As I posted a few days ago, Kathy Lee made a hateful comment refering to Pagans as nasty and bad. Well, I'd like to thank Villa for sharing this link with me on the subject and sincerely hope that everyone both signs the petition and passes it on to others.

http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_no.html?a=usnj&id=15827

Call to action: Public apology from NBC

Proclaimed by: ArianellMB
Proclaimed from: Hillsborough, New Jersey


Proclaimation...

Wednesday June 25th on the Today Show, host Kathy Lee Gifford was quizzing guests of a wedding on wedding traditions. On a question as to the origin of wearing the wedding ring on your left ring finger, an option for an answer was that "Pagans believed it was bad luck to carry metal on the right side."

Reading the question aloud, Gifford chose to say "The Pagans, the nasty, bad, Pagans, believed ....."

For any other religion, she would not have made the comment, and if she had, a public apology would most likely be released very quickly. The pagan community should not stand for it. Her personal belief may be that we are "nasty and bad", but it does not make it alright for her to say so on national television. Please e-mail NBC and/or the Today Show with professional, yet still stern, letters asking for an apology from Gifford. E-mails should be titled something along the lines of "Pagan Community Requesting On-Air Apology from Kathy Lee Gifford"

The video of Gifford's comment can be found at the link following, about 5 minutes in: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25368216#25368216

E-mails can be sent to : today@nbc.com

Edit (6/27/08) : I recently found out that you can call 212-664-4249, press 1, which is for suggested program ideas, and ask to speak with Jim Bell, who is the Producer of the Today Show, and speak directly to him to ask for an apology. Thank you to the person who sent me this information!

Also, a petition has been started, please forward the link to everyone you know. As far as I know this is the only petition and, while it may blow things out of proportion a bit, as all most of us want are an apology, if this becomes the only thing the Today show looks at, it's important to sign.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/quotnasty-bad-pagansquot-protesting-hate-speech-on-nbc

Edit (6/29/08) : So there's been an update in this whole ordeal that I hope will spur on everyone's attempts to be, firstly, professional rather that flying off the handle, but secondly, more determined than ever to gain respect for Pagans everywhere.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25411068#25411068

At about 2:30 Kathy Lee gives a blanket apology to everyone she has offended. This does not count as an apology, especially not in the tone with which she said it, which was resemblant of a snotty, haughty 15 year old being forced by a teacher to apologize to an unpopular girl in their class whom she insulted.

Within the last 30 seconds, it becomes truly insulting. I am angry beyond words at how to describe those last 30 seconds. Please watch to understand.

As pagans, we should demand respect and a formal apology from Kathy Gifford which acknowledges that she offended PAGANS.

Please, in your letters and calls, remain calm and professional. Flying off the handle will only give us an even worse name in her eyes for yelling and screaming. While we don't have to forgive her or force her to learn about a religion that holds no, well, magic for her, we do need to gain respect for how to handle a situation like this.

Website: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25368216#25368216