Before we begin, please take a moment to watch this video, which is a good representation of how bat-crap crazy I was this morning. If you have read I'm Not Hannah today, you've already seen this video, but rest assured that I am still this crazy, mainly because after I rode my bike to the store and got bait, my car is still infested. INFESTED. ARRRGH. Otherwise, carry on:
Okay. So, yeah. Went a little crazy with the fire ants there. I filmed the craziness, wrote a quick blog about it, and posted it on my "real life" Facebook account, as I am wont to do. My RLFB account is the one in which I'm friends with my friemily, my former students, a few bloggers I've become friends with along the way (and my SS, of course!) It is the account in which I discuss my kids, post links I find interesting or thought provoking or funny, and keep in touch with loved ones. It is also the account in which I debate politics with primarily one of my cousins, but also a few more conservative friends and friemily.
When I posted the notification about my I'm Not Hannah blog, I got one comment from a friend about getting the ookies from the video. Then I got this comment: " the luck of a pagan..heavy sigh"
Blink.
Blink blink.
Uh, what, dude?
Now, A of all, I don't know this guy at all. He's one of my mom's former students and a friend of my crazy-conservative cousin, but I wouldn't know him if he walked up and handed me a daisy. B of all, I'm not out of the broom closet on that account. I mean, I posted a link to "Meet Us At the Water," but I didn't say, "Yo, I'm a Pagan. Won't you meet me at the water?" And I don't go around prefacing every comment about mosques or trips to Spain or the fire ants in my car with "Well, I'm a Pagan, so..." And C of all...what?
I mean, what exactly was he getting at? That because I try to connect with the Earth on a spiritual level, I don't expect to get bugs? Because, hi. I live Under the Buckle and if I DIDN'T get bugs, I'd actually consider doing some sort of stockpiling, because clearly the world was coming to an end. (But, seriously, how fricking cool would it be if because Pagans DID try to connect with the Earth, we didn't get bugs? That would ROCK.)
Maybe he was trying to say that since I was a Pagan, I could be expected to be visited with various plagues. Clearly, this would suck, and if tomorrow I wake up and my bathroom is filled with toads, I might get a little worried. But today, I'm just...irritated.
You know, if one of my Christian FB friends posts something about how they had a crappy morning or their child is sick or a swarm of bugs has taken over their automobile, I don't say, "Dang. I hate it when Jesus takes a nap." I don't say, "Did you forget to go to Sunday school this weekend?" I say, "That sucks." Or "I hope he feels better." Or "Bike over to Publix and get some bait, pronto!" So please tell me why my status as a Pagan means that somebody else gets to blame the bad things in my life on it.
I have to admit that when I read that comment, my sarcastic streak came out and I replied, " Yes...I know that folks of other faiths never have problems with ants. That would be a great reason to convert." What I WANTED to say was, "Hey, Fartblossom, if you don't have something commiserating to say, why don't you keep your piehole shut?" Or "Watch it, dough boy, or you're going to find yourself on the wrong end of a hex." (I don't hex people, btw, but if he's gonna call a sister out, he might as well expect a little call back.)
Sigh. What I REALLY want to do (she moans, for the 80th time) is just waltz right on out of the broom closet and start posting quotes from Ellen Dugan and Scott Cunningham and sharing videos from oh, I don't know...maybe Dar Williams
right before thanking the Moon and Sun and Earth for working together so beautifully to regulate my menstrual cycle.
Breathe, NotHannah, breathe.
Anyway, did I handle it right? Should I have ignored him? Told him more forcefully to kiss off? Perhaps told him I'd light a candle for him?
What would YOU have done in the same circumstance?
WELL......I think you did very good not going off on him! I'm not sure what I would have done.....sometimes I'm up for an argument and I go for it......and then other times.....it's just not worth wasting my breath. I'm not out of the broom closet with most people....many in my family are extreme Christians that will bluntly tell me that I'm going to hell if I don't believe what they do.....I have had the arguments.....but I haven't actually come out and said "well....I'm Pagan"......but I know exactly how they feel about it.....I go to the beach and look around and feel so at peace with Mother Earth.....and my sister says...."Praise Jesus.....Look at what God created..." Which I'm ok with until she tries to start shoving it down my throat.....
