would like nothing less than to control how and what we think and do so by editing and displaying only what they want us to see, hear and understand what the 'news' is. This is not something new, it is an old tried and true, time tested maneuver of 'those in power' controlling the masses 'under them' into a sense of submission and domination. It actively allows confusion and easy discrediting any opposing view or information due to it's elevation of 'True' source or 'authority'. Basically, everything and anything else is misinformed, uninformed or 'treasonous' information and 'upstarts' of 'discontent'.
   Enter today's bloggers! Free individuals, without direct oversight from the 'people in power' and what news we find! We see so much more of the 'behind the scenes', the little revealed maneuvers of politics and government, the 'other side of the story' and 'the rest of the story' as told to us by those who either took the time to research these things or have strong opinions of these things or both. Yeah! Go us! But readers beware! Not all Bloggers are equal, not all Bloggers are accurate, and not all Bloggers are trying to inform you or even to fool you. again, KNOW THY SOURCE should be a mainstay in any and all of your sources about any and all you are researching and following. Bloggers, although are a good thing to have to keep a lot of information and misinformation in check, they too can be sources of misinformation fed by the same lines as the biased news and lost journalists. (Mind you that not all of today's journalists are bias and work to purposely misinform, many are edited so overtly that what they submitted for print and what was printed read like two different stories.)
   We like to find sources that we agree with and disagree with. We like to post commentary on both sources, in support and in defense or 'correcting them'. This is allowed on most blog and news sites, and is freely open, regarding a few comment or posting rules so that we 'play nice' and offer some sort of respect. I dig that, it follows our American (USA) Constitutional right of free speech, and allows the site owners to remain in control of their sites.   I question a lot, sometimes too much I think, and sometime not enough I find. I look to the information source, and a lot of times dig even deeper when things don't seem to add up. Call me a 'news skeptic', but it allows me to find out many related things about what I am searching for or researching into. Direct information and indirect supporting information sometimes can be and is manipulated by the authors of it to lead you in one direction or another. That should always be looked into and suspect of misinformation.
Ah, here I go lecturing about how to research...
   For the most part, I follow this advise and opinion of mine about news and blogs, and even research as deep and the information allows. Sometimes I get caught up in a story or event, and forget to go much further than the source that lead me to either support it or 'attack it'. Now I for one almost never directly attack the person who wrote an article or blog, but I will attack it's source, and I rarely personally 'attack' an individual without facts and evidence that supports my information or opinion. And no, I will never slander another blogger, even in my own blogs. We all make mistakes, we are all subject to misinformation and misleading evidence. That is our own bias, opinions and sources. We sometimes fail to see that 'bigger picture'.
   We also are subject to 'pissing people off' by our blogs, and our commentary posting. That too is normal and seen daily if you cruise through news sites, blogs and forums online. We are , no matter how logical or civil we believe ourselves, are subject to emotion, and therefore emotional responses. Now it comes to the matter or subject of ethical action. No, no lecture from me on this. Just information....
    Online forums, social groups, personal blogs and pages (mostly hosted on social media sites) have those pesky and welcome 'comment' sections. These are mostly open to any and all who might find themselves there, and are likely to use the 'comment' to say their piece. These are public, semi-public, and searchable by anyone. Use your best judgement, but don't be offended or surprised that someone, at sometime or another, is going to offend you, 'attack' you or your ideas and opinions, or just plain decides that they don't like you. In today's world, 'stalking', 'trolling', flameing' and 'blocking' and 'deleting' have so much more in definition and application on line. We are all subject to them.
    Well, besides this day's BLOG entry, I have no NEWS. I am not a Journalist for any network or media company. I freelance write now and again and I freely blog my opinions and share information. If I upset you, not my intention. If I made you think, then I have done my job.

