Jade's Blog

Tuesday, 21 April 2009

An Aquarian's Fire
Topic: Life
Previously...

Friday, April 10, 2009
in a post entitled: A Cold Medicine Mellow

I wrote the following about one of the passages in the Wiccan Rede and what it means to me:
[Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.]

Exist within the boundaries of your conscience and what you know instinctively to be right and to be wrong, and respect the truth as it exists for others without malice or selfish desire to change their truth. Receive, unselfishly, that which is shared with you whether it be tangible or intangible and be prepared to give the same, in kind, without regret.

I'd like to focus on the end of that statement, "be prepared to give the same, in kind, without regret".

On the surface, some might take this as being a some type of charitable statement akin to a conferring or imparting. A gift; a benefaction or similar positive outcomes, and although this sentiment is no doubt included for me in this definition, I would like to expand on the more unspoken meaning often overlooked.

Let's say, for example, someone in your life, in a time of personal distress or hardship, offers you an outlet for that upset either in listening to you or aiding you. This is, unarguably, a gift of this person to you, and common sense would suggest that you would be willing and motivated to do the same for that person if/when that situation arises.

However, not all contributions that are received are positive in this way.

Unfortunately, there are times when we and the people that we love; friends and family are the targets of slander, hate, violence, bigotry and similar intolerant attacks. For me, personally, I believe that this passage in the Wiccan Rede applies to these types of injustices as well.

I would never advocate violence, unless the lives of those that I love were physically threatened. For the sake of the defense of their lives, I would use any means necessary to ensure their safety and survival. Live and let live... unless yours or someone else's life is literally and physically threatened.

Fairly take, and fairly give.

I may be a hippie, but I don't take shit from anyone.

If someone or a group makes false and slanderous accusations against me, my family or my friends, fully expect that I will speak out against that person or person's treacherous lies... and loudly so. Tit for tat.

This more than falls into the realm of "fairly take, and fairly give", in my opinion.

Having made that statement, I would like to address some of the content in the latest video I posted (Paganism banned from youtube.) in my blog entitled Speechless... And Losing Hope...

[Claim #1 in the video Paganism banned from youtube.] Quote:
"The reasons for the protest are for reasons beyond freedom of speech or religion. We do this to aid the youth or America, and the impressionable of our society..."

This person or persons cannot claim that the protest is beyond freedom of speech or religion and then spend nearly six minutes in a diatribe against religions, based on fictitious accusations, that oppose the teachings of Christianity.

Further, it is incredulous arrogance to assume that since this person(s) beliefs follow that of Christianity as they see it, that this somehow infers that they are right in some way and all others who share a view different from their own are concretely wrong. How conceited as well they are in arrogating what rights the youth and 'impressionable' should have through their own self observation by denying all other views through their terrorist acts of censorship.

As a mother, I find this appalling. I've raised my son to be self-sufficient, and free thinking. He is both intelligent, open-minded and follows his own path. How dare these idiots believe that they have the unmitigated right to tell my son what he should or should not believe based on innuendos and lies instead of his own free thought.

[Claim #2 in the video Paganism banned from youtube.] Quote:
"One day YouTube will be a safe haven for Christians. We'll not have to worry anymore about being persecuted by these wicked, wicked religions of hate."

Persecuted?! PERSECUTED?! Pardon my uncontrollable laughter at this ridiculous statement.... on second thought, don't.

Having one's personal belief or faith challenged by an opposing or differing view does NOT constitute "persecution".

Persecution is when you are tortured, killed or both due to your personal belief. Persecution is when your country's people are STRIPPED of it's cultural heritage and traditions because of an opposing religion's concerted effort of converting and indoctrinating them into their own faith. Persecution is when you steal the traditions and festivals of other spiritualities in an effort to annihilate competition of your religious holidays. Persecution is when a Wiccan soldier killed in war is denied a pentacle on his headstone to represent his faith.

They have no right to use the word "persecuted".

[Claim #3 in the video Paganism banned from youtube.] Quote:
"Paganism is responsible for the decline of civilized life in America... We have proven that Paganism has stolen all of their ideas from the bible... Paganism and Wicca are one of the reasons for the spike in suicides among teens... All Pagans are depraved and very hateful."

The lagging standards of our educational system are responsible for the decline of our American civilization, this is a fact, but the accountability of Paganism in regard to this decline is fiction. Period, end of this portion of their statement.

