| Response to CNN's "Dark Religions" |
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| Letter reprinted with permission. |
| August 12, 1998 |
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| BY CERTIFIED MAIL |
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| Mr. David Goldberg, President |
| Broadcast News Network |
| 253 5th Ave., 7th Floor |
| New York, NY 10016-6515 |
| |
| Mr. Thomas Johnson |
| One CNN Center |
| 190 Marietta St. |
| 14th Floor, Northwest Tower |
| Atlanta, GA 30303 |
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| Re: Perspectives "Dark Religions" |
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| Dear Messrs. Goldberg and Johnson: |
| |
| Public Interest Law Cooperative represents ______ ______ and
her thirteen-year-old daughter, ______, of _________ _______,
___, as well as many within the NeoPagan/Earth Religion Community
who believe that their peaceful, earth-honoring lifestyle may
be inaccurately represented, maligned and/or otherwise adversely
affected by the above-captioned broadcast. |
| |
| Our most recent information indicates that CNN has deleted
the footage of _______. That is your decision, but BNN made representations
and promises to ______ and her family to induce their participate
and assist in producing the final copy. Common courtesy, ethical
journalism and the law mandate that these promises be kept. |
| |
| Specifically, representatives of BNN promised _______ and
her family that BNN would cover ______'s form of spirituality
with balance and truth. It was in reliance on those promises
that Ms. _______ encouraged her daughter to participate, and
relying on those same assurances ______ agreed. Moreover, Mr.
Goldberg of BNN later made similar promises to representatives
of the NeoPagan/Earth Religion community. The ________s were
also promised a pre-airing copy of BNN's final tape last April
but now learn that BNN must ask CNN first. As of today's date,
neither BNN nor CNN have provided such a tape or indicated a
willingness to comply when production is finished. |
| |
| There was no caveat in the original promise that the video
would only be provided if the final version contained actual
footage of _______. This makes sense, because ______'s participation
and assistance in the project went beyond what would appear on
tape. She cooperated and assisted BNN's staff in completing this
video as they asked, even if her Path is represented by other
teens on-film. So long as the video contains information on the
Wiccan/Druidic/NeoPagan Path that _____ represents, ________
is entitled to the promised copy of the finished video prior
to broadcast. |
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| While it is clearly our position that the promises and assurances
given must be adhered to, we wish to state clearly that neither
our clients nor the larger Community wishes to infringe upon
the journalistic First Amendment freedoms of BNN or CNN. We are
not advocating, nor even suggesting, pre-emptive censorship of
this piece. The _______s definitely want to see CNN broadcast
the program BNN said they meant to produce. The Community desires
the airing of a balanced presentation that accurately dispels
popular misconceptions and errors about Wicca, NeoPaganism, Druidism,
and Earth Religions, separating these in some meaningful way
from the very different, yet constitutionally protected, Paths
of Satanism and Vampirism (commonly called "Goth"). Pubic confusion
about these very different spiritual paths hurts us all. Such
a program, when factually and not sensationally promoted, would
certainly be newsworthy, and news, we belive, is the first province
of journalism. |
| |
| This brings us to one further matter. We understand that BNN
merely produced this program for CNN to air. However, since BNN
made its initial assurances of responsible journalism and accuracy,
CNN's Website announced the program as "Dark Religions" rather
than "Teens and Alternative Religion" and linked Wicca and other
Pagan Paths to Satanism, teen violence and murder. ______, quite
understandably, felt extreme emotional distress upon viewing
the CNN promo. She became convinced that she had betrayed her
family, her friends and her core religious beliefs. _______'s
mother was also deeply distressed over the promo and her daughter's
fears, and her efforts to soothe her daughter have been hampered
by BNN's less than enthusiastic replies to her requests for the
promised copy of a pre-airing tape. Any damage resulting from
this promo was done before CNN decided to cut _______'s footage
from the finished product, and it has not been allayed by CNN's
lack of assurances or word of their decsion that _______ would
not be in the tape. |
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| We have word that BNN has recently taped a new promo that
has been represented as being more positive. Nevertheless, we
can't help but feel that CNN's oringinal, sensationalized promo
is likely to leave an uncomplimentary blemish on alternative
religions in the minds of a general public which is already confused
about the difference between "Witchcraft" and Satanism. In effect,
CNN's action has set aside the assurances made to our clients
of journalistic integrity that originally induced the _______s
to help. |
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| If the already-aired promo accurately reflects CNN's intended
edits, CNN may easily be subject to a charge of fabricating facts
and worse, depending on how those facts are presented and perceived.
