This was an article originally posted at Epinions.com on August 30, 2000. As it is not an “income generating” article I decided to delete it there so as to move it here instead with the belief that it would add interest to THIS blog.
Asking YOU to Rethink the Word WITCH
“I was such a witch to my husband last night”
“My boss is just such a witch”
“What’s wrong with you, you’re sure being a witch today?”
I’m sure you’ve heard similar comments and given it little thought. We all know what it means. The word witch is being used in place of a word with happens to rhyme with it. Somehow it’s become acceptable, even amusing, to use this word as a substitute for a more offensive “swear word”.
We hear it in our daily lives, we hear it on TV, we even see it around the internet on websites and blogs.
However, when I hear (or see) the word used thusly I cringe. I take exception to it. Why, you ask??
I am a Witch
I follow a religion called Wicca and Witch is used to describe me as a follower of this path. Wicca is “a pagan nature religion having its roots in pre-Christian western Europe and undergoing a 20th-century revival, especially in the United States and Great Britain” (taken from dictionary.com)
Wicca is an earth-based nature oriented religion which honors the Divine as (generally) both God and Goddess. It honors the earth as sacred and celebrates the cycles of nature seen in the patterns of the seasons and the phases of the moon. It teaches that we should strive to harm none, and that we tend to “reap as we sow”.
It would be obviously offensive if someone were to use the word “Catholic” or “Baptist” or “Hindu”, etc. as a derogatory term. If you were to hear the word “Buddhist” on TV used in place of an expletive I’m sure you would find it odd, if not offensive. If your religious title was used as an insult in of itself, I’m sure you would want to see something done about it.
And yet I hear witch used on TV on an almost daily basis.
To me this insults and demeans my choice of religious path. Am I overly sensitive? Perhaps. But I do not think that I am out of line in requesting that you at least consider not using this word as your “swear word” of choice.
Whether you feel that Wicca (or Witchcraft in general) is a valid religious path or not. It IS a religious path. I ask that you show the same respect to me, that you would show to anyone of any faith.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Blessings
Mama Kelly
Related Posts:
What Everyone Should Know About Wicca.
Meet Your Friendly Neighborhodd Witch (An Introduction)
Related reading:
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft, 3rd Edition
Truth About Witchcraft Today
Related Posts:
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
By sally on Jul 11, 2009 |
You know, I never really thought of that,I’m usually not payng attention. The word “witch” has been used on me personally to try and offend me(I don’t think anyone was expecting my response) so you’d thing I’d of caught that.
By JQ on Feb 20, 2010 |
Thank you! I feel the same way, and am told that I AM too sensitive…I think my sensitivity level is fine. How would those of other faiths like it if we used a term they like as a positive self-reference as an expletive!
Well said, I say, well said.