On 9/11 of this year I posted an article called "Who Is Defining You?" The article was about the Hip-Hop artist Baby Bam and his slandered definition of Paganism. After writing that article, I didn't feel it was enough to just bring it to my reader's attention, but instead attempted to contact both Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary. Below I have inserted the confirmation e-mails that I received from both sites which include my initial message to them. At this point in time (two months in a week from my initial contact), I have heard no response and their websites still remain unchanged. If you are Pagan, or perhaps just a supporter of equality, and you want to benefit the Pagan Community by preventing the misinformation that has been plaguing our cause as human beings, then please follow in my footsteps and send these two sites an e-mail. They may just be two in a sea of uninformed, but it is a start. Thank you!
http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/contact.htm
Send Message to: Language Research Service
Your name: Brandon Baranowski
Your e-mail address: thebaron@witchmoot.com
Subject of your message: The Word Pagan
Please type your message below:
Your online dictionary ("Open Dictionary") defines the word Pagan as " one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods : an irreligious or hedonistic person" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pagan). Not only is this a completely inaccurate statement, but is very insulting to me and my own. There is a large number of active practicing Pagans alive today who are not Neo-Pagans (as defined by your site). A Pagan is an individual who gives grace to the planet usually through the practice of folk-religions such as those immortalized in the current mythologies (Greek, Roman, Norse) and usually believe in more than one God (polytheism). The Gods of Paganism are the personification of man's relationship with nature. Pagans are known as the "Children of the Planet" and promote anti-materialism in an attempt to preserve the planet that has given birth to humanity. Throughout history, despite the conviction of Christianity labeling Pagans as "uncivilized heathens," many power-minded individuals, philosophers, and wealthy were indeed Pagan (where as Christianity initially was a religion that was famous among the poor). I would appreciate it if you would change your definition, since your current promotes discrimination.
Successfully submitted Sept 13, 2009
Thank you for taking the time to write to us! A Merriam-Webster representative will respond to you shortly.
http://dictionary.reference.com/help/contact.html
Contacted Incorrect Information on Sept 13, 2009.
Your Name (First and Last)
Brandon Baranowski
Your E-mail Address (e.g., user@example.com)
Your Message:
I looked up your definition of Pagan (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pagan). Your first two definitions are correct. However, how can someone who is polytheistic also be irreligious? And as far as being hedonistic is concerned, Pagans do not lack morality just because they don't believe in sin or a hell. They do believe in enjoying life to the fullest, which incorporates moderation. The synonyms which include Godless, Impious, Atheistic, Idolatrous, etc. and the antonyms of religious and believer are incredibly insulting to those of the Pagan faith, and promotes discrimination. I would greatly appreciate it if you could correct these injustices. Thank You.
Thank You!Your message has been forwarded to the proper department at Dictionary.com.
Please note that we are unable to reply to any questions or comments that have already been addressed in the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). You may wish to review the FAQ to see whether your question or comment has already been addressed there.
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I don't know if we have enough of a following at Witchmoot yet for this, but I would love it if anyone who does contact one or both of these sites could copy & paste their letter into the comments of this article. If you share that you too have the courage to stand up for what you believe in, perhaps you could inspire others to do the same!
Feel free to use what I have written for your letters or write your own. We don't all have to agree on what it means to be a Pagan if we can at least agree to stand up for what it does not.
Thank You.