A Message to the Nations Government by it's People

This movement of meaning, our occupation of our Nations Public places, and the messages that we bring,
are not weakend by Police eviction, not quieted by Government officials and not broken by coroprate banks.
We are given strength and resolve by witnessing the force and oppression against us.
We are feed by the reduced and restricted servings of our Constitutional Rights.
We are encouraged to continue on by the unlawful demands of those who would defeat us.

For every peaceful occupation disrupted
For every peaceful assembly disturbed
For every individual harrassed
We are shown and acknowledged in our Power.

This country, our Nation, the United States of America
was founded upon the freedom of government dictation,
the restriction of freedom, under the belief that we, not the wealty,
not the corporate machine, but we, The People, would govern ourselves
by representation, equal and freely choses and held accountable to the populace.

We arre calling for such accountability
We are demanding our government secured Rights
We are exercising our Freedom.

The Power of this Nation was born on the backs of citizens like us
The Soventry of this Nation was secured by its People
And the future of this Nation is our, the citizens, to decide

We are standing together, more powerful each time we are attacked.
We are speaking out, louder each time we are detained.
We grow more numerous, more determined, and more focused every day

We are the 99%,
and we want our Nation back!

An Occupiers Views of this Nation

   I know that I have only been aware of this countries political arena, side shows and grandstand events, for a measly 30+ odd years (the first 10 years or so, nothing beyond family and immediate friends counted in my life, therefore I do not count them) yet I have noticed the drastic turns and devastating twists that has occurred in the last 20 years. These twists and turns have taken the American citizenry and made it all but criminal to be not just a citizen, but a citizen with a voice, and a demand of one's Rights coupled with the education and knowledge of said Rights and an understanding of Civil Laws or the Constitution.

I fondly remember, while in school, taking classes such as Social Studies and Civics, which gave to me an understanding of not only what Laws were and how they actually work, from inception to enforcement, but also just what Government was and how it worked. We studied all three branches of our 'great democracy' and how it was designed to allow for checks and balances and how it was made to keep the People in power through representation and accountability of Government. Later in life, I got involved in Civil Liberties, a bit of Activism, and regularly exercised my civil rights of free speech, peaceful protesting, free press, and free exercise of religion. Much I did learn by actually actively exercising my civil rights, and first and foremost, I learned that Government officials do not like it when we stand up for ourselves and not only question 'what is going on', but demand from them corrective actions and more specifically, accountability of and by them for current government or National circumstances.

I was aware of the events and decisions, of certain government officials, without citizen voice or consent, that began placing certain Laws that began chocking our Civil Rights put into place by the US Constitution and supposedly protected by our US Government. I observed as our Civil Rights were slowly limited in action-ability and restricted or regulated by 'government officials', as if we needed permission to use them, and only by their regulation and conditions. I Grew even more concerned as our Civil Rights and our Social benefits, be them of Social Security, Medicare/ Medicaid, Retirement, Military benefits and retirement, all which are initially invested in by the recipient, which includes unemployment benefits, put into place to assure our citizens and help stabilize our economy and posterity as well as reward those who have invested into the government by service and income. What alarmed me most, however, is when the government began alluding to these Civil Rights and Social benefits as 'Entitlements' and tried to sway 'public opinion' to see these 'Entitlements' as a bad thing and that these people are not just undesirable in asking for these 'entitlements', but are almost underhandedly destroying the Nation by demanding these 'entitlements'.

Now, I am not so naive to believe that the American Citizen has no blame in the current situations and National position of our country, however I am not so ignorant on how this Nation got to this point in our history. I do recall, I do remember. What the current established and seated government has seemed to forgotten, is that we little citizens, with all our demands and selfish claims upon this country, all have a memory that reminds us of what we are 'entitled to' by the governmental writ best known to us by the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution. It is my belief and understanding to what was taught to me by my schools and my freedom to explore and question my government, that this Nation was born of the People, by the People, and for the People, and was not to the Corporations, the rich, nor foreign interests or banks, which, by the way, now claims possession of these rights and accuses the citizenry of unlawful and illegal action by demanding that these rights and benefits be returned to them and that the active government officials be held accountable for allowing the Nation to be victim of said entities that are NOT individuals by definition but have Civil Rights by Law! ???