Stating that they have proof that Paganism has stolen all of their ideas from the bible is the most ridiculous and idiotic statement I think I've ever heard. Never mind that they don't back this statement with any evidential proof whatsoever to support this erroneous claim, I have two words for them; Christmas (look up Saturnalia) and Easter (look up Ostara). Give me a break!

Medical studies have linked selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to the increased suicidal thoughts in teens and young people.

"The vast majority of young people who complete suicide have some sort of psychiatric disorder. Most commonly depression or some mood disorder," says John Campo, MD, Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Further, the website Troubled Teens Home says, "Followers of religions that strongly prohibit suicide, like Christianity and Islam, have a higher suicide rate than those religions which have no strong prohibition (e.g. Buddhism and Hinduism)."

So, clearly, Paganism and Wicca have nothing to do with the increase in teen suicide.

Finally, we come to the name calling portion of the video: "All Pagans are depraved and hateful." - very interesting rhetoric coming from a video which in itself can be described as "depraved and hateful" given the falsehoods and lies within its content.

Individuals can be depraved and hateful within society, regardless of their spirituality or religion. However, it would be disingenuous to liken an entire religious group to these failings. It would be equivalent to we Pagans saying that "All Christians are intolerant, homophobic bigots" and contain about as much truth, which is to say none.

Just my educated opinion.

Brightest blessings.

(Paganism banned from youtube, posted by WarFare4Ever at https://www.youtube.com/user/Warfare4Ever. Feel free to check out the channel for yourselves.)

Posted by spiritiger at 4:45 PM
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Speechless... And Losing Hope...
Topic: Life
Previously in this blog:
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Chocolate Cigarettes & A Malfuctioning Inner Clock
Category: Life

I wrote:
"Who do you think will be next targets on the food chain once the atheists are silenced?"

Nearly 2 am again, as I come on here to write about the trivialities that are my life... and it seems that the words that I wrote above seem to be becoming prophetic.

I can't even find the words to describe how I am feeling at the moment. It's just sort of a stew of hurt, anger, hopelessness and disbelief.

If you are a Pagan and truly love your Pagan brothers and sisters, I urge you to watch the video below....

Paganism banned from youtube.

The lies... the contemptible baseless and false accusations that are casually and without emotion uttered by the ugly voice of a text reader fills me with such disgust, it literally leaves a taste of bile in my throat.

These people didn't even have the courage to face the camera or, at the very least, spit their venomous deceptions with their actual voice(s). Instead they chose to cower behind anonymity while they concocted their poisonous prevarications. Favoring instead, to attack my path and the people, whom I love and share similar Pagan beliefs with, from the craven and filth filled shadows.

When I heard the words "All Pagans are depraved and very hateful", I felt physically nauseous.

How could anyone be so cruel as to spread such spiteful and hurtful untruths about Pagans, my people, my tribe?

All I could see when those words were spoken, were the wonderful and loving faces of the people I know and love; Selena Fox, Moonfeather, all of the amazing Satyrs, and my camp kids Pele, Jase, Luno, Monica and Eric.

These are some of the warmest, most giving and kind people I have ever known, arguably the best people I will ever know and for anyone, even a sniveling computer voice, to make such an empty and despicable statement, so void of merit and wretched with groundless maleficent accusations filled me with such rage it was a very real physical sensation.

It doesn't even matter if any of the Pagans I know are hurt by this video, the mere fact that it attempted to do so, pisses me off.

Every day, another voice gets silenced on YouTube, and another and another simply because they disagree with the Christian dogma. Now, it seems its our turn.

I know BlueFireWitch. I am subscribed to her channel and she is on my friend's list, and I have watched the videos of nearly every person this coward and his minions have put into the crosshairs with their pathetic video.

These targets are good people with good hearts and open minds, who have done NOTHING to warrant the wrath of these ignoble assholes. The only injustice they are guilty of, is in speaking out about what they believe in, that is the real danger for these zealous fanatics... free thought and free will.

I think I'm finally losing hope that free speech will ever be possible on YouTube or any other self broadcasting internet website.

However, if free speech breathes it's last breath on the interent, I will say it now, and say it forever...

I am PROUD to be PAGAN!

Brightest blessings.

