Voices : Dawg Dates ad offensive to Wiccans

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The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

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Dawg Dates ad offensive to Wiccans

Dear Editor,

I am writing to you with concerns about a specific advertisement that runs periodically in the Daily Egyptian.

The advertisement is for DawgDates.com and features a broomstick with the text "Did your last girlfriend ride one of these? Find someone new with DawgDates.com". This image offends me, and many of my friends who are of alternative, non-Judeo-Christian beliefs. I am a practicing Wiccan, and an ordained Wiccan minister. The broomstick is a religious tool in my faith, therefore it is offensive to see it referenced in such a negative manner. To me, it would be like showing a picture of a Star of David and asking "Did your last girlfriend wear one of these? Find someone new..." In the Wiccan faith, the broomstick is seen as a sacred object, used to "sweep away" the past and negative energies.

It is also used in religious ceremonies, such as handfastings (Wiccan weddings).

Wiccans do not "ride" broomsticks, but we do view them with the same reverence that Christians view their saviour's cross. I do not ride the broomstick that my husband and I jumped over at our wedding, but instead, it has a special place in our home to symbolize the union and commitment that we made. (Many African tribal weddings use the broomstick in a similar manner---I've yet to see an African ride one either.)

I feel that in a place where religious freedoms and tolerance are encouraged, SIUC, and more specifically this student newspaper, should remove this type of negative advertising.

This type of advertising does nothing more than perpetuate the stereotypes that women are witches who ride broomsticks, and Wiccans (aka witches) are not of the norm.

Rev. MeLissa L. Obermiller
Senior
Social Work major
Chairwoman Feminist Action Coalition

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