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Celebrating Diversity and Decrying Hate

There's been a powerful disturbance in the Force the last couple days.

Yesterday, the group that calls itself the Asatru Folk Assembly left a Facebook post which I have screen-cap't at right. 

Simply said, in a single short paragraph, the AFA  demonstrates racism, genderphobia, cultural erasure, and an implied hatred and exclusion of those who do not meet their criteria for "beauty," "holy powers," and a "shining future."

This paragraph was followed by others on their page, each echoing the same sentiments and some becoming worse, including one (still visible) which refers to Semites washing up on the fatherland's shore and poisoning it.

As expected, the Internet exploded.

Rightfully.

Do a Google search for Asatru Folk controversy and you'll have no problem following the gist of the discussion.  Some of those who have weighed in include:

  • The Wild Hunt, notes that one respondent asked, "“Am I misunderstanding the message here or does this mean that if someone wasn’t white or if they were queer they wouldn’t be welcome in the AFA?” and AFA responded, with “You are not misunderstanding.” The exchange has since been deleted.
  • Lupa Greenwolf, in her blog post, addresses the AFA's implied position on racial purity and says, "We pagans have known for decades there were bigots in our ranks, particularly those espousing “folkish” viewpoints–and now there’s absolutely no doubt whatsoever."
  • In commenting on the AFA's post in his Patheos blog, Jason Mankey writes, "It’s racism, transphobia, and some supremely antiquated ideas about gender all in one neat little package! Excuse me while I throw up."
  • Tahni J. Nikitins responds to the AFA post with an eloquent and elegant discussion of the gender-fluidity occurring throughout Norse legend and mythos, including, "Two of the most most notable gods in the Norse pantheon [Loki and Odin] display a total disregard for the so-called line between genders. Each may speak disparagingly about the other’s gender-fluid behaviors, but it doesn’t change the fact that they themselves model gender-fluid behaviors with little to no fuss. This whole gender “is a beautiful gift from the holy powers” bullshit has nothing to do with the gods or their stories." She follows this with a careful dismantling of the AFA's allusions to racial purity.
  • Pagan author Morgan Daimler, in a Facebook response to comments on the AFA page (which suggest that Celtic Reconstructionist practices share many of the AFA's "values"), points to the CR FAQs and says, ""CR is firmly anti-racist. This has been unanimously agreed upon by representatives of the established CR sub-traditions, CR elders and other long-term members of the community, including the founders of the tradition. No matter where your ancestors were from, or what your ethnic background, you are welcome to practice CR with us."
  • And The Troth, a well known heathen organization, has made their own position statement in response to the AFA:  "The Troth is open to all who seek to know and to honor the Gods, ancestors, and values of the Germanic Heathen traditions, regardless of gender, race, nationality or sexual orientation. The Troth stands against any use of Germanic religion and culture to advance causes of racism, sexism, homophobia, white supremacy, or any other form of prejudice. While we are aware that there are some Asatru organizations that are not inclusive to all people, the Troth's doors are open to all those who may have been excluded due to their ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ability. The Troth stands against the AFA's vision of what Asatru should be, and we do not recognize their beliefs as representative of a majority of American Asatru (Heathenry). There are no arbiters of who can and cannot worship our deities, but the Gods themselves. We are a family religion, and to the Troth that means all families."

 

There will be more discussion, and there must be more, because as of three hours ago, the AFA's latest Facebook post says:

"I want to say we really appreciate the amazing support that has been shown to us in the last 24 hours . . . I lost track of the number, early in the day of people reaching out to us, and saying that they want to be a part of what we do. It has been humbling and amazing to receive the support we have. And even to the people that don't agree with us but were respectful and we had a chance to have quality conversations with yesterday, I appreciate the chance to converse like adults, as well."

WTF? I'm one of those people who don't agree with them and was respectful (well, mostly) and tried to have a "quality conversation." Here's what I posted on the AFA page yesterday:

"Ancestral roots" would take us all back to Africa. And you do realize that there is really no such thing, genetically, as "race" or "whiteness," right? DNA-wise, we are all exactly identical-- assuming no chromosomal flaws, which happen sporadically. The fact that our skin, hair, and eye colors differ is related to where our ancestors flourished in terms of climate and closeness to the equator. But at the level of our DNA? We're perfectly identical. #yourargumentisinvalid"

My post lasted about 35 minutes, after which it was removed and I was blocked from the AFA page.

Nothing like respectful quality conversation, right?

Let me be clear, in case anyone has doubts: the AFA and its special brand of hatred are not part of my Paganism.

In my belief system, human is human, DNA is DNA, and the rest are unimportant surface differences. To be sure, some humans are assholes (the AFA has just proven that quite nicely), but we all have the right to be accepted, and we all deserve the chance to screw up and learn from our mistakes.

Will the AFA learn? I doubt it. In the meantime, to discriminate against people based on their appearance, their heritage, their gender self-identity, or any other variable (mayonnaise or Miracle Whip preference?) is reprehensible and should not be tolerated by rational people. It causes me a special kind of anguish to hear this from the Pagan community, where acceptance and diversity have always stood out as profoundly important values.

Please-- do you part to keep this discussion going.

 

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Susan “Moonwriter” Pesznecker is a writer, college English teacher, and hearth Pagan/Druid living in northwestern Oregon. Her magickal roots include Pictish Scot and eastern European medicine traditions. Sue holds a Masters degree in nonfiction writing and loves to read, stargaze, camp with her wonder poodle, and play in her biodynamic garden. She’s co-founder of the Druid Grove of Two Coasts and the Ars Viarum Magicarum Magical Conservatory (school of magic). Sue has authored Crafting Magick with Pen and Ink and The Magickal Retreat (Llewellyn, 2009-2012) and regularly contributes to the Llewellyn Annuals. Visit her at on Facebook.

Comments

  • Greybeard
    Greybeard Friday, 26 August 2016

    Yes, there is a huge amount of intolerance and hatred being hurled at the Asatru Folk. Sad. Often those who shout the loudest about "tolerance" are the most intolerant.

  • Susan “Moonwriter” Pesznecker
    Susan “Moonwriter” Pesznecker Saturday, 27 August 2016

    Greybeard, do I understand you to suggest that I (and others) are "hurling hatred" at the AFA? Nothing could be further from the truth. The hatred, intolerance, and overt racism are coming FROM the AFA. People like me are simply responding directly to the AFA's comments, which they (the AFA) have willingly placed in a public forum. There's no misunderstanding-- when they make such comments publicly, they're obliged to deal with them.

  • Erin Lale
    Erin Lale Sunday, 28 August 2016

    The American Asatru Association is against racism, homophobia, misogyny, and other hatreds.

  • Susan “Moonwriter” Pesznecker
    Susan “Moonwriter” Pesznecker Saturday, 12 November 2016

    Erin, Good work-- glad to hear this.

    Greybeard, I am simply reporting based on what I have seen and heard. I am nor "hurling hatred." I am sharing facts. Remarks and position statements that are inherently racist, xenophobic, and oriented toward white supremacy are simply not tolerable in today's U.S. Bottom line.

  • Susan “Moonwriter” Pesznecker
    Susan “Moonwriter” Pesznecker Saturday, 12 November 2016

    Erin, Good work-- glad to hear this.

    Greybeard, I am simply reporting based on what I have seen and heard. I am nor "hurling hatred." I am sharing facts. Remarks and position statements that are inherently racist, xenophobic, and oriented toward white supremacy are simply not tolerable in today's U.S. Bottom line.

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