Spiral Rhythm - I Am Pagan

Posted by spiritiger at 1:49 AM
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Saturday, 18 April 2009

Paganism From My Perspective.
Topic: Life
I hold no advanced degree such as 'High Priestess'. I'm just a simple solitary, so please do not perceive this as anything more than just an elementary statement of my personal beliefs, and as such, it is only opinion.

If this provides anyone else with any moderate amount of enlightenment, then I am truly grateful.

I follow two deities; the Goddess Brigid, and the God Cernowain. Both are warrior type deities.

Brigid is the fire Goddess (often represented by a forge and hearth). She is also the Goddess of poetry, healing and creativity and represents the mother aspect of the 'Triple Goddess'. Her symbols are often the triquetra or 'Brigid's Cross'.

Cernowain is the 'God of Nature'. His aspects are virility, fertility, sex, nature, the woodlands, and wealth. He is the 'Horned God' and is God of the underworld. His symbol is primarily a stag.

I do not believe that the deities I follow, nor any other deities within Paganism/Neo-paganism itself, created the earth, the universe or beyond. Quite the contrary, in fact. I believe the earth and the universe created the deities within our varying paths.

If we are born of the elements; earth, water, air, and fire. It stands to reason that so too are the deities we follow as many, in fact, symbolize those same elements. Brigid with fire, Cernowain with earth and so forth with all of the deities within the innumerable pantheons.

Perhaps this is why Evolution makes such perfect sense to me. The Big Bang (fire), the Primordial ooze (water), Abiogenesis (air), and the Ordovician era (earth).

This gives a new perspective to the chant we all know and love "Earth my body, water my blood, air my breath and fire my spirit".

I think this is why I tend to get annoyed when atheists use the generic term of "religion" in their diatribes against the ideology of a "divine" having created the earth, the universe, and the unknown.

It is a complete generalization to assume that all religions believe similar ideologies as Judaism in regards to a "creator" deity (or deities). Paganism is no way shape or form synonymous with Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism or any other linear relative of those religions.

If the issue for atheists in regards to religion is solely based on the scientific theory of evolution and how it relates to the belief in a "creator", then their arguments should be directed to those who follow that specific ideology.

The word 'religion' includes all religion and Paganism is, in the most basic of terms, a religion (although, personally, I prefer 'spirituality').

I am Pagan. As such, I believe in the balance of nature through environmental preservation, charitable and selfless giving to those in need, and ritual magic of restoration and healing. Through this, we strive to find balance within ourselves and to aid in balancing those around us.

Brightest Blessings.

Spiral Rhythm - Element Chant

Posted by spiritiger at 12:35 AM
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Thursday, 16 April 2009

Chocolate Cigarettes & A Malfuctioning Inner Clock
Topic: Life
So, here I am at 2:00 am in the morning. Awake and restless while Ken lies peacefully beside me in a deep sleep... jerk! (Don't worry, I don't really mean it.)

Popping on here was probably a mistake given I am a perfectionist when it comes to my writing. Blogging, for me, means proof-reading repeatedly and correcting spelling and grammatical errors. In other words, writing a few paragraphs entails a couple of hours of work usually.

I am sitting here at the moment, contemplating the fate of YouTube and it's users while smoking 'Dreams' Belgian Blend Mocha cigarettes (yeah, yeah, I know... it's bad for me) and sipping Arizona Green Tea.

If you've been reading any of my entries lately in this blog, you are doubtlessly aware of my more personal issues with YouTube, my friends and their struggles with censorship, as well as their ideological battles. Battles, I often find myself in the middle of in some fashion.

Perhaps it's my warrior nature, or my inner tiger spirit, maybe it's in my Irish blood. In truth, I've always been the type that thumbs her nose at conflict, daring the consequences whatever they may be. An attitude that often directs me into a mess of trouble, and probably deservedly so.

A few days back, I had a couple of videos embedded in one of my blogs concerning recent suspensions and votebot attacks on YouTube. One of them, was about a user named Cozmikzen.

Cozmikzen, who later took on the identity 'Kozmikzen' due to the suspension of his channel, is a self-proclaimed anarchist and an atheist. Most of the video blogs that he made were angry diatribes against Christianity and their god, where he often profanely ranted against their religion.

He and I became somewhat friends recently. We discussed our differences in ideology respectively through PMs, and by all accounts I can say that he is honestly a decent guy and I enjoyed our conversations.

