|
|
I'm a 9th grader. I'm nearly 15. I play flute. I'm a straight "A" student. I have the best friends in the world. I have always had everything I've needed and more. I give clams to Newbies, and tips to everyone. I donate my time and money to volunteer organizations. I'm a witch.
Yes, I said witch. I practice Wicca, and I can say right now, someone on here will stop reading at this point and go tell me to burn in Hell or at the stake.
Wicca was started by Gerald Gardner in 1939, but the beliefs and ideas have been around before Jesus was ever born. Wicca isn't like the things you see in shows like "Sabrina", or "Charmed", it's not about bewitching someone, or vanquishing demons, or forcing you to fall madly in love with someone, or plotting the end of humanity with Satan, or some other nonsense. Wiccans can't even do any of those things. The biggest guideline in Wicca is "An it harme none, do as ye will." Well, basically, when we do anything, we need to think through all the consequences, and we need to try to do the one that causes the least harm. We don't manipulate people. It's just about being one with nature. However, the point of this article is not about teaching what Wicca is or trying to convert anyone. If you wish to learn more, you can gladly y-mail me, but if you want to tell me off, well, expect only a hearty laugh from me.
I keep quiet, and sometimes am forced to lie, about my religion. Not because I'm ashamed, or anything like that, but because I fear my wellbeing. I live in the Southeast of America, which, I must say, is full of many devoted and strong-willed Christians. I have seen people attack one another for simply not being of the same denomination! If they attack their fellow Christians, what would they do to me, someone who follows a religion many believe is "evil"? Lynchings and murders still happen to not only witches, but to other religions as well. The numbers are both sad and extraordinary.
If everyone in the world was tolerant, I'd have nothing to fear. But sadly, that is not the case. Media from Hollywood and the news have probably ruined religious tolerance to hundreds of religions. For instance, nearly everyone where I live seems to think all Muslims should just be blown up. And it's because of the news. The news is an awesome way to get important events out to people, but unfortunately, it's often biased or one-sided. It only includes what people want to hear. I mean, when have you ever seen the headlines "Muslim man saves kitten" or "Group of Muslims didn't blow up something today". No one wants to hear that. Because of this, many people only know what the extremists do, not the majority.
Is it so hard for people on both sides of the spectrum to just be tolerant, or at least, ignore others? My religion is not a disease I can be cured of or saved from. It's a choice I made by myself, and I want to either suffer the consequences or find happiness by myself, and I'm not the only one that feels this way. Millions all over the world, from every religion, just want to be left in peace. Religion shouldn't be an issue. It's a personal choice, and it should be left as such.
All I'm trying to say is before you say anything about another religion, do your research, be respectful, and just leave them alone. If you feel you must try to "help" them, be respectful at all times, and just let them come at their own pace. This is another reason why many people are intolerant. One person offends them, or won't leave them alone, so they assume a whole religion is like that. It's not.
If this article makes even one person think, I'll be happy, and if this article makes me get hate mail, well, I'll still be happy because the only person they are making look bad is themselves.
-Anyonka
Author's Note: If somewhere in this article, I somehow offended anyone, I'm truly sorry. The examples I used were solely to get my point across.
|