Indeed, if maligning edits air, BNN would have failed to live
up to their responsibility to ensure that CNN or any subsequent
broadcasters respected the assurance that induced our clients
to assist in the first place. Moreover, BNN would also be responsible
for subsequently inducing the NeoPagan Community's reliance on
it's assurances of balanced presentation, so as to deter any
effective opposition prior to airing. |
| |
| Other than the original CNN promotion and Mr. Goldberg's somewhat
evasive recent responses to Ms. _______'s request for the promised
tape, we at PILC have no reason to believe the show itself has
been edited to reflect badly on Wicca or other Pagan paths. We
base this conclusion on prior contact with BNN, the _______s'
impression of the BNN production staff, and most importantly,
Mr. Goldberg's direct correspondence to Larry Cornett of the
Earth Religion Assistance List on July 9, 1998. I enclose the
text of this e-mail correspondence. |
| |
| Nevertheless, our clients, the Community and we at PILC remain
concerned about the possibility for actionable error in the final
presentation. We remain quite concerned about the effect of the
errant promo as well. Therefore on behalf of the ________s and
a large number of concerned citizens and groups within the NeoPagan/Earth
Religion community to whom I will copy this letter, we request
that: |
| |
| |
| A copy of the original BNN film be provided as
promised forthwith to the _______ family (BNN should
not need permission from CNN to provide their original
submission w/footage of _____ on it) |
| |
| A copy of the CNN broadcast be provided for the
______ family and their counsel if it has been materially
edited or, in the alternative, written assurances
from CNN that there has not been significant editing
(i.e., assurances similar to those given by Mr. Goldberg
in his letter to Mr. Cornett, that the BNN tape received
will reflect the substance of what CNN will air),
and |
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| ⋅Within 30 days of receipt of this letter,
a clarification and/or correction of the misleading,
sensationalizing CNN promo. The newly filmed promo,
if indeed it is more accurate, may suffice. The clarification/correction
should be circulated at least as broadly and on the
same media as the original inaccurate information
and remain posted for at least 30 days. (This is
absolutely necessary to ease _____ and her mother's
reaction to the maligning promo.) |
|
|
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| While these matters are being addressed, and as a gesture
of good will between your companies and the Community, we wish
to propose that BNN and CNN meet as soon as possible with a small
panel of knowledgeable Wiccans, NeoPagans and/or Earth Religionists
to preview the final Producer's Cut. The viewing panel would
not be invested with any editorial authority, nor would it seek
to censor your final product or infringe on your journalistic
freedom. It would merely advise if there were any serious misstatements
or misrepresentations in the tape. We propose the panel only
because we believe that it is the simplest way to provide all
concerned with accurate information and, specifically, to protect
BNN, CNN and our clients from the airing of grievous and potentially
actionable factual errors. |
| |
| Please consider our requests and proposals carefully and act
on them promptly. You may contact either myself at the numbers
below my signature or my associate Clare Kelsey through Public
Interest Law Cooperative at the above addresses or telephone
numbers. Ms. Kelsey will identify PILC counsel and NeoPagan Community
persons in New York City who will make themselves available in
short order for any viewing. The tapes provided to counsel should
be mailed directly to my office in Indiana as listed below my
signature. |
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| Gentlemen, we look forward to your prompt attention to this
matter. |
| |
| Sincerely, |
| |
| PUBLIC INTEREST LAW COOPERATIVE |
| |
| John Thrasher |
| Senior Associate Attorney |
| 4409 Aristocrat Lane |
| Indianapolis, IN 46235 |
| ph 317/899-4559 |
| |
| c/c: Sher Nuyen |
| Elizabeth Skoler |
| R. Tom Dixon, III, Owner, Pagan Leaders Email List |
| Elizabeth Barrette, Columnist, Sage Woman, PaganNet News,
Moonbeams Journal |
| Ellen Evert Hopman, M.Ed., Author, People of the Earth-The
New Pagans Speak Out |
| Reverend C.M. Kinsey, Sylvan Circle Sanctuary |
| Joan Van Becelaere, President, Covenant of Unitarian Universalist
Pagans, Inc. |
| Mark Roblee, Editor, The Wicked Word |
| Cairril Adaire, National Coordinator, Pagan Educational Network |
| Bonnie-Ann Keagy, Esq. |
| Bill Kilborn, Earth Religion Assistance List, Pagan Assistance
League |
| Reverend P.M. Owlett, Sylvan Circle Sanctuary |
| John B. Pearce, Member, Board of Trustees, Covenant of Universalist
Unitarian Pagans, Inc. |
| Chris West, WPN |
| Reverend Suzanne Egbert, Director, Mid-America Region of Pagan
Awareness League |
| Steve Foster, Special Projects Director, Witches Anti-Discrimination
League; Public Relations, Coalition for Religious Freedom |
| Susie Farnell |
| |
| James Asaad, Director, Northern California Chpt of WARD Secretary
of the Board, Church of All Worlds |
| M. Macha NightMare, National First Officer, Covenant of the
Goddess |
| Maryam Povey, Education and Networking Coordinator, Wyrd Weavers
Collective |
| Brydie Palmore, Member and Past President, Bd. of Trustees,
Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, Inc. |
| Betty W. Burt |
| John Brightshadow Yohalem, National Public Information Officer,
Covenant of the Goddess |
| Reverend Patrick Price, Treasurer, Covenant of Unitarian Universalist
Pagans, Inc. |
| Dana Eilers, Esq. |
| Isaac Bonewits, Archdruid Emeritus, Ar nDraiocht Fein, A Druid
Fellowship, Inc. |
| Larry Cornett, President, ERAA |
| Lowell and Nancy MacFarland |
| Jason Weiner |
| Jerrie Hildebrand, VP Communications, Covenant of Universalist
Unitarian Pagans, Inc. |
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| Back
to Top |
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| Article Copyrighted by The
Washington Post |
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| The Washington Post |
| TELL ME ABOUT IT: |
| Advice for the Under-30 Crowd |
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| By Carolyn Hax |
| Washington Post Staff Writer |
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| Friday, September 18, 1998; Page C05 |
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| Dear Carolyn: |
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| My fiance and I are getting married next spring and are already
making the wedding plans. |
| Both sets of parents want the wedding to be if not in a church,
then at least with a Christian minister performing the ceremony.
