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