Kozmikzen had a razor-sharp edge when he presented his opinions in his videos, and he aspired, he told me, in being controversial. Unfortunately for him, however, it turned out that he was too controversial apparently. Both of the channels he created after YouTube shut down his innitial channel; Kozmikzen and CozmikzenArchives, have both been suspended as well.

I've since lost contact with him and do not know if he intends to return to YouTube.

The video that had been flagged for being 'inappropriate for minors' then later removed shortly before his suspension, was entitled "DEATH TO GOD". An inflammatory title to be sure, and the language within the video was indeed 'colorful', but I don't believe it deserved the censorship it received (Due to strong language and content, here is the link: (video "Death to God" no longer available). If you wish, you can judge for yourself.

To be honest, I am going to miss him. Although from appearances he might have appeared abrasive, outside the little box that played one side of him, he had a good heart and was open-minded about a great deal.

Perhaps, one could speculate due to the impending merger of YouTube with Hulu/Disney, Kozmikzen didn't fit into the wholesome and clean image that YouTube is trying to reform itself into, or so it is rumored.

The YouTube of 2009 is a completely different beast from the YouTube of 2006.

Gone is the original start page that listed the top favorite videos, replaced with a 'Popular' tab that usually lists clips of shows such as "American Idol", "The Ellen Show" and other network gems. There is an addition of pop-up ads that appear in the video along with a script of the same ad above the video description, and lets not forget the "partnered" channels who are part of the YouTube advertising community.

The motto, "Broadcast Yourself" should be replaced with "You Can't Broadcast Yourself, But You Can Watch Our Sponsers!".

It's a shame what YouTube has become.

Their site is plagued with hack software that can alter traffic statistics, ratings, even spam comments on videos to promote their websites. Monitoring and preventing these programs are a literal joke, as YouTube has yet to address and repair the issue that allows the effectiveness of these types of software. Meanwhile, there are idiots amok that falsely flag videos either because they simply disagree with the opinion in it, or equally invalid reasons and YouTube seemingly does no investigation into the claim and simply removes the video without question.

Their Terms of Service is a joke. In regards to people who do falsely or maliciously flag videos, none of these individuals ever seem to have their account suspended. The only people who are suspended are the individuals who's videos were flagged three times. Meanwhile, users like VenomFangX that file false DMCAs and use their channel to scam Christians out of money under the delusion of "charity" are left to flourish unmonitored without consequence. The kid had to make a legal public apology on YouTube for falsifying information (lying), and deception and yet is still on YouTube, more ironic, people are still sending him money!!

Why do I care? That's a question I have been asking myself recently. Why do I care about people I don't even know, about situations that don't directly involve me?

I suppose the answer to those questions are simple. It's a matter of free speech.

The internet has become the largest source of information. It is more powerful than newspaper, radio or television. It's instant access with no waiting in regards to news feeds, online books and encyclopedias, music and video at the touch of a keyboard. A medium from which the common man/woman can publicly take platform to express their beliefs and ideas, every second, from around the globe and they can do so independently without aide of a reporter or a camera man.

Millions of voices with millions of ideas. But if you deny one, just one the right to free speech, it is a chain reaction which subsequently will silence every voice... including yours and mine.

Who do you think will be next targets on the food chain once the atheists are silenced?

So, daily into the fray of YouTube I go. Receiving and seeking out videos who are unfairly flagged or removed and hosting mirrors of them on my channel. An often daunting, risky, and time consuming endeavor. If it negates the effects of censorship and promotes free speech then I believe it's worth the effort, but only time will tell.

The game will likely, and most assuredly change once Hulu and Disney become involved... if the rumors are true.

Anyway, that's what is on my mind at now 4 am in the morning, and I have a dentist appointment in a few hours so, I should probably try and get a little sleep.

Be well, brightest blessings, and I leave you with the following...

Evolucion:

Posted by spiritiger at 1:00 AM
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Tuesday, 14 April 2009

Anthony Powell (Tony48219) - Thoughts.
Topic: Life
I'm not sure where to begin with this, so I suppose I'll just dive in.

Recently, I've seen a great deal of antagonism directed towards Tony Powell in video comments and video responses on YouTube.

I had no exposure to the video blogs made by Powell (commonly known on YouTube as Tony48219) until the recent tragedy in which he took a young woman's life and his own at a Michigan College. But since that sad event, I daily come across new clips of his now, notorious videos.

Powell, though his most recent channel has been stripped of his video content, had a lengthy documented history in where he espoused his intolerance towards Atheism and modern feminism, and touted his own version of Fundamentalist Christianity most of which was inspired by the mythology of the Old Testament.

