The Pagan Heart

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Speaking Up: Holiday Greetings By Drag0nfly     Many publications and organizations do their best to send out a multi-cultural season's greetings this time of year. Strangers on the street wish us the happy holiday's slogan of their choice. Most times, a Happy Solstice or a Merry Yule isn't a part of that equation. These are words full of positive spirit, yet so overlooked and controversial. How many of us have stepped up to the task and tried to change this habit of having our holidays excluded or overlooked? One person who has thought of it and taken action, as well as inspired others to speak up, is Rhiannon NosTylluan. She is one of our staff writers and a very active member of the greater Pagan community. She noticed the the exclusion of a greeting to our group on the Babycenter.com's holiday page. Though it did represent many cultures - some even in their native language - it did not go so far as to represent ours. Babycenter.com's 'Pagan Families' message board is a very large and strong community. NosTylluan took charge. She e-mailed the Community Manager at the site and posted a message inviting others to do the same. Many did follow her example and Babycenter.com responded quickly. A few days later everyone who e-mailed received a reply. The Community Manager responded that it would be remedied. The greeting is now inclusive of our group and can be viewed at Babycenter. With NosTylluan's lead, we did affect a positive change. When you look up the definition of Pagan in a dictionary, it defines what we aren't. It is time to shake out of an apathetic posture and tell people who we are. Babycenter.com is one example of a company willing to listen and to respond. They just needed to be educated. It takes Pagans, like Rhiannon NosTylluan, to take notice and speak up. It's time we spoke with a unified voice to educate, expect tolerance and request acceptance.     Have you done something to affect change or be heard? Or someone you know? Drop us a line and share your experience.

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December 2004 Issue