"Underground pagan worship circles"? After checking the link, I can only assume the CCL means "underground" in the sense that the grove meets in someone's basement.
And heaven forbid a bookstore offer (presumably) Pagan parents resources to raise their children Pagan. The horror!
I'm sure you're right other Pagan politicians will face worse smear campaigns. But to be honest, I don't think the CCL has exactly set the bar very high on this one.
I like your idea of showing Rita Moran our support. However, I do wonder what the best way to do so would be. After all, a deluge of supportive phone calls could possibly be as problematic for her as a deluge of inflammatory ones. So perhaps mail or email is better? At least that way, she can answer them in time? And I guess I wouldn't use any address or number associated with her business unless I was looking to also support her business through a purchase.
Supporting her business through a purchase is a wonderful idea, actually--and I can say from personal knowledge that Rita and her husband are knowledgeable, friendly, wise, kind, and grounded Pagans--exactly the sort I would choose to have represent our religious community in the public eye. Rita is Good People. So, yeah, make a purchase, light a candle, send a card or letter saying thank you for carrying the banner.
It takes a lot to disgust me, but I have to say, that Kristian hate-rag and it's biased reporting have really done it for me. "Underground" my ascot! Rita's one of the best public reps we have, and has been for years!
I just checked in with Rita directly. She says that so far, the emails she has been receiving have been quite supportive. That's not to say she hasn't been affected; this would be a really great time for us all to show support in a tangible way. Apple Valley Books is a great little bookstore, and they can obtain for you virtually anything currently in print, with low-cost shipping, too. (And, no, I'm not on the payroll!)
Rita herself has made this statement to the Pagan community:
I've been a bit shaken up by all this. While I've never denied being Pagan, I considered it a private matter. Lots of folks figured it out; lots of folks enjoyed the plausible deniability my privacy offered. Perhaps even more disturbing is how Michael Hein and Company have both edited the comments supporting me, and investigated folks posting those comments, posting additional information about them which they did not want posted.
I have the full support of the Maine Democratic Party, and the Executive Committee of my own county Dems, and resignation is not in the picture.
My primary concerns are financial. When this happened, I "zeroed out" the donation total on our county Dems website (http://www.kennebecdems.org). There has not been a single donation since I've been "outed". I'm even more concerned about the loss of business here at our bookshop as Michael Hein's attack turns to even more vicious rumors.
I guess what I'd ask from the community is whatever support they can offer. Tranquil energy, book orders, donations to our county committee if you wish to recognize that aspect of my community service.
Thanks all...
Rita
Apple Valley Books, 121 Main Street, Winthrop, ME 04364?info@applevalleybooks.com Apple Valley Books A participating BookSense store. "The independent bookstore for independent minds!"
I'll second Cat on her description of Rita. She's an asset to any community she's part of.
While the comment form on the offending website says email addresses will not be shown, they WERE visible online. It's very disturbing to hear that the website tampered with the comments.
I've posted this to my blog and blogwhored it over at Eschaton. This deserves traction.
I posted that stating on thier Leave Comments Form that email is "required" but "will not be published" and then publishing select email addresses is actionable under Federal law. That they need to either comply with not publishing any email address or they need to change their form to state that ALL email addresses will be published and then do so.
Funny how my comment was erased.
I've pushed this out to the OBOD board and hope that support, spiritual and financial heads Rita's way.
Copy of my message
By stating on your Leave a Message Form that email is “required” but “will not be published” and then publishing the email addresses of select persons who comment using this form - you are in Breach of Contract according to the User Terms you have set up. This is your notice to Cease and Desist this damaging and harassing activity.
***Also...they are blocking my email address from replying. Good thing I have a few of them.
I have run this by an attorney. He said that while this is illegal in reguards to internet privacy laws - an easier route is Breach of Contract. Simple, straight forward, easy to prove. Sticking point, hiring an attorney and damages.
Merry meet, all:
I am one of the Vice Chairs of the Kennebec County Democratic Committee. On behalf of the KCDC, I would like to take the time to thank you all (and the rest of the Pagan community!) for your kind words.