It would be easy to blame Christianity or religion in general for Powell's actions on April 10th and use it as a platform in support of our own differing views. I mean, we Pagans often have more than one bone to pick with Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christians. Atheists too, in so far as the onslaught of ideological attacks that are thrown their direction by Christians daily on YouTube (just look up the name VenomFangX sometime).

Lets not confuse our personal issues in regards to Christianity with the reality that Anthony Powell had suffered from manic depression (also known as Bipolar Disorder) since childhood. A condition that causes unusual changes in the person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. A condition that Powell, himself, refused to acknowledge and refused to take medication for.

This condition, however, is not solely to blame as I have personally known several people who deal with manic depression, some more severe than others and none of them have the capacity to take the life of another human being, with or without medication.

I believe there are far more factors to Powell killing 20 year old Asia McGowan that are far more complex than his archaic views of Christianity, women or his manic depression. Most of which will undoubtedly never be discovered.

We will never know the real history of Anthony Powell, as we all keep secrets... even from our parents, family and friends. Most of which are painful and fill us with shame. Events that have nothing to do with religion, politics or science.

This does not excuse his actions. Nothing excuses the act of murdering an innocent life.

I suppose the point I am trying to make here is that Anthony Powell was a unique individual, not a generic example that can be applied to Christianity or mental illness. Implying that he killed Asia McGown because he was Christian or religious, is like saying "All people with a mental illness are potential killers". It is a dangerous and unfair generalization.

Just my thoughts.

In memory of Asia McGowan

https://www.youtube.com/user/asiamcgowan

Brightest blessings.

Posted by spiritiger at 1:13 PM
Updated: Tuesday, 27 October 2009 7:02 PM
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The Evolution of VenomFangX
Topic: Blogging
I have avoided talking about VenomFangX (a Creationist, Fundamentalist Christian on YouTube) because, quite frankly, I believe he gets entirely too much attention (both positive and negative) as it is... and to be brutally honest, I don't like him.

The war between the atheists and the Christians has waged on for sometime now. As a Pagan, I am thankfully quite some distance from the fray and as such I have, I believe, a more impartial view of the situation.

The backstory, in brief, is this; Sometime ago, there was a dispute between VenomFangX and a user by the name of Thunderf00t (an atheist). The dispute was in regards to material that Thunderf00t had used in two of his videos, and VenomFangX's belief that it was illegal under Copyright laws for him to do so. VenomFangX then filed a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) against Thunderf00t and reported him to YouTube. The videos in question were removed, and Thuderf00t's channel was suspended.

The following, is a video journal, of sorts, of this incident:

Introduction:

Chapter One - Censorship:

Chapter Two - VenomFangX:

Chapter Three - A Friend, a lie:

Chapter Four - Legal Strength:

Chapter Five - A Question of Justice:

Chapter Six (Finale) - Humility

So... did VenomFangX fade away? Did he disappear into the shame of shadows, to be heard from nevermore? Of course not.

He has moved on, evolved into a YouTube-Evangelist, asking his subscribers to donate money to him for his street ministry which he vlogs on his channel, still espousing how evolution is a lie and claiming the earth is a mere 6,000 years old, designed by an "intelligent creator".

He was a liar... now he is a charlatan and a thief as well. A friend of mine on YouTube, dprjones, documents this evolution the best:

Evolution and a challenge to VenomfangX

(This video was flagged and removed from dprjones' channel by YouTube. This is a mirror of that video.)

The atheists now have called for those who feel VenomFangx is disingenuous in his desire to donate any monies to charity, to aide them in a sort of video charity drive to be paid directly to the website of the charity they have chosen. Here is the link, via the video mirror on my channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imvtehVlucM

This drive is not to support atheism, it is a show of support of those in Africa who are suffering and need donations, as opposed to a scam artist who's only interest is in lining his own pockets.

Below are links of that charity, as well as the links of the YouTube users involved and users worth checking out.

http://www.malarianomore.org
http://www.firstgiving.com
http://www.firstgiving.com/malarianomorecharity
https://www.youtube.com/user/dprjones(Suspended for two weeks, but will be up again soon)
https://www.youtube.com/user/dprjoneslives (Temporary channel until dprjones channel returns)
http//www.youtube.com/user/Thunderf00t
(For informational purposes only in regards to this blog)https://www.youtube.com/user/VenomFangX
https://www.youtube.com/user/PragmaticHeathen
https://www.youtube.com/user/BlueFireWitch
https://www.youtube.com/user/TOMMYfromtheBRONX

For a complete list of my subscriptions, you can visit the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=jspiritiger&view=subscriptions

Brightest blessings.

