Media Bias

Media Bias

by Eris' Apple

It's pervasive in the media. Whenever there is an arrest of a Pagan person, their religion is brought up. Usually, the phrase "occult" is included like some kind of bad word. By doing this, they imply that being Pagan was part and parcel of whatever bad deed the person is accused.

You'll see headlines like "Pagan Man Arrested For Molestation - Occult Book Found Amongst Belongings", but never "Christian Man Arrested For Molestation - Old and New Testaments Found Amongst Belongings" or "Muslim Man Arrested for Molestation - Koran Found Amongst Belongings." This is because they know these other people's religion had nothing to do with the charges, but that someone being Pagan sensationalizes things, gets attention and sells papers. Call this to the particular reporter, and you're lucky to get more than a canned response, if even you get the canned response. They don't care that they've pissed off the community.

We see the articles that do this published on Pagan sites like WitchVox, and the general response seems to be anger that once again the media appear to be singling out Pagans for attention. Wee. Localized anger. It would be better served if it went to a more National level to get the recognition it deserves. But we're too busy bitching about other stuff.

The Jews until very recently, have fought allegations that they use the blood of Christian and Moslem babies in their Matzoh. The Roman Catholic Church fights allegations of Satanism. The Mormons once had a bounty placed on their heads, they were so reviled. Over time, these horrific situations have been rectified. Now we need to have the same acceptance of Paganism, Voudon, Santeria and the like. But we can't wait for someone else to do it for us!

Perhaps if enough of the community got together and approached a major news organization, we might get some positive attention for a change. But therein lies the problem:

The Pagan community are indeed like cats. We not only are difficult if not impossible to herd, we don't play well together, in spite of our claimed ability to do just that. Plus, we always want someone else to do all the work, with someone else.

Never mind. You all will continue to sit on your asses, do some crystal therapy, some reiki, and a little drumming and not do anything that will help to resolve the situation.

AGAIN.