88 lines
4.3 KiB
Plaintext
88 lines
4.3 KiB
Plaintext
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(Note: The following update was written by Laurie Cabot. I consider some
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of the information in here to be of importance to all witches and magickal
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people, and so I have posted this. This is NOT an endorsement of Ms. Cabot
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or the "Witches League for Public Awareness." - Brad Hicks, Fido 100/523.)
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___________________________________________________________________________
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WITCHES LEAGUE
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for Public Awareness
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c/o CROW HAVEN CORNER
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125 Essex Street
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Salem, Massachusetts 01970
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This is an official response and complaint to Warner Brothers scheduled
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production of the film based on John Updike's novel "THE WITCHES OF
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EASTWICK."
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The WITCHES LEAGE FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS is a newly formed international
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anti-defamation organization working to protect the civil rights, dignity,
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and public portrayal of the over six million witches and pagans in the
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United States and across the world.
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We find the context of THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK's portrayal of modern day
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witches inaccurate, offensive, and a violation of our Constitutionally
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guaranteed civil rights to practice religious freedom, free from the fear
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of harassment, discrimination, persecution or the incitement of the public
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to form adverse opinions of members of a religious group - in this case,
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the Witch community.
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In the Federal court decision EFSTATHIOU VS. RHODES April 1977, case
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C44.159, Judge Winston Arnow presiding, the Federal Government of the
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United States of America ruled that "Wicca" or "witchcraft" is a legitimate
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religion and entitled to protections under law afforded any other religious
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group in this country.
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The inaccurate and negative portrayal of "witches" as ruthless,
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bloodthirsty Satan worshippers who participate in black masses and resort
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to murder and violence to achieve their desires, is an infringement of our
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religious right and is harmful, slanderous, and malicious.
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Witches do not now nor ever in the history of the world, worshipped or
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recognized the existance of Satan or devils. They are not a part of our
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religious belief structure. We are a group of people who live by the
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principle, "Do What You Will If It Harm None." We do not harm humans or
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anmials, we do not provoke or initiate violence, revenge or harm of any
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sort or advocate such actions in others. We do not use our psychic
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abilities to do harm. We are not a frivolous fringe group to be made light
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of and ignored.
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There over six million witches and pagans in the United States alone, we
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surround you in every profession and community. We are doctors and
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herbologists, bank presidents and astrologers, physicists and psychics,
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film producers and philosophers. Our numbers are large and we are uniting
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in the United States and abroad to fight the incorrect and negative
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depiction of witches everywhere.
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We need the assistance of Witches and Pagans everywhere. We are asking you
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to become an official member of THE WITCHES LEAGUE FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS and
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send letters of complaint concerning THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK to the
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following addresses:
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Mr. Robert Friedman Massachusetts Film Bureau
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Warner Brothers Julie Wrinn
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4000 Warner Boulevard 100 Cambridge Street
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Burbank, California 91522 Boston, Massachusetts
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Cohasset Office of Selectmen American Civil Liberties Union
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Mary Jane McArthur, Chairperson Reverend Barry Lynn
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4 Highland Avenue 122 Maryland Avenue
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Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025 Washington, D.C. 20002
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Accuracy in Media
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1275 K Street N.W., Suite 1150
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Washington, D.C. 20005
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___________________________________________________________________________
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I would like to join the Witches League for Public Awareness. Enclosed is
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$25.00 for a one-year membership including newsletter and updates.
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Name ______________________________________
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Address ___________________________________
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City _____________________ State __________
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Send to:
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Witches League for Public Awareness
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c/o CROW HAVEN CORNER
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125 Essex Street
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Salem, Massachusetts 01970
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