I guess I’m just trying to wrap my head around why someone would want to do this in the first place. It’s cruel, and it seems like this lady is mentally unbalanced.It also seems as though some people need to write in to these publications and remind the writers that in journalism there is also an ethical obligation for accuracy.If Pagans do bad things, bad press is part of the consequences, just as if we do good things, we deserve recognition. One way or the other, I prefer the press to be accurate!

Unfortunately being a Pagan doesn’t automatically confer immunity from serious stupidity and immorality. I can think of any number of selfish idiots who believe in all sorts of pseudo-history and other nonsense, and who behave very selfishly indeed, who call themselves Pagans. (Fortunately I can also think of lots of good people with whom I am proud to share the label.) But it’s sad if there was no-one on the list who pointed out that it is cruel and wrong to keep primates as pets.

I am kind of hoping that Gypsy found some Rhesus Pieces in her blouse following the smuggling.

“If Pagans do bad things, bad press is part of the consequences, just as if we do good things, we deserve recognition.”Good point. How often to pagans get any press when they do good things? Of course, the way the media operates, plenty of “good things” done by other religious communities go unreported. It seems that the media is much more interested in “bad news”.

I’m sorry, but being Pagan does not insure any sort of upstanding charactor or mental stability. Unfortunately, our “alternative” existance does attract those who aren’t exactly playing with a full deck, just like the fundamental factions of the “mainstream” religions tend to do.I myself find it hard enough apologizing for being simply HUMAN, with all the ethical and moral baggage THAT confers on anybody.

I’m on a lot of email lists. It doesn’t mean I read and endorse every post that comes through. It doesn’t even mean I pay attention to most of the posts — the vast majority, I see the subject line and delete them unread. I suspect that most other people do the same.That said, unless we know exactly what her email to the list really said, how do we know she was broadcasting her illegal activity to the entire NE Washington Pagan community?My ex used to get martial arts catalogues in the mail. One of those catalogues was advertising “traditional medicine” made from tiger bones. You can bet your ass I reported that company for trafficking in endangered species. It’s easy to get up in arms about transgressions in the Pagan community, but let’s wait until there’s some proof that the majority of said community was actually guilty, eh?

Erynn,I’m not saying the “majority” was guilty, I’m asking why not even a single person on the list thought to report it? Further, the indictment alleges she specifically asked this group for magical help in her monkey-smuggling, otherwise why would the indictment even mention it?I’m not “up in arms”, I’m not persecuting anyone. I’m asking questions, and hoping for answers.

Without actually reading the email list’s archives, it’s hard to know that the smuggler actually talked openly about planning to commit a crime.I’ve been on lots of messageboards and lists where people will say they are “going through some tough times” and ask for positive thoughts to be sent their ways. How do we know this wasn’t the case here?

If she just said she was going through tough times, why would law enforcement cite the message at all? I mean, I’m as skeptical as the next person, but I can’t imagine they would mention the posting if it didn’t have some bearing on the case (which ended up in a conviction).

Note the choice of words –the articles refer to her “allegedly” (in the indictment) or “reportedly” (regarding the conviction) emailed the Yahoo group.Both Lawson and her mother were convicted on smuggling and conspiracy charges. Her boyfriend did a plea bargain and testified against her.Perhaps the email was tied in in an attempt to get addition conspirators. It would have to be called “alleged” before a conviction. I wonder if thereportedly” means they weren’t able to prove she sent it (Shared computer? Posting deleted by moderators?)

Just to play devil’s advocate: I wonder if, by some chance, she was trying to save the critter from a worse fate?

It’s likely that the list was deleted by Yahoo, themselves, and not the list oweners. It’s a direct violation of Yahoo’s ToS for users to allow certain services to support or encourage criminal activities. Say the woman in question *did*, in fact, make a plea for energy on that list specifically for monkey-smuggling, unless the list owners deleted her post (and presumably warned her never to do it again) certain yahoo community administrators would view that as a direct violation of those clauses in their ToS and delete the whole list. It’s not fair, or even necessary, in some cases, but I know for a fact that similar has happened before.

I personally don’t see Pagans being held to the same ethical/moral code(s), as we are a diverse lot. However, I would hope that any decent person would have done the right thing and thought of the animal she was smuggling, not helping this idiot in her dirty work!What this woman and others were thinking (or not!) is beyond me. Thanks for sharing the story.Slàinte!Laurel

OK first I would like to point out that their is no way of knowing if a person online is telling the truth. I mean that you don’t really know if they are telling the truth or just trying to get attention!!!! Yes agreeing to send help was not the best way to respond. Also can you think how the phone cal would work.(hello is this the police I have a read on a message bored that someone is going to try to smuggle in a monkey from thiailand. no i don’t know them in person where do they live a I am not sure somewhere in such in such state) what i am saying is on the internet you don’t really know if their info is true and even if it is how much do you really put on it. Not that some one cannot be found but by the time that happens their is a monkey here already. Did anyone ever think that what was sent was for the monkey to end up safe and in the end a pagan group she bragged to did that. Isn’t that how it usually works in a natural way?

Since Rhesus are given to throwing excrement and public masturbation, it’s sort of a shame she didn’t have a chance to appreciate her choices more, before the creature was rescued.As to the online nonsense, people who believe such things are possible can hardly be held responsible for weak thinking in other areas.

Hello all,First, she was not “rescuing” the monkey. Monkeys would not be captured and held in cruel conditions if they could not be sold to Westerners. Second, as a responsible citizen if you hear of an illegal act over a board you should report it to the owners of the board (they have the best chance of knowing the poster’s real name and forwarding that name to the police). Third, as a Pagans who draw energy from and worship the wonderful and awe-inspiring world created for us by the God(s) and Goddess(es) we should never encourage an act of animal cruelty (which this is, and is even posted under that heading at SkyNews where the original story came from). In my life I have noticed that Pagans often operate outside of social boundaries, which is of no consequence when we are following a differing set of values derived from the worship of an earth-based religion, but can become a problem when a minority of Pagans start to slide morally on the idea of living outside the law (drugs, etc.). I have come into contact with some Pagans who have the most outlandish of morals (sex with minors, using magic to wish injury or death upon others, etc.). Personally I have a strict set of magical ethics but I know others may not be as strict and that’s okay with me up to a point. I often get folks who want to be taught magic and when they find out the rules they are let down. A certain base level of morality should be shared by humans living in a group. For most these are “laws” and with a small exception of prejudicial and unfair laws they should be followed. We as Pagans must follow a higher standard that allows for our place as keepers of the natural world around us and the energies that flow in it. Blessed Be.