How did we become so far removed from our Civil Rights? How did all these limitations and restrictions come into play? The shortest explanation would be ; 'apathy'. Also it could be; 'ignorance'. Mostly it is complacency, passive submission, and dis-interest for 'fear of getting into trouble' for speaking out. How soon we forgot that the Laws were designed, originally, to protect the people from the dictation of a corrupt government. And slowly, yet purposely, these Laws, these Civil Rights, were chocked, limited and restricted, by the seated government and the directing or controlling forces behind these decisions. Yes, there is something beyond our own Government, with the power and a voice louder and more influential than the Citizens of this Nation that has taken the control and concerns of the citizens out of the Government as it stands today. In less than 3 generations, we lost our Government to; financial institutions (both US and foreign), multinational corporations, foreign business and governments, corrupt government officials and to GREED.

Somehow, Corporations have become the focus of civil liberties and not the Citizens. Business's are given tax cuts, tax breaks, economic stimulus and free money, all without much of regulation nor requirement of responsibility nor a duty to be held accountable for. Yet citizen are demanding 'entitlements', 'freeloading off the Government'. I can care less of the 'wealth dispersement' issue that seems to be taking center-stage here lately, I am most concerned with the 'revolving and circulating' economic health of the Nation, and it is almost dead. Soon, it will not matter how much money we have, it will be worthless if we cannot get get our government to 'take control back' from these master puppeteers!

In the meantime, I encourage you to exercise your rights, get strong within them. Educate yourself in the Laws that govern our Government. Question everything, and do not just accept demands that limit, regulate, restrict and deny your Civil Rights and liberties. Stand up to corruption. Demand accountability of these Bankers, these government officials, and yes even the US Supreme Courts. You do not have to be a politician to be an active citizen.

Once again I will state the obvious...

I woke this morning from dreams of conversations half heard and arguments stirred on by vague opinions. It disturbed me mostly due to it's stark reality of what I have witnessed in the past during actual gatherings of people who are to be said 'of liked minds'. As I awoke, what was on my mind, and slipped from my lips was this;" It is rude to discuss religion or politics in mixed company, simply because you don't know who your'e going to piss off!"

I made my morning coffee and decided to do some reading and research on the current going's on of the Pagan world, and true to form, there is a lot of hub bub going on. We Pagans are so diverse, we can't seem to even agree within our own 'traditions' for the most part, and there is good reason for it. (I'll get to this later.) And when we do agree, it is usually to do so while, or because, we are attacking another religion or Pagan tradition, and these mini-truse's seem to last only as long as we focus on our subject(s). Then it occurred to me, that this is generally accepted as not only the norm, but approved of by the majority of Pagans. It still didn't shock me, it stirred me on!

The phrase I am so used to hearing is;"Self - proclaimed Witches or Pagans". I truly believe that this is supposed to be an insult or a belittling of one's belief. Guess what? It is a statement of FACT! Here is my take on it...
I am a 'self-proclaimed' Druid, and I am a 'self-proclaimed Wiccan Priest'. Almost all of us Pagans are 'self-proclaimed' something or other within our beliefs. Some, or maybe most of the more vocal, are not only 'self-proclaimed', but are also 'papered' by some recognized organization or another within those boundaries of that belief system, AND licensed by a 'legal' entity such as a State or by Federal recognition of the government. Still, we are 'self-proclaimed'. I proclaimed to the world my belief. I state that I am a practitioner, Priest, and believer of my faith and religion. So the title is true; 'Self-Proclaimed'.

