Religious Injustice- Including my BIGGEST secret!

I'm sorry I haven't written in a long time guys, I've been busy writing my awesome short story for Language Arts class... X-x (It took FOREVER!) ANYWAY, today's topic is: religious persecution and discrimination. Wow, that takes a long time to type! (Already exhausted)

Okay, so I'm guessing most of my readers do not have a religion or are of Non Pagan faith, correct? You don't know what that is? *sigh* A.K.A. Christians, Catholics, etc. Alright, now that we got that out of the way, we can get back on track. Many people in America are of non Pagan faith or do not believe in a deity at all. Only a small percentage of people in America are Pagan. *Anything but Christian, Catholic etc.* People often dismiss Pagans as evil because we do not believe in their idea of a supreme deity. I bet you think it's not important right? I bet you're going to leave my blog after this sentence because you think this is just anti-religion article. Wrong. Religious Persecution and discrimination is just as bad as racism. Yep, racism. (I'm not racist by the way.) People of Pagan faith face cruel jokes, violence, divorce, unemployment, and death because someone wouldn't accept them for who they were. I face this everyday of my life.

Yep, everyday of my life I deal with the constant pain of my parents not accepting a piece of my soul. Everyday I am forced to sit back and hold my tongue during a joke about a witch. Everyday I hold back my deepest secret to my friends and classmates. EVERYDAY I have to force myself to keep going in life. I am not the only one. Thousands of Americans are secretly suffering because of discrimination. Does anyone do anything? Does anyone try to cope? Of course we do! Rights have been passed, laws followed, organizations, etc. We are doing all we can to stop the madness but it keeps increasing from our efforts.

So, here's the major secret you're all waiting for... I'm Wiccan. I'm a teenage girl who believes in a god and goddess sharing the power together. I believe the deities are found within nature. Therefore, I worship nature. I do not believe in a devil. I am training in astrology and the fundamentals of being Psychic. I will not harm others because it will come back to me threefold. In other words, I'm a Witch. Yep, a WITCH.

Tempest Smith was only 12 years old when she died. How? You ask... Religious Discrimination. Her fellow classmates tormented everyday for being Wiccan. She often complained to the Administration, but no action was taken. One day before school, she locked herself in her room and hung herself with a scarf. They police found her diary with entry after entry of despicable antics from the students at Lincoln Park Middle School. The guilty students were questioned, but nothing happened. This isn't just a one time case. This is occurring all over the world. To this day, many are haunted by Tempest's story and take it to heart. Do you?

Take my words and let them guide you to a religious discrimination free world. Please, for the sake of your fellow Americans. For the sake of your neighbors. For the sake of your friends. For the sake of your classmates. For the sake of Tempest. For the sake of me.

-*-Aradia/Justine-*-

Blessed Be

Midnight Sun Has Set

**Picture from Twilight Trailer.
Edited by Justine**

As many of you Twilighters already know, Midnight Sun was illegally posted by one of Stephenie's trusted companions and apparently most Twilighters read it. I do not agree with that statement. I conducted a poll from my friends and none of us had read the illegal copy. If Stephenie said that most Twilighters read it, I believe her. But, that does not apply to me or my friends. We realized that any copy of Midnight Sun not published on her website, would be false. If only other Twilighters followed that Principal as well.

Recently, Stephenie has posted parts of Midnight Sun onto her website along with a playlist, and is openly allowing people to read it. I have not subjected myself to reading a part of Stephenie's work of art when she didn't intend us to read it that way. To me, it's like sneaking a peek at a Christmas present your parents pleasently hid. You see the present they put together just for you, and they find out you saw it. Not only did you let your parents down, you ruined the surprise and utter joy of opening the gift for the first time. Twilighters who read the illegal copy let Stephenie down. Twilgihters who read the Partial copy of Midnight Sun destroyed any joy or surprise if Stephenie published Midnight Sun later in life. I don't know about you, but I'm going to wait until Christmas and not peek.

I was extremely furious at Stephenie's thoughts of not even publishing Midnight Sun because of some jerk. To release some inner protest energy, I came up with the idea of wearing a black bracelet evryday until Midnight Sun comes out. My friends have decided to join me in this jewelry demonstration. I have decided to call it: "The Midnight Sun's Shadow movement." If you decide to follow our lead, please do not claim it as your own. And if possible, use the name! We will get recognized if you do, and hopefully Stephenie will forgive us all and continue to bring her dream to life.

We love you Stephenie, and we always will! Please, bring us out of the shadow!

-*-Aradia/Justine-*-