response 1 of 50:

Mar 25 05:15 UTC 1995

Sigh, what did you expect.  And the STATES are now supposed to administer
aid to the needy. Right.  Shit.

response 3 of 50:

Mar 25 15:43 UTC 1995

(Mr. Truscott, btw, is Engler's press secretary or something like that...)

response 5 of 50:

Mar 26 06:39 UTC 1995

        Oh, didn't you hear? It's obsolete, now, according to the new
republicans! 

response 7 of 50:

Mar 27 16:37 UTC 1995

        It's worth a shot..

response 9 of 50:

Mar 28 16:21 UTC 1995

        Fine, but let's not DIS associate them either! The Christian
Collition has yet to support ONE Democrat, and supports multitudes of
Republicans! I'd rather get rid of the Collition, but, as that's not gonna
happen <Moral Majority, all over again>, let's at least get their puppets
out of office!

response 11 of 50:

Mar 29 15:41 UTC 1995

Listen..the way to change things is not to bash christians, or to say 
that they are the problem. You are no better trhan them if you do that.
The major theme of the republican contract is that government is too
large. This country was created in the belief that big government was too
corruptable. Do you or do you not find this government wasteful, and 
corrupt? Because republicans believe government should not be so big, they
are trying to return to the original ideal. By placing the power back in the
hands of the state. Don't you think someone who lives in our state 
understands it's problems better than some guy who lives half the country
away in washington? We want to change things don't we?  Isn't the religion
most of you support based with an ideal of peace, and freedom?
Then why use angry words?! It seems to contradict what you believe. To quote
a christian ...turn the other cheek.  Listen I've gone on forever, and I
apologize for the lecture like quality. However, I am tired of 
people condemning without trying to understand first.
And if you really have researched this and still believe what you do,
you have my undying respect, and my curiosity, because I would like to
understand.

response 13 of 50:

Mar 30 07:06 UTC 1995

This is partly my point, Sera, I did say people should vent.  But
the venting has gotten a bit out of hand... "magic them out of existence"?
Joke, yes.  And wouldn't certain fundamentalist folk just love to see it,
too?  THEY wouldn't take it as a joke:  they would take it as evidence
that we're all out to get them.  (Not to pick on Meg, quite a few of you
have said some naughty things.)

Thanks for the reality check, Sera.  On the other hand, when groups are
actively acting to strip us of our religious rights, we have the right to
resist.  We do not have the right to wish harm on them... thought becomes
form, after all.  My point in creating this item was to point out that our
own rights are being trodden upon, yet again.  So... what do we do about
it?  The individual who issued the statements re:  WICCA and witchcraft
is, I'm told, currently being investigated for an information release
and misrepresentation felony.  The national government, at least, is
sticking to its stance.  This culture is *not* controlled by the 
fundamentalists, it's controlled by the atheist and agnostic media 
and intelligentia who want to ridicule *anybody* who has faith.  
But the Religious Right does have a history of attacking and limiting
the rights of other religions while fighting for their own... sobeit.
That's their problem.  << Off of soapbox. >>

(I haven't gone on a tirade for a while, but since this is my item, 
I have the right.  :)

WICCA, not surprisingly, has not turned up, and several reliable
sources have been checked.  The journalist has been informed of the
lack of evidence (which isn't proof, of course, that they don't exist,
but considering how upset certain feds are with the Head of Michigan
Corrections...) and how he shouldn't be so glib about a serious religion
in the future (I informed him myself, in fact :) ! -- It's useful living
three blocks form the capitol sometimes.)  He has also been handed a copy 
of Kerr Cuhulain's Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca, which I should 
recommend to anybody for giving to friends and family with short 
attention spans.  There... activism done.  *deep breath*  I feel
SO much better.

response 15 of 50:

Mar 31 16:22 UTC 1995

Has anybody written to the WPPA (Wiccan Pagan Press Alliance)?
Silver Ravenwolf's publication keeps people informed of problems such as these.
She's a very nice woman, and famous for her letter campaigns. I'm sure if
this is such a big problem (since I don't know much about it, I can't be 
sure) she can muster significant force. Defending Rights is one thing I do
support (in a peaceful non bashing manner of course).

response 17 of 50:

Mar 31 20:58 UTC 1995

The person who referred to WICCA was not the journalist but rather McGinnis,
the director of the Department of Corrections.  I have spoken to a pagan-
friendly telejournalist in Grand Rapids who discussed the issue with John
Truscott this week.  According to Andy Cordane (sp.?), who works for a
network affiliate in GR, Engler's administration intends to do anything
possible to limit PRISONER'S rights when they are practicing "fringe
religions" (a term allegedly used by Truscott; Andy asked if that included
Wicca, and Truscott assented).  IT was my sense and Andy's (but not that of
Rev. Muscato, who is the one who contacted me) that the issue is money and
resources, not religion:  the system gets too bogged down investigating 
prisoner's claims on religious legitmacy.  However, it bothers me that 
"fringe religions" are being singled out:  the further inferrence that Andy
made was that JudeoChristian and Islamic (main sect) rights would not be
affected.
I have also discussed this with Oberon, for those of you who know him.
He and I have decided the best course for right now is to be cautious.
Anybody who wants to right a letter to the Governor's Office is encouraged 
to do so:  the points in this itema are as factually as I could make them.
McGinnis, according to Muscato, is also being investiagted for releasing
fraudulent information to the media (in re: WICCA).
And, as I think I've said before, the feds don't seem to be taking Engler
and co. seriously, and religion is a federal issue, not a state one.
(I don't think the WPPA has been contacted.  Selena Fox at Circle Sanctuary
has, and she's doing some investigatin as well.)

response 19 of 50:

Apr 3 14:50 UTC 1995

Smile! Selena is quite a wonder at these type things..with some many 
devoted people involved i'm sure it will resolve quickly.   oops! that's
so many...not some!   *blush*

response 21 of 50:

Apr 3 18:18 UTC 1995

No, I think she means Selena Fox, at Circle Sanctuary.  She is, indeed,
good at public interface especially with the legal system, and at mustering
lots of interested and involved people.

response 23 of 50:

Apr 4 06:35 UTC 1995

All religions should give that to all other religions, if nothing else.