The Stained Glass Window of History

Often when we read study history or listen to lectures, we find that there are certain pieces of information "colored" by rhetoric, skewed by bias or fractured by lack of recording skills. This is the case for Julius Cesar's writings about the Druids, whom may or may not have performed human sacrifices.

It's the same for modern occurrences as well. I have been in my share of spats on YT. Some were cordial, like my disagreements with EClovesanimals as well as many videos directed back and forth from one religious point of view to the next. There were some that got ugly.

The viewpoint of the individual on this history is different. I know what happened in my mind because it happened to me. It's history without hearsay. But for others who weren't directly involved or hear about it after the fact, the stained glass window metaphor applies. All people unfortunately have prejudices, especially against other religions. Out of respect for the past, I usually keep what's in the past, the past. I see no need to drudge up painful memories and opt to look forward. Some, however, just aren't built that way. It's not for me to criticize them until they step into my history.

Recently a youtube user criticized me for my defense against Shamanshadow. For those who don't know-and I tell you the Goddess honest truth-Shamanshadow was a Pagan-a family tradition witch-with leanings on folk magick and native american beliefs also, to my knowledge, he is involved with the Catholic church. In addition, he hunts Big Foot with a concoction made from menstrual blood and on more than one occasion, has filmed himself cursing people for which he had no personal connection. He had spoke of a troubled childhood including abuse and neglect. Shamanshadow also had a problem with Wiccans. Among other things, he called Wiccans the "McDonalds" religion of Paganism, he also referred to us as NAZI's and claimed we were trying to impose a new world order on all witches.

Obviously, this bothered me and I responded, at first cordially, in a text comment. At which he said some nasty things, called me little girl, and called me stupid and then blocked me. He said I can't be trusted because I'm "one of them." This irked me. He then made a very demeaning video saying that Wiccans were trying to take over and that we "stole" our beliefs from his family tradition.

Obviously I took offense to this and responded with a video, which may have had a sacrastic tone, but wasn't nearly as insulting. I explained a bit about Wicca's history and that just because two belief systems have a lot in common doesn't mean they have to be rivals. He was obviously upset that Wicca had become so popular and that his own tradition had not become mainstream or anything close to mainstream.

Many other Wiccans and Pagans saw my video and were also outraged at the claims that he was making. Shamanshadow had also latched on to the idea that Wiccans were all like Gavin and Yvonne Frost-most Wiccans I know disagree with the Frosts view of Wicca-they wrote a book called "The Good Witch's Bible" which included passages on sexualizing children for rites of passage. This is vile and I am abhorred that someone would claim to be Wiccan and write such garbage. This doesn't mean that I adhere to it. Shamanshadow claimed that the Frosts were the end all be all of American based Wicca and that any and all traditions in the US started with them.

So obviously, many people were upset by this. He got alot of responses independant from my own. Because I was one of the first, and of course, one of the largest accts on YT to disagree with him. He had then designated me as some sort of leader within this movement. I was not directing people to make videos or instructing people to include information. We did however chat together and many people, myself included, discussed how ridiculous his claims were and proof that debunked them. This is natural of course as many people in the YT community disagreed with him.

Shamanshadow had a few supporters, but not many. Mainly people who were also wary of Wicca but some who just respected Shamanshadow. He had told people that he was the victim and that he was just stating his beliefs and that I was attacking them. I told him that it wasn't a question of his beliefs, but his hate speech. And his lies about Wicca. I could care less what his religious beliefs were.

I did try to end it peacefully with a debate. 45 Pagans and Pagan Supporters were in that chat room-Shamanshadow was a no show.

It got nasty. Shamanshadow called my friend George a pedophile. He also used many gay slurs to some of my pagan friends from the GLBTQ community. Eventually Shamanshadow got his account suspended for terms of service violations.

I do not regret the videos that my friends made against him. After all-it's not up to me to regret what someone else has done. I don't regret flagging videos that actually do break Youtube's terms of service.

He attemtped to come back a few times and is currently on YT under the account witchenpoo. He hasn't attempted to remake the videos that he's done although he has taken a few personal jabs at me.

A user recently accused me of organizing a front to "shout" shamanshadow off YT. I did no such thing. I applauded videos I agreed with, but I was no ringleader. He said he was "wary" that the group would descend into chaotic drama because of me. I am not, nor have I ever been a drama queen. My position as an outspoken Wiccan will occasionally get me crticized and I have to defend myself, but I do not-with few exceptions-resort to drama. (those exceptions are usually done in good fun without serious intent to harm)

I resented him trying to drudge up the past but then I realized that all this time I have been silent, and on shamanshadow's blog, you can read his version of the events. This stained glass window. Fractured, colored with bias, you can hardly see the truth on the other side.

I hate having to make this blog. The past is the past. And while I have not forgiven shamanshadow for his actions, I also don't think bigots deserve forgiveness without repentance. I look at it this way, if you defend a bigot for his bigotry, you're either unaware of his bigotry, or a bigot yourself. The only exception would be pity-the "he doesn't know any better" defense. I don't think this applies to shamanshadow.