Posted by spiritiger at 11:50 AM
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Monday, 13 April 2009

More on ChristianU2uber & Cyberbullying
Topic: Web, HTML, Tech
The situation of the cyberbullying being perpetrated against ChristianU2uber has become serious enough that it has finally gained the attention of News sources.

How this will effect the questionable outcome of this situation, is anybody's guess. However, I do hope that the publicity generated will at least bring this to the attention of this young boy's parents, or if they are already aware, will at least force them to deal with this dangerous situation.

Here is an article I discovered on the internet today from World Net Daily:

YouTube community tells kid to kill himself
Christian 12-year-old slammed for posting views on homosexuality

By Drew Zahn
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

A self-described Christian 12-year-old boy who dared post his views on same-sex marriage on the popular Internet video site, YouTube, has since been ridiculed and insulted by tens of thousands of comments that attack the boy, his sexuality and his faith.

"Kill Christianity, and then kill yourself," responded a YouTube community member identified as greenacidfusion.

A commenter calling himself WizzyBoy 520 added, "How do you know the Bible isn't full of lies? You, just like everyone who is against gay marriage, is a mentally retarded bigot. No exceptions. Now go to h---."

Thousands of others have simply slammed the boy by calling him a "homo" or making comments like the one from chao129: "You are against gay marriage because you are a fag in denial."

The boy identifies himself only by the name Scott and the YouTube member name ChristianU2uber. His 13 videos have become a YouTube sensation, approaching 1 million hits over the last four weeks, making ChristianU2ber the thirteenth most-viewed YouTube contributor in the "Gurus" channel over the past month.

With his popularity, however, have come tens of thousands of comments from the YouTube community, the vast majority of them insulting. His video "Gay Marriage – Is It Right or Wrong?" generated over 11,000 comments by press time, mostly critical, many laced with profanity.

ChristianU2uber claims on his YouTube channel, "I am a Christian, and I love to upload videos that teach you what Christianity is all about."

When he addressed the issue of homosexual marriage, however, the backlash grew so furious and profane that even outspoken atheists on YouTube have come to ChristianU2uber's defense.

"I can't believe it. I'm watching these video responses, these comments to ChristianU2uber, who is a 12-year-old, and you people are trying to blast him to oblivion," says self-described atheist TOMMYfromtheBRONX in a YouTube video of his own. "Does everyone have to act 12 years old, just because he's 12 years old?"

TOMMY continues, "Of course I don't believe and agree with what he has to say, but I was saying the same thing he is when I was 12. Instead of mocking and ridiculing this kid, why don't we show him the other side and let him judge for himself?"

"When a person makes an insulting claim, they are more than worthy of ridicule," writes another YouTuber identified as godlessmessiah, "But when the person making the claim is a child who obviously doesn't know better, the last thing we (as atheists) should ever do is what people are doing in this case."

Subjecting himself again to the stream of criticism, ChristianU2uber crafted a response to what he called "hateful comments" made about his videos.

"Before you put another mean comment on one of my videos, I just want you to stop and take a second to listen to yourself," says ChristianU2uber. "A lot of people are putting bad words and really mean comments on my videos, and I really don't like it; it makes me sad. I work hard because on YouTube I want to be informative and I want to teach people that there is a God and to make this world a better place."

He concludes, "Just settle down a little bit. Please? For me?"

At press time, the most recent response to ChristianU2uber's plea for civility came from a poster identified as goatchad:

"I stopped and took a second to listen to myself," wrote goatchad, "But it just made me realize what a complete c--- you are. Please die."

(source: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=94711)
--------------------------

This type of hate that overflows the cup of YouTube often seems out of control and, in my opinion, reflects that we, as a society, have become cold and indifferent to the suffering and pain of other fellow human beings. I sincerely hope that this is not the case.

Most recently on this front is 28 year old Anthony Powell, a Fundamentalist Christian who shot fellow student Asia McGowan for being too "feminist" before cowardly killing himself. He made countless videos expressing his hatred for women who did not treat men as their "king", who were not submissive, and equally espoused his venom of Atheists and posted them to YouTube.

