What is remembered, lives. I remember Tempest Smith. I remember that it's never right to make fun of someone's beliefs. I remember that sticks and stones can break my bones, but names are words of power that can wound the soul. I remember that many mocked - and one died. I remember Tempest Smith. I remember that it takes all types to make a world. I remember that nature likes biodiversity. This is true of beliefs and ideas as well. I remember that I make a better witness to my own beliefs by simply living them, not belittling others. I remember Tempest Smith. And I remember that another persons belief (or non-belief) is just as sincerely held as my own. I remember to have the courage to say, "Hey, that's not right," when I see someone being ridiculed. And the next time I am tempted to go along with the crowd and tease someone who is "different," I will remember Tempest Smith, and I will remember my pledge. Because what is remembered, lives. On February 20, 2001, a young girl named Tempest Smith killed herself in Lincoln Park, Michigan, USA. Her suicide was directly caused by the taunting of other students who mocked her because she was "different" and because she was Wiccan. This is a dramatic and extreme example of hundreds of everyday cases of prejudice based on religion. Even those who would never make a racial or gender-based slur may still discriminate based on religion, because many faiths teach that their religion is the only true religion. We know that change is made one person at a time. So in memory of Tempest Smith and millions of victims of religious discrimination worldwide, we at the Pagan Pride Project ask you to pledge these three things: I pledge my word and my honor to accept that another's belief, or non-belief, is just as sincerely held as my own. I pledge that when I see prejudice based on religion, be it taunting on a playground or whispered in a board meeting, I will stand and say, "No. This is wrong." I pledge that to the best of my ability, I will respect practitioners of other spiritual paths and treat them with kindness and courtesy. A friend has now left us, her bright smile whisked away, by the cruelties and spites, small minds & hearts say. We all of this circle All the hearts on our way. we'll hold Tempest dear on each spirit day T'wasn't my honour To know her that day Though I've drunk of her pain As I've walked on my way. That could have been me, Voices chorus to say. No, It shouldn't be anyone Not in our day No friend will be taken By cruelties & spites Crying alone in the darkest of nights We'll all stand together, Spread love on our way And it'll be made better. Some spirit day. (c) - Durin The harassment undergone by school children is something of which we are all aware. This case, however, is notable, not only because of the resulting suicide, but also because of the nature of the harassment, religious intolerance. Or perhaps, it is notable because of the lack of attention paid to the nature of the harassment. When the infamous Columbine shooting occurred, it was only a short manner of time before the story of Cassie Bernall, a student shot because of her decision to admit her Christian faith, was known by the entire nation. That story was eventually proven false, though by then a dead child had already become a martyr for the Christian right of the United States. I don't believe that anyone can seriously say that Tempest Smith's suicide will be given nearly as much thought or lip service at the death of Cassie Bernall, and I want to ask the question; Why? Cassie Bernall was not persecuted because of her beliefs, she was gunned down at random by madmen. Tempest Smith was driven to suicide by the constant harassment from her peers, who were singling her out specifically for her religion. The former's death was a senseless act of violence, the latter's the result of hate. It becomes very tempting at this point to blame a society and media heavily dominated by Christians. To say that the story of a Christian persecuted for her beliefs is seen as more valid than the persecution of someone who follows a less established religion. I do not want to argue that point, though, because I fear that it may be true, and that would bode ill for followers of minority religions in the United States. I will argue, though, that the death of Tempest Smith by her own grief-stricken hands has not received as much attention because of a desire to filter intolerance out of view in our society. Rather than remind America that someone can still be treated as less than human for holding a different faith, a different lifestyle, or otherwise divergent from the norm, it is much more comforting to simply ignore the issue. To acknowledge that Tempest Smith's classmates were exerting cruel psychological torture on the young woman with the hymns their church had taught them would be to indict not only the school children, but the hymns as well. To make this tragic event public knowledge would be to put a mirror to the face of the majority, forcing them to see the intolerance in their own eyes, crumbling their arguments that it no longer exists. Tempest Smith has gone on, but how many right now are facing the same situation because of their beliefs? How long will it take before people will attempt to change the prejudices that exist within themselves, instead of simply denying that they exist? I can only hope it happens before another young woman is found hanging, lifeless.
I tend to poke fun, sometimes stingingly so, but I hate no one. It's not in my nature. I do find persecution of non-Christians deplorable. And it happens far too much.
