The media silence in response to my recent article about sexual abuse in the pagan community continues on three weeks later. So far nothing, not even a brief mention or a statement from The Wild Hunt, Patheos Pagan, other news networks, and pagan groups known for posting news updates. I have been in contact with the press despite their silence.
I have either received no reply or the same type of reply – that any potential story is waiting on Samuel Wagar to face police charges or to be fired by the university where he currently works as a chaplain and mental health counselor to students. I heard from two sources that 2-3 students of the University of Alberta came forward to the university with allegations and they are currently investigating them and making a decision. It has been over a week since with no new info.
No one has interviewed me or asked questions beyond can I get the other victims who contacted me to speak up and the victims’ answer was no or no answer. Some of the writers are hinting they won’t publish anything if no other victims will corroborate with me.
So current status is that the media will take no action until “something” happens or Sam is found guilty by the law or the university because they value the concept of unbiased journalism over raising awareness of this serious and terrible danger of abusers and predators in our community. No one is asking about the other abusers except one (to ask for the accused’s statements in response to my article). The rest are acting like Samuel Wagar is the only “potential” danger – that the rest of my article, stories of abuse, and list of names do not exist.
My evaluation of all this: no one really wants to talk about this, no one wants to do anything because it is easier to be silent and let it get swept under the rug once more. Most of all I think the press are scared; scared I am lying and that if they publish anything at all it will result in them being sued and/or losing credibility.
In case anyone seeing this needs these, I’m leaving these press resources here:
Sexual Assault and the Media (info on the complexities of reporting on sexual assault in the news and its outcomes)
Sarah Anne Lawless has helped many of us and provided us with free resources on her blogs and social media pages.
Recently she named several prominent abusers in the Pagan Community to keep people, especially those new to it safe.
Now her livelihood is being attacked.
Sarah supports her two young sons through herbal medicines.
Please share this.
Please help her by purchasing one of her amazing designs on Society 6 or donating through her GoFundMe.
Please, as a community we have to show this harassing her that this is unacceptable.
When people come forward they should be protected and supported.
They shouldn’t be punished and attacked.
If you’ve ever posted a blog posts of Sarah’s or reblogged it please reblog this. Please spread this. Please help her.
Might have to start spear-heading my own faction of the slow fashion movement focusing on the joys of utilizing traditional fiber-ways and methods of clothing production; the ways that slow fashion can be used to further anti-capitalism and anarchy; discussions of how the destructive capitalist system can be appropriately dismantled; placing the blame for the violence of capitalism where it truly belongs; and not shitting on people for lacking the resources necessary to bring slow fashion into their homes. I literally had the slowfashionoctober instagram account say to me today that in a capitalist system if the consumers don’t consumer synthetic fibers, capitalists will stop selling them as though that were something even remotely achievable under the current set-up. I am dead tired of trying to explain to these people that, barring some kind of miracle that magically makes every person wealthy enough to exclusively purchase cotton, that is not going to happen and expecting it to is a fool’s errand.
I went out to the hazel wood, Because a fire was in my head, And cut and peeled a hazel wand, And hooked a berry to a thread; And when white moths were on the wing, And moth-like stars were flickering out, I dropped the berry in a stream And caught a little silver trout.
When I had laid it on the floor I went to blow the fire aflame, But something rustled on the floor, And some one called me by my name: It had become a glimmering girl With apple blossom in her hair Who called me by my name and ran And faded through the brightening air.
Though I am old with wandering Through hollow lands and hilly lands, I will find out where she has gone, And kiss her lips and take her hands; And walk among long dappled grass, And pluck till time and times are done The silver apples of the moon, The golden apples of the sun.
woolandcoffee 