It's time to face facts: it doesn't matter what angle you use to approach them, the issues under the umbrella of Faith and Values are explosive to say the least. It doesn't matter who is addressing the issue, or what their stand on it may be - if it falls under the umbrella of Faith and Values, it is automatically relegated to someone's chopping block.

     The pagan community, like all other groups, seems to deal with this automatic response in its own particular way: it buries its collective head in the sand and hides. The excuses are varied... it's too difficult to change things in this area; the rest of the kindred/coven/group doesn't support it; the local climate is unfriendly and/or dangerous...

     They are all still just excuses.

     When it comes down to it, good folks are good folks, and it doesn't matter what sort of pendant is hanging around their neck.

     The strength of one's faith and the power built in ones soul by their way of life have absolutely nothing to do with the labels applied to them.

     My family lives by a strict code of behavior. The values we hold dear are easily identifiable: honor, loyalty, responsibility, discipline, truth, independence, hospitality... How many of the "good people" out there can argue with these? How many people would look at our lives and say what a "good" family we must be?

     The behavior in our home - and I would hope it would be reflected in other pagan homes as well - puts most Christian families to shame. People are consistently amazed at the way our children behave... astonished when we point out that we were under-charged at the market or given too much change...

     The mere fact that cashiers are amazed when I point out that they missed charging me for a loaf of bread makes my blood boil.

     In this society, where the Christian church is exalted by most as the paragon of all virtue, honesty should not be an unexpected event. Adults should not be amazed when children say "please" and "thank you," regardless of the child's age. When a married woman can go out on a girl's night, or a married man can go out to a bachelor party, with the total understanding and trust of their spouse, it should not be considered the most unnatural of situations.

     The actions of "good" people speak for themselves. "Good" people are easy to spot: they line up at the blood bank in spire of a fear of needles... their names are scrawled across paper pumpkins, shamrocks, tennis shoes, and hot air balloons everywhere you look... their cars are the ones that pull over behind you when you're on the side of the road with your hood up... they are room-parents at the elementary school, story tellers are the public library, and crossing guards on the busiest street corners.

     They are the people that are brave enough to smile and say hello to a stranger. They are the people who stop and ask a crying child what's wrong.

     It's not hard to live right.

     There is no reason for the pagan community to hide away from society.

     Americans are understood to have certain rights. You know... life, liberty, happiness, constitution, bill of rights... those old documents that everyone claims to think are important...

     Wake up, people! We the people... we the pagan people... are wallowing in an antiquated, self-imposed exile. We have chosen to remain a mass of petty, bickering tribes, hiding from all those who "might not understand." We have chosen to lock ourselves into the comfort zone provided by ambiguity. The pagan community in general dances around questions of religion, tiptoes through the so-named holiday season, and drops their necklaces inside their shirts whenever their presence might cause waves. They hide their rituals indoors, laugh at things they don't find amusing, and pretend that some other errand had their car in front of that strange bookstore.

     Why are we waiting until Dear Abby puts her editorial foot in her mouth before we have issue with the incorrect image that people have in their minds?

     Hiding is not the answer. It accomplishes nothing.

     We should be public! We should be drawing attention to ourselves! We should be teaching people the facts, not hiding behind antiquated stereotypes!

     If we are truly living right, then we have nothing to hide.

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