Statement From The Ata Regarding The Rejection Of Reigning Miss Canada Plus

STATEMENT FROM THE AMERICAN TAROT ASSOCIATION REGARDING THE REJECTION OF REIGNING MISS CANADA PLUS AS PAGEANT JUDGE BECAUSE SHE READS TAROT CARDS


It is with great disappointment the American Tarot Association reads of the decision by the Miss Toronto Tourism officials to reject the reigning Miss Canada Plus as a pageant judge solely because she reads Tarot cards. However, the most disturbing things regarding the report are the grossly ignorant and damaging statements made by the Miss Toronto Tourism officials regarding those who use Tarot. Their actions and comments have not only displayed religious bigotry toward Ms. Conover, but also blatantly defame people all over the world who use the Tarot as a tool of self discovery and empowerment.

The Tarot deck was created in the fifteenth century in northern Italy. The cards were manufactured for use in a trick-taking game very much like modern Bridge. Even today, the game remains popular in parts of Europe.

Most scholars agree the earliest known decks reflect a Medieval Christian mindset (though the illustrations also draw upon other sources, including mythology). Many authoritative sources believe the earliest Tarot trump cards depict an allegory, or symbolic story, which appears to illustrate the triumph of God's will over all. While cards like Death and the Devil do appear in the deck, these concepts likely do so because they appear in the Bible. Given that the earliest Trump series incorporate images of the Christian resurrection (Judgment) and the appearance of the transfigured Christ (or the dawning of the "New Jerusalem"), no well-informed person or organization would ever associate the cards with demonism or Satanism. Modern decks associate the cards with all kinds of philosophies and trends, but the cards themselves are neither Satanic nor Demonic in origin.

There are millions of Tarot readers worldwide. They are business executives, doctors, lawyers, teachers, housewives, writers, engineers, students, and any other profession that can be named. They are neighbors, sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers. Tarot reading empowers readers and others to think through their options and come to decisions on their own. The cards are used to gain insight into personal growth opportunities, to aid in meditation or concentration practice, to explore options or alternative answers to questions, or to enhance creativity through brainstorming. Within the last few years, the cards are even beginning to appear in therapeutic settings. Such spiritual and internal seeking is a healthy part of the human condition, and should be encouraged, not dismissed.

This incident reflects badly on the diverse and vibrant city of Toronto. Although the Miss Toronto Tourism organization is not affiliated with the city of Toronto's tourism branch, the American Tarot Association strongly encourages the city of Toronto take action to remove itself from any implied affiliation (through the use of the name) with the Miss Toronto Tourism organization. The ATA also calls on the Miss Toronto Tourism organization to issue a public apology not only to Ms. Conover but to the global community that they have insulted with their statements.

The American Tarot Association strongly encourages an investigation by local government officials into this case and urges them to protect their citizens from such actions. The ATA also calls on all citizens everywhere to boycott events such as these in which such bigotry is encouraged, and to write their local officials and lawmakers that such actions and comments will not be tolerated in 21st century society.

Bravo...

That's an excellent response from the ATA.

Just checking...it IS 2008, isn't it?
~~sigh~~
Unbelievable...
cara

Well put anam_chara: Is it 2008 AC or 108 AC??

And this is the article published in The Toronto Star newspaper:

She might be a witch, but Stephanie Conover says that's no reason for officials at an upcoming Toronto beauty pageant to reject her as a potential judge.



Conover, who was crowned winner of the Miss Canada Plus Pageant last year, said she was recently invited to be a judge at the Miss Toronto Tourism pageant on Feb. 2.

"I said I'd definitely be there," Conover told the Star yesterday.

"Then, last week, on Monday, they asked me for a biography. I told them everything I do, how I'm an entertainer and a singer and a dancer. I talked about my charity work and I said I also have hobbies, including songwriting, knitting, painting, yoga, reiki and tarot cards."

That's where things got sticky.

"We just got her bio a week ago and we don't agree with it," said Karen Murray, Miss Toronto Tourism pageant director. "We want someone down to earth, not someone into the dark side or the occult."

"We need a judge who has an upright reputation and we would be proud to introduce to the audience," noted a Jan. 24 letter to the Miss Canada Plus group from Murray and another official with the Miss Toronto Tourism pageant.

"Our board of directors has eliminated her as a judge as tarot card reading and reiki are the occult and is not acceptable by God, Jews, Muslims or Christians. Tarot card reading is witchcraft and is used by witches, spiritists and mediums to consult the dark world."

The letter went on to quote a couple of passages from the Bible, including one from the book of Leviticus that warns, "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spirits for you will be defiled by them."

"We hope that Stephanie Conover will turn from these belief systems and will repent from her practice of them," the letter reads.

The Miss Toronto Tourism pageant was established in 1999 and is independent of the city of Toronto's tourism branch.

Conover said she was stunned by the letter."I was fuming. They said tarot cards are the occult and that I use them to commune with dark forces," which she insisted is not the case. "They're completely benign. I use them for healing, to give guidance. You can buy tarot cards at Chapters or the CNE."

She also said reiki is a well-known Japanese healing system that allows people to transfer positive energy to a sick person. "It definitely goes against convention, sure, but anything that helps avoid use of prescription drugs is a bonus, I think."

Conover said she practises Wicca, which to some means she's a witch. But she said the Miss Toronto Tourism people didn't know that and that they based their rejection of her on tarot cards and reiki.

"Some would call me a witch, yes. But we don't believe in the devil. There's no devil in Wicca. We believe whatever you send out, good or bad, comes back to you three times. Ninety per cent of those who practise witchcraft or Wicca do it for the betterment of themselves or others. It's a religion and we're trying to get it recognized by higher-ups in government."

Conover said she also promotes diversity and multiculturalism as her mother is black and her father is white. Murray insisted Conover is "trying to stir up trouble" by raising the issue in the press. "She's obviously a very vindictive person," she said. Murray said her group doesn't get government funding and has the right to decide who acts as a judge in their pageant.

Asked if her group is a religious one, Murray replied, "We adhere to God's principles. We're God-fearing. I wouldn't say we're religious."

Conover said she's looking into challenging the Miss Toronto Tourism pageant in court, or at a human rights tribunal.

"They said they wouldn't be proud to introduce me and that I don't present an upstanding character. I'm a very open-minded person and a very loving person. To say I'm not of upright character, it's blasphemous."

*nods head, impressed of such an amount of crap*

Tarot in Toronto

Sounds like Karen Murray and her ilk in Toronto are running some sort of cult in the guise of a tourism promotion.

Presumably all the millions of agnostics, atheists, buddhists, aboriginal peoples, etc. who live there or visit there are not welcome in Toronto as they believe differently than the group putting on this "pageant".

Apparently "God" likes a swimsuit display of women nearly naked prancing in front of slavering men more than a woman with some real interests.

Fancy that; intolerance rebranded as "tourism".

There is probably a very good reason why this group has no connection to the City of Toronto's tourism office. And why they get no public funding.

This group is utterly repugnant, especially in this day and age.

The City of Toronto should also be appalled and sue them to remove their name from their "business".

I'm glad the ATA made this statement to defend her. It's very well written.

I'm so disgusted with the fact that we are always having to justify or defend our interests in tarot, and how it always comes down to a religious issue. Are we just supposed to hide in the shawdows to avoid persecution, even in this day and age. It just gets so old.

'Miss Canada' -

Agree with all the above comments and take heart from thinking that the pageant have surely managed to torpedo their 'holier than thou' barge ?