| Re: "What’s Inside the PC Leadership Race," by Raymond Biesinger, Viewpoint, May 25-31, 2006.
I enjoy Fast Forward very much. I find its openness and frankness refreshing. I do not believe Fast Forward would intentionally be a part of hurting an entire group of innocent people. I would assume the same to be true of Mr. Biesinger. However, such an injury is exactly what you have unwittingly inflicted upon many people recently.
Specifically, I refer to your illustrated depiction "What's Inside the PC Leadership Race?" In that piece we find several humorous points, labelled A to Z. Point D, "Satanic Rituals," is where my concern lies. The pentacle depicted is not a "satanic" symbol at all. Satanists use an inverted version, but it is not the same. The symbol you depicted is, in fact, a symbol used by pagans to depict the condition of humanity within its environment. It is also representative of the elements Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit, all connected by the infinite circle of life. It is a deeply meaningful and important symbol to pagans and it really should be recognized as such rather than for its Hollywood association with the Judeo/Christian Satan, who is not a part of paganism at all. This should be especially true in a forum such as Fast Forward, where sensitivity to issues that affect minorities is the norm.
If this seems like a small or trivial matter, such is not the case. Please be aware that this very misconception has resulted in children being taken from their homes and parents, jobs being lost, and people being subjected to all kinds of abuse.
I ask you to reconsider your use of symbols of all kinds in the future, until you are certain of their meaning and fully aware of the consequences of your actions. There is no need to buy into or further propagate Hollywood myths at the expense of people whose only guilt is by false association due to ignorance. Your forum could be a vehicle for understanding and enlightenment instead, with just a little more attention to detail and accuracy.
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