However, that is not an option for us because of our beliefs
(born-again Wiccans). |
| We do not want a minister from a religion we don't believe
in doing our wedding ceremony. |
| My parents refuse to accept my religion, and his know [he
is a witch] but he doesn't care what they think. How do we tell
them it's a Wiccan wedding ceremony or we elope? |
| We don't want to elope, so what do we do? I'm smack in the
middle of a holy war here! |
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| Pagan and Proud |
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|
| It's not fair for parents to impose Christianity on their
pagan kids. |
| It is not fair for you to impose witchcraft on your Christian
parents. |
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| Wiccan we all just get along? |
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| One casualty of your scorched-earth ultimatum is the exquisitely
simple solution: a civil ceremony. That way all of you can not
only show up, but also embrace the day's purpose -- a life commitment
-- without having to swallow pride, potions or incompatible beliefs.
For you, it's completely in line with your faith, given that
the founding principle of Wiccan is harmony. So live it. |
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| Compromise. |
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| Public union, private beliefs. |
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| Family now, religion later. |
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| Light dress, black undies. |
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| If they don't agree even to that, tell them you're sorry they
feel that way, but you have to stay true to your beliefs. There's
no magic way to phrase it. But do sell the civil option hard.
Tell them it's important for you to have them there, even if
they're praying silently for you throughout. Cooperating without
compromising your principles will tell your parents that your
spiritual choice was one of reasoned maturity, and not a calculated
effort to flip them and their values the bird. I suspect that's
something they need to hear. |
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| Back
to Top |
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| Article Copyrighted by The
Boston Globe |
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| JEWISH GROUP WANTS A.D. DROPPED FROM COURT PAPERS |
| |
| -Associated Press, |
| Boston Globe |
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| BOSTON (AP) - A.D., the abbreviation of anno Domini,
or year of our Lord, should be removed from court papers when
they are changed for year 2000, says the American Jewish Congress. |
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| "We don't want people to think it's an antireligious notion,
but a way of making people sensitive to the fact that the community
now includes people with different religious traditions," Sheila
Dechter, local head of the Jewish group, told the Boston Herald. |
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| The American Jewish Congress has asked the state Supreme Judicial
Court to eliminate A.D. from revised court papers. |
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| Maura Doyle, clerk of the state's highest court, has asked
all court clerks to determine how often the phrase is used. |
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| "These are words that have been used for 2000 years, and no
one's complained," said John Nucci, criminal clerk of Suffolk
Superior Court. |
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| "It's common usage, a fully accepted term that nobody should
be offended by. It's as commonplace as saying, 'God bless you,'
when someone sneezes," he said. |
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| "It's a pure political correctness argument," said a clerk
who asked not to be identified. "And it's all because it bothered
one person." |
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| Joel Eigerman, a lawyer and vice president of the American
Jewish Congress, asked Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Herbert
Wilkins for the change after a new lawyer noticed it on her certificate
of admission to the Massachusetts bar. |
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| "I don't think it would have bothered me, but I understand
why it bothered her," Eigerman said. |
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| He said the words "in the year of our Lord" is sectarian,
and can seem insensitive to non-Christians. |
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| "I don't think it's a conscious decision to make a religious
endorsement, but just something no one has examined," he said. "It
seems like a good time to address it since all these forms have
to be reprinted anyway." |
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| Doyle said that beginning with the swearing in of new lawyers
in December, they will be given the choice of certificates with
or without a reference to anno Domini. |
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| "I see nothing wrong with the court continuing its traditional
and constitutionally permitted use of the word 'in the year of
our Lord' on its court documents, and maintaining continuity
in the court system," Doyle said. |
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| But, she said, lawyers often display their certificates of
admission to the bar in a personal way, and "the court has accepted
my recommendation that we follow the United States Supreme Court
practice of offering upon request an alternative form of certificate
that omits these words." |
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| In a decision in an unrelated case 10 years ago, state Supreme
Judicial Court Justice Ruth Abrams wrote that the words "in the
year of our Lord" should not be considered religious. |
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| She said the words are an example of many "permissible, secular
references to the Almighty that run through our laws, our public
rituals (and) our ceremonies." |
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| Copyright 1998 Boston Globe Electronic Publishing, Inc |
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| Close
Window |
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| All materials contained herein, with exception
of authored materials, are copyrighted by, Alternative
Religions Educational Network (AREN), Incorporated, 1998-03.
All graphics copyrighted to AREN unless otherwise specified.
Please do not take any graphics without permission. |
