So today has already started out to be a shit day. Went to bed at my regular time, but could not manage to drag myself out of bed before 0700. So I spent 20 minutes running around, trying to get out the door in time to make it to school for my Med/Surg test. No time for shower, throw on clothes, mascara, grab food, underwear, the whole damn time tripping over a dog whining for a treat. Asked mom to give the dog her thyroid medicine and out the door 10 minutes late, only to find my car still frozen under a sheet of frost. I get in my car, race to school, only to be stuck behind slow ass after slow ass. Manipulated traffic to get across the Kennedy Bridge before tomorrow afternoon (at the rate some of it was moving), and got in the parking lot at 0757. Adrienne called "where are you!?!? is what I'm sure she'd nearly scream at me, " you're going to be late for the test". So I arrive in class JUST IN TIME at 0800 exactly, when the test is supposed begin, but no teacher in sight. Just as well because suddenly I had feminine issues to solve. Wet and dirty is no fun. Feminine issues solved, diet coke bought, 10 minutes later, no teacher in sight. 0830 test still not begun (why did I rush here for this)? Friend tries to talk to me, don't want to hear it, too bitchy to talk.
0840 test begins.
0950 Finished test - god I failed.
To now 1013 test was supposed to be shut down at 1010, yet our local neurotic is still taking her test, and the door is still closed.
1100 I plan to be somewhere eating, or on my way there. Damnit.
And now let me rant rant da rant ....about pagans being so offended over every little thing.
A popular Pagan author (whose books I own several of) has begun a facebook cyber discussion asking whether or not the up and coming Nicholas Cage movie, "Season of the Witch" has been found to be offensive to her fellow witches. Many of the responses were along the lines of (paraphrased) "hell yeah I'm offended!!!!!!!11111" Of course I realize that people are hyperdisposed to be offended, however for the sake of this discussion, Pagans are my target group.
One would think that in the age of Wizard Oz, when most of my elder peers grew up (I may be exaggerating there), they would not be offended by the image of the " bad with" with boogar green skin, and a wart on the nose. At least the witch in SoTW is attractive, more so than the wicked witch who chased Dorothy. "Are we too boring to be portrayed as we are in reality," asked one poster. My response to that is "well yes you are". Hollywood is out for one thing and one thing only, as are (most) business, and that is to make money. Real reality is boring, real reality dos not sell. That is why ABC and other networks have to stage and manipulate portions of their reality tv shows. My peers should know by now that nothing they see on the big screen is real.
Maybe it is because I am not easily offended that I am so taken aback by their jump the gun, offended, join the bandwagon response. I personally am excited to see another Nicholas Cage movie, regardless of the content. Cage is a damn good actor, and after his recent financial issues, the more money he can make, the more power to him.
Am I excusing bigotry, hatred, and prejudice? No, I am not. I do not agree with nor endorse real bigotry, hatred, and persecution, which takes place all over the world, affecting all races and ethnic groups, and religions. In Africa witchcraft is used as a justifiable reason to kill women and children, just as homosexuality is used as a justifiable reason to kill across the Middle East (as well as Africa and other parts of the world). The point is that Americans have seen little of real, honest-to-god persecution, the likes of which have been seen across the world, especially in Africa in recent years. Rwanda, Darfur, African "witch hunts" and the recent increased attacks on homosexuals in Nigeria speak volumes. The point is that Witchcraft is a reason, but its not actual witches and wizards that are killed. Just people that for whatever reason are accused and targeted. Yet throughout history Jews, Christians, Muslims, etc. have all been treated in similar ways as the aforementioned. It is not Witchcraft specific, so why be offended by a silly movie? What my peers are seeing is the result of human nature in the face of difficult times where the populace has had minimal education and live in poverty. Were people more educated, had more expendable resources and times were better, in a way similar to the other major western countries of this world, they would not be seeing the tragedies they are seeing in Africa.
My peers talk about light and dark, good and bad, pretty and ugly, but ignore the fact that life is not always, light, good, and pretty, but also dark, bad, and ugly. Africa is the waning to the Western worlds Waxing, the dark good and goddess to the light god and goddess, or the winter to the summer. Light and dark, both halves, that many of my peers claim are necessary to keep the cycle of life going and staying balanced. But I fear I am getting far to deep into philosophy and ignoring the mere fact that many of these people just jumped the gun into anger without even thinking.
I fear most of their reaction was in response to a figurehead they admired being offended by SoTW. Many feel is someone they view as more intelligent, well-known, and possibly wealthy their opinion holds more merit. I see it all the time. Person A is better, person A has this opinion, so I, person B, agree with everything they say.
Sad but true.
Now off to lunch.
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