Unlike Rita, I do not attend a grove, or other form of group worship- but I am a Pagan, and am unashamed to say so publicly when asked. It was a very wonderful experience to discover that, after joining the KCDC, I had found other Pagans! Religion never comes up as a topic of discussion, but we all know who we are and enjoy each other's company.
It has always been a view that, as Democrats, we keep our politics separate from our religion. We followed the relevant Principle of Witchcraft in that we didn't mistreat "their way", because it is not a "bad way". However, the actions of the Christian Civic League have been intolerable. Which calls again on the same Principle, in that they think their way is the "only way", and seek to do harm to any who believe otherwise.
The CCL has been researching commenters to the website in question, and has been posting any and all contact information that they can find. Such a tactic comes right out of Ann Coulter's playbook. You know, the same woman who says she wishes John Edwards is killed in a terrorist attack. So I would ask that if any of you have not commented there, please refrain from doing so.
We are not going to make a public spectacle about this as a Committee out of respect for Rita's privacy. She would like to see this blow over, as would we. As she has said, she has the support of the state party, and of her officers in the County Committee. There will be no resignation. In the event there was a resignation, I would take over as Chair.
And I assure you- I am less forgiving than she is.
That said, I feel no shame in coming to the Pagan community, who has seen one of their own so shamelessly attacked, and asking for you to have our backs. We do a lot of hard work in the County Committee, and we don't get paid a dime for it. We pay no staff, everything is a volunteer effort. As a result, we do a lot with a little. And that "little" seems to be looking "littler" as a result of this.
Rest assured that anything you send us will be put to work helping to ensure that the Christian Civic League and their ilk become an even smaller fringe group in Maine. We've already taken over that formerly Republican seat that their headquarters resides in this past November. Surely you wouldn't mind helping us hang onto it for a little while?
And of course, don't forget Rita herself. Her bookstore rocks, and needs some love. Check out www.applevalleybooks.com and pick up your next book from her. 
Please, feel free to repost this elsewhere. This is the first blog I saw covering this story, and I don't intend on visiting every Pagan blog I can find spamming this message. But I thought it would be a good thing to get in touch with someone. I've heard that
Apparently I am 10% too wordy for this blog. The last little bit:
I've heard that some have already supported both Rita and the County Committee, and I thank you, whoever you are. This is why I could never possibly be ashamed to be Pagan.
Blessed be.
Edward L. Lachowicz
Vice Chair, Kennebec County Democrats
Democratic State Committeeman, representing Kennebec County
quelgash@hotmail.com
I left a comment (#44, I believe) and came back to found it edited, and some parts ommited entirely. Where I said "In the end it doesn't matter if you think my beliefs are nonesense, anymore than it matters that I think your religion is a crock..." They edited it to say "I think your religion is a crock." Much of what I said that was relevent was ommited entirely. I'm majorly pissed.
I just felt the call to send my thoughts in the direction of the 'Land of the Free' and to Rita.
Over here I am a Parish Councillor and at the same time Trustee and Committee member of a Pagan Druid organisation. Each know of the other and, you know what, no-one cares!
May you continue in your good works, and obviously likewise on your path, and may folk out there support you on both fronts. May the gods that be, agree. /|
This is absolutely insane! Rita, I don't know you but you have my support. Paganism gets a bad rap all the time and it's because (as usual) the "Christians" (there hasn't been a good one since Jesus walked the earth) smear it, spin it, and trash it. Not all Paganism is Devil-worshing like the morons like to say it is. It's more about connecting with the Earth and the Universe. A good friend of mine "worships" the moon cycles. The funniest part? She is wealthy and she just moved to Austin, Texas from Maine. Many different types of people enjoy Paganism from all walks of life for sure.
Rita, be proud of your Paganism and do not let the "Christians" get you down! Christianity is taking a very bad rap right now and they're just lashing out.
Oh my. My own comment has been well and truly subverted too!
Identity Theft by any other name.
