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We, The People?
Recent events in Elkhart, Indiana - primarily regarding a monument of theTen Commandments standing on the city hall lawn - have caused me to become more fearful about the broader ramifications of such issues for the country as a whole, and for Pagans' continued freedom to practice our beliefs. Elkhart's apparent flaunting of its citizens' tacit endorsement of Christianity as the only protected religion in the city, to the exclusion of not only all other religions, but also the protections of the Constitution itself to those of other beliefs, has struck a very deep chord with me, and has led me to think quite a lot about what the response of Pagans as individuals should be. While I'm not about to become the Pagan Paranoiac and sound the call to arms, I definitely think Pagans should consider exactly what this situation means for each of us as individuals, and as a broader society. Is this the first step down a path I for one hoped modern society would never tread again? Or is it merely an isolated incident? The answer, I think, is one which must be considered by all of us, not just for the sake of ourselves, but also for our children and future generations.
What does one do when a governmental body has stated its unwillingness to obey the Constitution itself? Many a political philosopher would argue that this constitutes a fundamental breach of the "social contract", or the inherent set of arguments between the governed and their government. If Elkhart has indeed decided it will not offer equal protection under the laws of the United States to some of its citizens, solely based on majority opinion, how long will it take until other cities and towns, or even our nation as a whole, follows suit, citing Elkhart's example as legal precedent? How is this any different an experience for us than the experiences of blacks in this country during the civil rights movement? Are Elkhart's actions merely harbingers of a future filled with the religious equivalent of "Jim Crow" laws? Is it really so hard to imagine a future where, for example, voting privileges might be limited to those "of good social standing and moral character" requiring, for example, membership in a Christian church, or endorsement by one's Pastor or Minister? After all, how hard would it be for an individual community to return "moral and civil behavior based on the Ten Commandments"? The first step could be making the First Commandment of the Hebrew God a requirement to hold public office or vote! Is it so hard to envision a slow progression to the day when "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" might, in point of fact, become the supreme law of the land?
Granted, there will always be certain members of Christian establishments who will say they have no intent of making this a reality. Perhaps, still worse, there will always be members of Pagan faiths who will think a process of "peaceful coexistence" will always be a viable alternative. It is seen that, if we either maintain dialogue and keep the higher moral ground, or just keep silent and don't make too much of a fuss, we will be able to live and practice our religion without fear. My only counter to this argument is: in almost every example in modern history, the groups who did stand their ground, who did make a fuss, and who dared challenge the powers that be were those which effected true progress. An example: despite the peaceful attempts by Sinn Fein, were the British really willing to negotiate until the IRA forced their hand? Were King George and the colonial governors here really interested in a reasoned discussion of the injustice of taxation without representation until their soldiers came under fire? Was there an honest discussion about civil rights in this country while Eugene Connor was turning dogs and fire hoses on unarmed blacks? Or did dialogue truly start after Watts, Harlem, Detroit, Washington D.C., and other cities were in flames? Unfortunately, no matter how much we may want to think it can be avoided, it is a very small step in my opinion from Elkhart, or other governmental bodies (up to and including the United States government) deciding that our rights as Pagans really aren't protected under the laws of this country. The next step would be actively working to first disenfranchise, then perhaps eliminate us, as enemies of what might very well become the "religious law of the land".
What options does this leave us as Pagans? The first, and perhaps most important, is to vote. Vote in every election you can, vote your conscience, make your views known, and band together. One voice can easily be drowned out; the voices of many, as proven by the successes of many Pagans groups, are much harder to silence. Second, exercise the other equally important rights we all have under the Constitution; specifically, your Second Amendment right to bear arms. True, many of us may never intend to purchase or carry a handgun, but exercising your right while you have it is always easier than the alternative once it has been taken away.
Consider this point: if a city government has decided that our religious views are not worthy of the protections of the Constitution, is it really safe to assume the police can be counted on to safeguard our rights from the whimsy of the mob that is majority opinion? Anyone thinking this is more than welcome to talk about the "impressive" job that many southern law enforcement agencies did protecting the rights of blacks in the South during the civil rights struggle, or explain why it took the 101st Airborne Regiment of the United States Army, under federal orders, to assist in enforcing a Supreme Court decision ordering desegregation of schools in the South. While I myself have made a personal decision to safeguard my family and myself by exercising my Second Amendment rights, I understand this may be a very difficult decision for others. Again, I would simply state again that exercising your right by obtaining a License to Carry doesn't mean you will decide to carry a firearm, but rather, that you are insuring your free exercise of the right before it is taken away.
"Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom." This is the most important lesson facing Pagans right now. We stand at a very pivotal point in the future of this country, and the only way our rights as Pagans, and as citizens, will continue to be protected is through the work of Pagan groups promoting the continued existence of religious diversity in this country. I urge everyone, wherever possible, to find and support these groups, and to continue to be committed as individuals to working, wherever possible, to ensure that we can continue to thrive and survive as Pagans.
-Billiam
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