Like many others, I took the time to honor my religion by studying under various mentors and training systems to better understand the philosophies, histories and symbolism of my religion. I researched every aspect of my belief through science, literature, and mysticism known to me or taught to me by others. My mentors went to great pains to teach me their understandings so that I was exposed to other concepts of belief. Even before I became a 'legally recognized clergy memebr' of my religion, I was publicly recognized and personally proclaimed as not only a practitioner, but as a honorable Priest of my faith. Not the faith nor belief of my mentors, but my faith.
"Let no man dictate your religion, it rests between you and your creator."
This was the truest statement I have ever heard. It has never left my understanding, nor has been removed from my teachings. Yes, I teach what was taught to me, discovered by me, and interpreted and understood by me. However, my students are taught to 'think for themselvs' and encouraged to learn from ALL sources of information, for and against, literal and scientific, historical and myth, about the religions and cultures that birthed them to us. Ours is NOT the Old Way, it is our belief that is Old, our practice is New.
Yes, we carry many of the 'old sciences' along with us, so that the Old Way, like Herb lore, is not lost to the new science of pharmacology. We continue to follow the 'old' teachings of astrology, and we hold to the psychology and metaphysical understandings of practices long debunked by 'modern' science. Bit these are only a part of our belief. Mighth as well accuse us of 'idolatry' and 'false deity' worship! That too is true! It is because it is OUR RELIGIOUS BELIEF(S).

I do not always agree with others in my religious belief, and rightly so. You and I see things from 'single points of perspective'. We can either agree, disagree or compromise in those individual points of view. And as a group we tend to rationalize the majority or most accepted concepts as the 'truth' or approved view. Yet, we remain true to ourselves and our Gods in our belief. Pagans, today, seem to think that; a) we should all be able to get along, or b) that we are within our rights to act barbaric and uncivilized in our disagreements. Both concepts are of course backed by statements of historic or mythological record of 'right and propper' action.
I absolutely HATE followers! If you or anyone you know within the Pagan community are followers of some Priest/Priestess, then you are not thinkers. Everyone in any Pagan religion, or ANY religion for that matter, needs no Priest, Revrend, or Minister/Clergy, to commune with Nature or the Gods.
Here is a clue, of all the Pagan cultures that I have studied in my 25 years, only a hand-full EVER fought over a religious point or practice!The 'great religious wars' didn't even come about until the Judao-Christian faith and the Muslim faith locked horns. In Egypt, there was several minor militant-religious wars, but that was about the time of the Hebrew captivity. There is plenty of research available on this, please feel free to study up on it.

Secondly, Pagans are not as 'fluffy' as some would believe, and rightly so due to the religious teachings of their faith(s). Although I try my best to diffuse conflict and avoid physical confrontation, I am a warrior, and have no qualms when defending myself, or my belief. I am Celt! Descendant of a culture that conquered most of the known world, including Egypt and Rome! Yes, they also fell, as all Great Nations do. But the blood remembers. ( Ask any Native American!)

As a Pagan, we do not have to 'get along' on things we do not agree on. However in this country, the USA that is, we had best decide to defend one another's rights to believe in our faith(s) and honor that if nothing else. Why? Because the religious movement in america had not lessened, only grown more secretive and selective in its activities. Our government had again allowed for 'questioning' of our 'guarenteed' rights as set by the Constitution, and in so doing are opening up an opportunity for those faiths that are organized and are co-supportive, to be able to help rewrite these amendments and secure those freedoms and rights away from us. don't think it can happen? Look to the first breaking of the Catholic Church, they didn't think that either!

So, get over yourselves! Quit accusing each other of 'self-proclaimed' this or that. (BTW: most books out there on the market not only approve on 'self dedication and solitary study/practice, they teach one how to accomplish it.) Doing so only weakens us as Pagans and adds not only ammunition to non-Pagan assultants, but injures our honor, our Rights and faith(s).
Follow YOUR religion, hold to Your beliefs and remain true to YOUR Faith, and quit trying to interpret mine and tell me how wrong I am or anyone else is because you have found something different. It is our differences that not only make us unique, but strengthens us in our understanding of our religion. It is our similarities that allow us to communicate and celebrate our history, our ancestors and our Gods together.