Blogging the truth at http://blog.rosher.net
'I ain't afraid of your Yaweh. I ain't afraid of your Allah, I ain't afraid of your Jesus. I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your God.' Holly Near
Ah lovely, breach of contract over there. Their posting my (A Christian's) information when my comment was primarily condemning their posting of Rita's info is so deliciously ironic and illegal.
Let's not lose sight of the fact that the vast majority of Christians are not represented by this particular group of hate-mongers; in a way, they distort Christianity as much as they distort Paganism in their representations.
For a look at what a real Christian cares about, permit me to mention my fFriend (as in, someone I care about who is another Quaker, though a decidedly Christian one) Marshall Massey.
People of good will and good conscience everywhere know and respect one another. In the end, men and women like Marshall and Rita will be heard and remembered when the bigots and haters at CCL (Kristians with a "K", as my daughter calls 'em) will be long forgotten.
And I've no doubts who their gods listen to most clearly. Have you?
My comments as well were edited and one of my commnets, protesting the editing, was deleted completely. Says almost all that can be said about the integrity of those people.
Is there a way to find out who the web providers are? If these actions are illegal, there might be someone to complain to.
Correction, my comment has also been edited now. I'm apparently quite a supporter of the violation of people's civil liberties.
This kind of thing scares the hell out of me. Some of these "Christians" are crazy enough to resort to life-threatening tactics.
Jenn, the way to follow your nose would start with a "whois" at www.networksolutions.com. But the person hosting their site seems to be equally crazed. If anyone wants to follow their nose, though, that is where to start.
I'd be on that path myself, but I've been busy on controlling this situation as it happens. Once I saw that it would take some investigation, I started taking care of other ends of this mess- namely the damage control. It hasn't been fun.
You guys rock, by the by. This has been my first brush with the Pagan community at large, and I'm thrilled with the response. Thank you all!
Thank you, Edward!
Philip, a Christian participant at my forum brought this to my attention. I plan to write about this in more detail there, but my main thought is that the best approach would be to get together all of the people they have edited and posted email addresses of as plaintiffs in one lawsuit filed in Maine. It can leave Rita out if she doesn't want the direct attention, but she is far from the only person wronged here.
Passed this on to Kay who blogs at http://whitenoiseinsanity.wordpress.com/
She's in Maine and blogs about Maine politics as well as 'other stuff.'
Just so you're aware (and you may want to post about this for those who miss the comments)--the Maine CCR has published pagan emails and researched websites and posted them as well and posted them publicly. They have also altered peoples' comments, including my own.
Their blog is powered by Wordpress.com. I have already sent a complaint in. I suggest others follow suit to get these people taken down.
Those people edited my comment to add my real name and remove my quotation of Article VI, Section 3 ("...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.") So I reposted it, signed my real name to it, and noted that it was usually $cientology that did crap like that. We'll see how long that lasts.
They pulled that crap on me as well (post #49). I have posted the "breach of contract" text posted above as post #69, and sent Wordpress a note including the full text of my second post and the number, so they can clearly see if the post gets edited or removed.
Shame they don't understand what a black eye behavior like this gives to their religion...
I've posted this item on wiccanweb.ca It never fails to amaze me how some people feel that it's perfectly OK to do all sorts of evil stuff in the name of what they see as goodness.
They deleted my post #69 in its entirety; it's been replaced with a long anti-pagan rant by someone else.
What I wrote in it's entirety was this:
> What is 'Underground' about Maine's Pagan Community? Most of the
> thousands of Pagans in Maine live our lives quite happily out in the
> open here. Even those of us who are registered Republicans and active in
> our own town's local political scenes need not hide our religion for
> fear of the ignorance and false judgments of our neighbors. Most
> Mainer's realise that in the United States, a person's religion is a
> matter best left between them and God.
>
> Is it any wonder at all that with such 'upstanding and moral' people as
> Mike Hein acting as the 'voice' of the Maine's CCL, that this once
> powerful effective organisation has become a political laughingstock
> even amongst the Conservative Right in Augusta and about the State? I've
> known Ms. Moran for well over a decade, and while I disagree with her
> politically on a great number of fronts, she is one of the most moral
> people I know with ethics beyond the reproach of someone who would stoop
> to a modern day witch hunt in a pathetic attempt to discredit a
> political opponent. But then, that is likely why Mr. Hein didn't have
> even the support of our own party in his failed bid for public office.