ReplyDeleteMaybe he was trying to be nice and failing? (I usually give people the benefit of the doubt. Or ignore them. :-) )
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it's possible to go bug-free with a little energy here and there. I have a bargain with spiders - outside they are lovely and I won't harm them, but inside my flat, they are dead. We have been living in our flat for six months, in the middle of green and everything, and had 2 spiders so far. (In my old flat it worked even better, but that was smaller and easier to set up.)
everyone regardless of faith sometimes have those moments when they make the wrong comment. In recent times I have seen the change of presence towards me from some people I know since they have read my blog and such. I think it sad as I have not changed from the person I was before, and they liked me just fine then.
ReplyDeleteI guess it is somewhat a fear of the unknown, or so that is what I like to think. All I can say is that they are missing out on so many wonders of the world because they chose to place themselves in such a small box.
Hope your ant problem goes away... and I can tell you,... Ants plague everyone even the Christians. blessings to you
I think it's great that you didn't threaten him with a hex or otherwise mouth off. It wouldn't really serve any purpose except to further cement any negative stereotypes this guy (and anyone else reading the comments) has about Pagans.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really "out" to most of my FB friends either. Some of them are quite conservative, and most are Christian of some flavor. For the most part, I know who is open to engaging in honest conversation about differing beliefs and who is not among my "friends" on FB. FB isn't really the place for spiritual debate, but so many people use their FB as a personal pulpit, it's hard to get around it. I try to resist the urge to post spiritual stuff, but it's hard not to want to respond to the inundation of Christian-centered inspirational posts. Sometimes I want to post a bunch of things that reflect my beliefs, just to say "Hey! Y'all aren't the only people who have deep and meaningful spiritual lives!", but ultimately I'd rather limit my inspirational posts to the things that truly stop me in my tracks and take my breath away. Somehow that feels more honest than simply banner-waving.
I say less is more in this situation. Let his bigotry flap in the breeze by itself for everyone to take a gander at. Even better would be to answer with a question (what are you talking about, dude?) and see what he does. Of course, I think your response is lovely, too. Sarcasm is a beautiful thing.
I am seriously still so taken by the Jesus taking a nap commment that I am having a hard time focusing. Oh can I please borrow that one????
ReplyDeleteI have on several occasions been "questioned" by folks and I have let it go.......and part with a blessing. It really is not worth your effort to even address any kind of negatively charged comment...intended or otherwise. Just keep yourself authentic.
It's hard not being able be so to everyone but it is very dangerous still....not burning times..pumpkin pies not withstanding" but none the less dicey.
You're a stitch, I love this post. Blessed Be, The Olde Bagg
hmmm maybe he's Pagan and that was his way of cluing you in? Wouldn't that be awesome?! I hope you get rid of those things.
ReplyDeleteWhat the deuce?
ReplyDeleteHad this exchange happened anywhere other than the internets, I would have just burst out laughing in his face, shake my head, and turn away continuing my conversation elsewhere.
Since it was on the internets and you lose all that facial mockery [which really adds a punch], I would've responded with: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You're weird." and any comment made there after by him, will be responded with "lol wut?"
Yeah, probably not the best way to handle something like that, but meh. I am who I am and that is what I am. Deal or move on. Life is too damn short to deal with stupid dickwads like that.
I also mouth off when I am in the mood- but usually only if someone posts on facebook some scripture and then follows it up with something like "if you deny Christ, you will burn on hell like you deserve"- then I let them have it. I've never had anyone mouth off on my own post though- how odd. Your comment was inane, and it's good you didn't offer a hex.
ReplyDeletemy next step is usually to "accidently" drop that person as a friend.
hi there.
ReplyDeletewell, his comment is so obscure that it's difficult to decipher whether he's been sarky or philosophical or whatever.
i would ask for an explanation or just laugh it off. i have thick skin.
'fartblossom' - i audibly snorted.
Like some of the others, hard to guess his intent. You handled it as I would have - no comment.
ReplyDeleteLove the alternate statements, though, and will have to borrow those later. =)