Would This be Considered Discrimination?

[Ronule]

Last night do to some instances that I shall explain in a moment, my tarot cards and Witch's Bible were taken away. Now to give you an idea of what's going on. First of all, I'm currently located at GO Job Corps, a government run organazation for youth who can't afford to go to college and need a trade education. I go to classes in the day, and sleep there at night. Also my friend and I are labled as 'devil worshipers' due to our interest in occult practices (niether of us worship the devil, or believe in him for that matter). Things are always stressful there because the majority of the people there are Christian, and do not understand our side of things.

Now to the events that lead to this. A couple guys that we usually have a lot of tension with wanted readings. I didn't much want to, but I decided to anyway. I gave them their readings, nothing bad was said, and they seemed content. Now a little later, I was just sitting up on my bed in my own little world and I start shaking the bottle in my hands in a rythym, and start saying gibberish. This freaks them out, and they start 'threatening' us if anything was to happen to them from what I was doing (which was nothing, just bored at that moment). My friend was sick of stuff like that happening to us, so he decided to go talk to the bay advisor (one that's in charge of where we live) and tell him what was happening. He had to write a report detailing what happened, and if we had felt threatened. Personally, I wasn't scared; I know most of the people here are full of hot air and wouldn't do anything. After the bay advisor had read the report, he came into our room and had me give him my tarot cards and anything 'related.' I gave him the items willingly and he went on his way to report to the higher-ups to see what to do with the stuff. A couple hours later he comes back in and says that one of us needs to move to another room. My friend begins his usual attitude towards the guy, and that makes the choice obvious who has to be the one to move.

So here I find myself waiting till I can talk to some higher-ups about this and I wonder. Was the whole thing just against us. The ones who did the threatening did not have to move or do anything, yet we get seperated. I would appreciate some imput, and I hope that what I have put is coherent. I was in a hurry to finish this before class lets out.

 

[Ori]

That seems especially discriminative to me, coming from christians who should be the most forgiving of any religion ( according to their beliefs).
I'm sorry this has happened to you, I don't have much helpful insight other then to not let it get you down in any way, do what you want when you want and be proud of who you are.

 

[huajiro]

That is just crap....I would tell them that I am documenting everything and reporting it to their higher-ups and possibly an attorney

 

[Melody]

My friend was sick of stuff like that happening to us, so he decided to go talk to the bay advisor (one that's in charge of where we live) and tell him what was happening. He had to write a report detailing what happened, and if we had felt threatened. Personally, I wasn't scared; I know most of the people here are full of hot air and wouldn't do anything. After the bay advisor had read the report, he came into our room and had me give him my tarot cards and anything 'related.' I gave him the items willingly and he went on his way to report to the higher-ups to see what to do with the stuff. A couple hours later he comes back in and says that one of us needs to move to another room.

Last time I looked, we still had freedom to practice whatever religion we liked. I'm with Huajiro. Threaten to report him to the higher ups....or take it to the media.

 

[Pussyfoot Mouse]

I'm so sorry that this happened to you. It sounds to me like these people are just uneducated regarding your practices and maybe a bit intimidated by you and your friend. I'm guessing they're figuring if they seperate the two of you, you'll be less threatening.

Definitely sounds like discrimination to me. I'd go to someone higher up and state your case. There must be something they can do. At the very least, move your friend back into your room.

 

[Fluffy]

It is discrimination. However, it is legal to discriminate against young people in certain circumstances. Try contacting a Pagan organisation with your plight since they will at least give it a bit of publicity (guaranteed to make your college nervous). Additionally they would probably have dealt with loads of such things before so would be able to offer you the best advice. I recommend contacting www.witchvox.com Good luck!

 

[Ronule]

Sorry for being away for so long. The internet is being very weird around here and I haven't had a chance to get on for the weekend.

I'm glad to see that people are on my side and very much appreciate it. I've tried my darndest to see from their point of view so I don't go making a fool of my self when I talk to the ones in charge around this place. Personally, I can't see it. Either way, as soon as the person who has my stuff is back in his office, I'm planning on talking to him in an adult-like manner in hopes we can take care of eveything properly. I wish that I could say that I was innocent in all these matters but part of the 'devil worship' rumor does have some weight due to the fact that when people we didn't want came into our room (back when there was four of us) we would scare them with 'devil' stuff. In my defense though, we only do this in OUR room, and only to those we don't want bothering us. I don't do it much anymore, but it seems that little spout of immaturity is still haunting me to an extent. I would have included this info in the previous post if time had permited. Either way it is out now and it might make a few people think otherwise on my defense.

Past mistakes aside, this still is bull crap in my eyes and apparently to others as well. I think that I will post this at Witchvox, it's been a long time since I have been there and I think they need some updates on the Kentucky section anyway. Even though I'm, for the most part, against sueing, the idea of taking this court would be great if it wasn't for the fact that we did sign some papers saying we can't sue this place. However, I'm not sure as if the documents said anything on the realm of religious discrimination, which I do plan on checking at some point or another.

It is worth noting that the ones I have talked to have been very reluctent to talk to me face to face and tend to give me quick little answers that tell me nothing and walk away. This strikes me as odd, because these guys are more than willing to tell why they're doing something.

Sorry that my post always seem to be so long, but when I have something to say... it takes a lot of words for me to say it. I hope that my confessions of immature behaviour don't make you all think less of me, but it something that happened and is something that should be brought up.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Sorry for your pain here, but that is descrimination as far as I can tell from here. Ignorance causes people to do things they should never even contemplate.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It is discrimination. However, it is legal to discriminate against young people in certain circumstances.

In the States its not. You have your rights, and they have clearly been violated. One of my books has a group you can contact if something like that happens. Ill look it up and post it.

 

[michel]

It is discriminatory, there is no doubt. This is the sort of stand I make, anf fight through to the bitter end. Sometimes my fight hasn't worked, but all the energy put in to it has somehow left me feeling better. If push comes to shove, I threaten use of media, involving politicians (bearing in mind that I'm talking England here - from what I hear of the politics where you are that mightn't be worth while).


Fluffy has a good point though, when he said ........."Try contacting a Pagan organisation with your plight since they will at least give it a bit of publicity (guaranteed to make your college nervous). Additionally they would probably have dealt with loads of such things before so would be able to offer you the best advice. I recommend contacting www.witchvox.com Good luck!"............

Good luck, my friend!