> Such vindictiveness doesn't reflect well on the ideals that Jesus spoke
> of in His sermons, nor would one think, well on the CCL.
>
> Michael Eric Berube, photog@fairpoint.net
Of course, this response got edited down to just the first two sentences. I included my personal email address per instruction and Mike Hein (the CCL Administrator, I've since found out) dug up the rest from my website and published it all ...my street address, my business URL, my personal blog URL, my Toll Free number and my business and personal email addresses. One would assume that he did so as some attempt at political intimidation. Silly man.
As of an hour ago, clicking on the comments page for the CCL article provides a page with an error message: "Sorry, no posts matched your criteria."
Has anyone else seen this? What are the chances they decided to pull the comments page permanently?
A bummer too. I just posted my original response and a lengthy follow up on my blog and now it seems to be mostly moot!
Mayhaps the response was too little in their favour or they feared the mumbling of legal action?
I got the error too, I hope it has been pulled permanently.
The thing is, the comments showed that the article was BS and that Rita is supported in her community overwhelmingly more than the bigots who operate the site itself.
Unfortunately, I just posted feedback to the CCL website prior to reading these comments and the request to let it die down. Given what I am reading though, it seems unlikely that the cowardly Mike Hein will print it. I'd be delighted to join the breach of contract suit if he is foolish enough to print my name and contact info. LOL
I am writing myself a reminder to purchase something from Rita's website on my next payday.
Wassail!
Mike the Happy Heathen
A Maine Democrat has apparently seen fit to repost everyone's comments and personal information to an activist site:
http://www.turnmaineblue.com/sho...71D?
diaryId=311
Per Philip's report: A Maine Democrat has apparently seen fit to repost everyone's comments and personal information to an activist site:
http://www.turnmaineblue.com/sho...71D? diaryId=311
Philip | 07.03.07 - 9:27 pm
A commenter at a Maine Democrat's site has posted some of the comments (inclusive of personal information) that was originally posted BY the christian in question on HIS site.
It IS some because my comments aren't there, which would mean the cache is a partial cache (or just a 'picture' of a certain point), and certainly remember reading some of the comments listed.
Activist site, indeed! /*chuckling/
The info on the Democrat site has been removed, but these comments have been linked to in another article.
http://www.cclmaine.org/artman/
p...m_Pagan_2.shtml
Thanks for the update, Philip.
Ambrose Bierce said it best:
Christian, n. One who believes that the new testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.
I dreamed I stood upon a hill and, lo!
The godly multitudes walked to and fro
Beneath, in Sabbath garments fitly clad,
With pious mien, appropriately sad,
While all the church bells made a solemn din --
A fire-alarm to those who lived in sin.
Then saw I gazing thoughtfully below
With trranquil face upon that holy show
A tall, spare figure in a robe of white,
Whose eyes diffused a melancholy light.
"God keep you, stranger," I exclaimed, "You are
No doubt (your habit shows it) from afar;
And yet I entertain the hope that you,
Like these good people are a Christian too."
He raised his eyes and with a look so stern
It made me with a thousand blushes burn
Replied -- his manner with disdain was spiced:
"What! I, a Christian? No, indeed! I'm Christ."
After reading their news articles about the gay-homosexual that went and killed people and hated christains, why are you all surprised they edited your posts to them? They are immature little liars and by their religions standards are going to a very warm climate one day. They stretch the truth, they are hypocrites, they preach hate in a religion that professes love and peace... shall I go on?
You won't get a fair shake with these people because they just want to manipulate people in to seeing what they want them to see. (one of the worse types of bullies I might add)
Its best to show them where they are wrong in neutral ground and let others decide for themselves if these people are worth listening to or laughing at.
A very good website keep it up!
i agree with you beatrix.you can never get the fare share when there is such manipulation.
.................................
jim dunn
Christian Drug Rehab
Christian Drug Rehab/
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