Youtuber Murder/Suicide: The Tragedy Of Asia McGowan And Anthony Powell (Tony48219)

How much tragedy do we have to read about in the news where the motivation is as simple as "hate" before we learn as human beings that such emotion is both detrimental to us and those around us... and will it be too late?

Brightest blessings.

Posted by spiritiger at 4:54 PM
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Friday, 10 April 2009

Cyberbullying - Please Read.
Topic: Web, HTML, Tech
First of all, I want apologize for blogging a second time as this is not typically my routine (I write too much as it is). But I have come across some recent video (I know, "Not more youtube!"), and I felt the situation was serious enough that it deserved attention.

A few years ago, a 13 year old girl named Megan Meier committed suicide after a boy named "Josh Evans", whom she had befriended and become romantic with online cruelly broke up with her. After logging off of her computer, she hung herself in her closet.

She did not die immediately, rather slowly from a crushed larynx a day later.

It was discovered later, through an investigation, that the mother of a former friend of Megan (whom she had a falling out with) had created the screen name and identity of "Josh" in order to spy on her and to toy with her.

The Story of Megan Meier:

Cyberbullying has not been slowed by this tragedy.

Currently, on YouTube there is a 12 year old boy with the screen name ChristianU2uber, who has become the target of hateful homophobic comments, mostly from adults, and video parodies containing his video clips with content that is similarly spiteful.

One of ChristianU2uber's Controversial Videos:

ChristianU2uber's Channel (Scroll down to "Channel Comments").

If you watch the video in it's entirety, at one point the boy says "I used to be gay, but then I decided it's wrong" at about 1:20 in the video. Since then slurs such as "homo" and "fag" have been posted to all of his videos and his channel page on YouTube, as well as going viral onto the web. All you have to do is "google" his name, and the results are staggering.

Nevermind that he is a Christian with obvious Evangelical influences, he's a 12 year old little boy. A little boy who is obviously confused by his own sexual identity and seems isolated by parents who seemingly have no involvement in the cruelty being perpetrated against him, either because of lack of supervision or simply indifference.

I am a mom, so my heart just breaks for this child. It really does.

If you would like to get involved, please contact YouTube and bring this situation to their attention and visit YouTube Abuse. Your voice can make a difference.

Before I close out this blog, I would like to honor a very brave little girl by the user name "PrincessBeexo" who stood up and spoke up for what she believed to be right. Her words, gave me hope for the future.

PrincessBeexo's Voice:

Brightest blessings.

Posted by spiritiger at 3:12 PM
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A Cold Medicine Mellow.
Topic: Life
Lack of sleep and cold medicine has made me a little fuzzy around the edges, so try and bear with me if I seem to wander off-topic.

I've been giving some thought to Paganism and Neo-paganism in regards to how it applies to polytheism. Is it a collection of earth-based/nature-based religions, a collection of altering spiritualism, or is it a combination of these things? In truth, there are arguments that could support or disprove any one of these ideas depending on your personal view or belief.

For me, personally, Celtic Witta, which falls under the umbrella of Paganism, is more of a spirituality than a religion. I find myself often referring to myself as "spiritual" rather than "religious". The most likely reason for this is that the word "religious" still holds negative connotations for me, as I automatically relate it to "organized religion" and Christianity.

However, from society's point of view, Paganism and Neo-paganism is deemed generally as a religion (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/religion).

That being said, I recently ran across a video on YouTube entitled "Religion Breeds Mediocrity" where an Atheist friend of mine addresses a Christian who accused Atheism for being responsible for the mundanity that exists in our society. Feel free to watch the video below:

Given that he is an Atheist, I understand and accept his stance on religion in general. However, I found myself somewhat offended at his assertion that all religion is responsible for the mediocrity that exists. This is painting with a very broad brush, in my honest opinion.

The subject that 'nathanforst' addresses specifically in this video is 'accountability'. In the video he states, "I am accountable to myself and I am accountable to the people my actions have harmed". Hmmm.... does this idea resonate with any Pagans reading this? If you follow the 'Wiccan Rede', it should echo within you.

[‘An ye harm none, do what ye will.]

