On the news this morning was a story about how a local couple were stopped by a volunteer deputy for driving a car with expired tags. It turned out that the man also had a suspended license and no proof of insurance. Hot holy fuck! On their bumper, they had some provocative stickers that tipped the deputy off to the fact that these two individuals were not Christians. Sure 'nuff, they aren't. They claim to be Druids. So the deputy proceeds to send them a greeting card a couple of days later, imploring them to become Baptists and seek out the One True God. He's now on suspension pending an investigation.

What he did was wrong, yes. It's also typical, especially for dunderheads in this area. But that's not my main beef.

At the end of the news story, the reporter proceeds to explain what Druidism is all about, citing that Druids followed a code of honesty, integrity, yada yada yada. Now, if this couple were practicing what they say they follow, why in the hell were they on the road driving an essentially illegal vehicle without the proper documentation to allow them to drive any vehicle, legal or not? That just makes everyone in the Pagan community look bad, like a horde of hypocrites. "Oh we believe in truth, justice, and the Pagan Way! ....but we're gonna try to slip around every law as much as we can 'cos we're really just a pack of irresponsible poopheads." I've seen it all too often.

Why do so many Pagans insist on not following the Laws of the Land? I've heard the arguments before, that these laws were instituted by The Man, who has complete disregard for the welfare of the Pagan or the Old Ways. What a load of crap! How is not paying your taxes or driving without insurance doing anything to keep the Old Ways alive and untouched by The Man? Far too many people use their religion as an excuse to behave like idiots while all the time pointing the finger at "mainstream" religions and accusing their followers of doing the exact same thing.

I have always contended that, if you want to bring respect to the Pagan Community (or any community), you must lead by example. Be an upstanding citizen, work within the system, and maintain your life path. Make people see that not every Pagan is a loincloth-wearing, pot-smoking, unwashed hippie throwback with no respect for the law.

Todd and I had many a conversation/debate about this when we were still both very passionate about that in which we believed. Now, we're middle-aged cynics who believe in our middle fingers more than anything else. I brought up what I thought was a good example of how people should not look for respect, and I think the argument holds up today.

Gay Rights parades.....I'm a huge proponent of Gay Rights. I believe that everyone should be treated equally with respect and honour in our society, be they Gay, white, black, Christian, Pagan, Muslim, Amish ~ whatever. But no one...no one is going to have any respect for someone parading down the street with pink feathers sticking out of his arse singing "I'm here and I'm queer!" That's not a way to win friends and be popular in school. Lead by example. Work within the system. Show the mindless herds that make up the majority of the American population that you are an irreplaceable asset to our society and that you are Gay!

Yeah, our society and our system suck. But old habits are hard to break and no one is going to break those habits by breaking the law or trying to turn themselves into Big Bird for a parade. It has to be done from the inside out. The only thing people like these Druids are doing is forcing those who've tried to make steps forward take a few steps back to regroup and do damage control.

Mind you, I'm far from perfect. I went through a period of time when I didn't look or behave "normal." I was loud and proud and stupid. I'm still proud, not so loud, and I'm working on the stupid. I've learned and seen enough to know that, despite the positive report on Druidry in this news story, the Druids in question completely fucked up by their example. I'm disappointed, but not surprised.