This is at the core of our beliefs and spirituality. It is this very final line of the 'Wiccan Rede' that we attach what is known as "The Three Fold Law", a three fold response to the energy/magick we effectually send forth both positively and negatively, which is also attributed to our actions towards others and is similar to the Karmic law of Hinduism. In the most simplistic of terms, within the boundries of the three fold law, that which you do either positively or negatively will come back to you either magnifed times three or on three separate occasions.

It is the golden rule among most Pagans, and holds us ultimately and solely responsible for our actions and there is no counter way out of this inevibility. There are and should be consequences for our actions.

Given that his argument was directed towards a Christian point of view, perhaps he should have entitled his video "Christianity breeds mediocrity" or even "[user name here] breeds mediocrity". I believe it would have been certainly a more fair statement than to generalize all religions as inclusive in this one Christian's opinions of Atheism.

Finally I would like to share with you the most important line in the 'Wiccan Rede' for me personally and what it means to me:

[Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.]

Exist within the boundaries of your conscience and what you know instinctively to be right and to be wrong, and respect the truth as it exists for others without malice or selfish desire to change their truth. Receive, unselfishly, that which is shared with you whether it be tangible or intangible and be prepared to give the same in kind, without regret.

Brightest blessings.

Posted by spiritiger at 9:17 AM
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Wednesday, 8 April 2009

Freedom of Speech Revisited.
Topic: Religion and Philosophy
As many of you probably already know, Creationism is the belief that the God of Abraham of Judaism created life, the earth and the universe as described in the book of Genesis. Because Creationism is not a scientific theory, but rather a theory based almost exclusively on religious belief it is not taught in state funded schools in respect to the 'Establishment Clause' of the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion".

Creationism, however, has done anything but fade into obscurity. It has but transformed itself into new entities such as 'Intelligent Design' and 'Young Earth Creationism'.

Unlike Intelligent Design (the belief that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." - Intelligent Design Network) which claims to be scientific theory and desires to redefine science to include supernatural explanations, Young Earth Creationism is sort of the dumb cousin of Creationism.

Young Earth Creationism is the belief that the life on earth, the universe and beyond was created by the Judaic God between 6000 - 10,000 years ago in accordance to the literal interpretation of the Hebrew text of the book of Genesis (the God of Abraham created the earth in 6 24-hour days). It asserts that dinosaurs and homo sapiens existed together at the same time.

One of the most outspoken, and probably best well known supporters of Young Earth Creationism is Kent Hovind. He has gained fame through his 'Creation Science' seminars, his amusement park 'Dinosaur Adventure Land' in Pensacola, Florida (in which dioramas of dinosaurs co-existing with man are displayed), and his literary work entitled "Unmasking the False Religion of Evolution". However, infamously, Mr. Hovind is known to have been found guilty of federal tax offenses and related charges, for which he is currently serving a 10-year sentence and has been ordered to pay the federal government restitution of over $600,000.

These theories, as well as the more scientifically supported and universally accepted theory of Evolution which is part of the present-day educational curriculum, have recently been the subject of much debate on 'YouTube' between Evangelical Christians and Atheists.

However, there has been an attempt recently to silence the voices of Atheists who have voiced criticism with Christianity on 'YouTube' in a phenomenon known as 'Votebots' (a program that spams the vote feature on videos either positively or negatively) and the false 'Flagging' (complaints of inappropriate material objectionable to 'YouTube's rules and regulations) of videos. Flagging can lead to removal of a video and potentially lead to the suspension of a 'YouTube' user account.

Literally hundreds of Atheist's videos have been attacked in this way in the past few months, leading to multiple suspensions, instant rating drops within a space as little as an hour and bannings of many Atheist vlogs. This is a clear attack on their Freedom of Speech, as none of the users that were targeted disobeyed 'YouTube' Terms of Service. Those responsible were clearly only interested in eliminating an opposing point of view in a faceless and cowardly manner.

The following are videos that have been posted recently in regards to the 'votebot' and false flagging that have occurred. I urge you to please watch them in their entirity:

We learn nothing and cease to grow in our own personal beliefs, be they spiritual, cultural, or evidential, when we silence those who voice opposition to that belief. There is no strength in our convictions to our individual principles or opinions without the counterbalance of adversity.

Yes, I am Pagan. Yes, I believe the theory of Evolution. But, I am none of these at the exclusion of any other view that might differ from my own. I have no wish to be an island unto myself and silence the voices I disagree with. I am not nearly so spineless.

Thank you for reading this.

Brightest blessings.

Posted by spiritiger at 11:47 AM
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