XAC
INFORMATION
INDEX
This XAC Index is a collection of selected posts to the XAC list.
It is presented to provide a point of reference for persons seeking information about the movement to combat censorship of Xena Warrior Princess.
At present there are emails from 6 April 1999 through 29 May 1999.
Complied by JacQuest
29 May 1999
What's Happening
From: "JacQuest" <jjalv@ida.net>
Hello All,
What's Happening Folks? Would love to see some reports on ideas and
activities.
Has anyone written any new letters to share?
Found any new converts to our cause?
Received any interesting responses?
Seen any new reports or articles indicating support for the return of "The
Way"?
Do you have any hot scoop on who is supporting us?
Who is ignoring us?
Who else we need to contact?
Getting good vibes from some folks and hopeful that sometime soon we may see
good things happening.
The Hard Copy Petition Group is busy and working. Anyone who wants to get help with hard copy petitions, further information or to obtain support please visit our Headquarters (with thanks and bows to Becky Calvert) at:
http://www.nutbread.com/headquarters.html
I am happy to report that we are expanding our web of support. We have Xenites
supporting the HCPG effort and helping spread the word in several countries:
Australia: MaryD, kira@zip.com.au ,
Australian XIP http://xenite.simplenet.com/protestpage.html
Brazil: Aida, apca@fiemg.com.br
Canada: Knightingale, khamakaz@yahoo.com
England: Fuzz, mahayden@dircon.co.uk
XenaNet:The Mailing List for Xenites in the UK and Eire
http://ferengi.cardiff-net.co.uk/xenanet
Germany: Gerry: gerry@taranis.de
Gerry's Xena Page: http://www.taranis.de/xenaworld
Scotland: Mo, LaoMo101@aol.com
Switzerland: kaktus, kaktus@com.mcnet.ch ,
website address
:http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Studio/4243/xwp.html
Sweden: Marlena, swexenite@usa.net
We are actively recruiting supporters from all countries where Xena is
shown. Remember the only Xenites who had a first hand opportunity to view
"The Way" were in the United States and Canada. The goal is to return "The
Way" to line up of season 4 episodes for everyone everywhere. If you are a
fan of Xena outside the USA or have connections with Xenites in other lands,
and can help us with information or support please send me an email at:
jjalv@poky.interspeed.net
Thank you so much,
Jacquee
HH, HCPMT
XAC Information Index
http://www.poky.net/xac.html
Seattle Public Showing
From: simahoyo <simahoyo@blarg.net>
I was impressed by some of the media coverage before this event. I want
to have Melanie McFarland declared a Xenite Saint for her wonderful
article on the situation.
http://archives.seattletimes.com/cgi-bin/texis.mummy/web/vortex/display?storyID=374f7dcc55&query=Xena
I also was happy to see how many people showed up. The room was filled.
They actually came early. They looked at our materials, listened to our
spiel, and watched Xena, with comments. The general conclusion was that
there was no way this episode deserved such treatment.
I want to really thank: Lee Lightening for providing the VCR, and being
co-chair of the event. Connie MacKibben for talking to the reporter,
doing signature gathering, and other stuff--like getting stamps for us.
Caite, she knows why, Kara for the media list and moral support, Kurt
and Sarafina for TV transportation, Steven Humphries and other media
people for telling about our event. And Barbara Dority for the
Washington Coalition Against Censorship materials.
Simahoyo
28 May 1999
Petitions for the Way
From: simahoyo <simahoyo@blarg.net>
I went to Folklife by myslef and I now have 200 signatures to restore
The Way. If only one other person could go, we could probably get 200
signatures each, depending on how long we stay, and there are 3 days
left.
Please LMK if you can help.
Simahoyo
27 May 1999
SF Con
Hey and Hi Everyone!
Before everyone starts running off to the various cons, summer vacations,
church camps or the local swimming hole, don't forget to stop by the
Official Hard Copy Petition Headquarters at
<http://nutbread.com/warroom.html> !!!
We now have:
"Attention Getters" to put up on walls, on tables, or anywhere else they
might be useful
The page size AntiCensorship Banner
Complete Petition Packages in English, French, Italian and Swedish
Individual Petition Sheets in the 4 Languages
2 different versions of the reason for the protest
Also housed on the site are many varied articles related to the protest,
Links to other protest websites,
a link to the On-Line Petition (now in English and Spanish), the
organizational tree for StudiosUSA (as best we can unravel) and contact
information for key StudiosUSA executives.
Everything is available for copy or download to suit your needs.
Spread The Word!!!!!
Come On By and
"BATTLE ON"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief
SSPA/NBB
XAC Hard Copy Petition Management Team
<http://www.nutbread.com>
Upcoming SF Con
From: bookdaft <bookdaft@voyager.net>
Hi everyone,
I'm putting the finishing touches of my part of the petition drive I'll be
holding at MediaWest Con beginning Friday, May 28. I have a couple of Xena
standups to help publicize the petitions. I plan on making signs to hang
over Xena's neck which will say "Xena Censored". There will be materials
about the controversy with the petitions. I also plan on making up flyers
with a some brief explanation about what we are doing and and how they
might help if they would like to. The flyers will be distibuted around the
convention area. This con is great for flyers and everyone looks at them.
We will also be showing the episode over the course of the convention using
my personal copy. The purpose is to generate interest in signing the
petition and to help convince any nay-sayers that the episode is not what
the Hindu fundamentalists say it is.
I'll only be online for a while Friday, before I take my PC to the
convention. I'll be checking my e-mail tomorrow morning, so if anyone has
any other suggestions, please post it here so I can see it tomorrow and
incorporate it in my drive at the convention
bd
26 May 1999
Status of Petitions
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
Karen Williams wrote:
> Firstly, I know the petition is still doing well, and was just curious
> to know when it was going to be handed in,
I believe we have already sent three installments of the petition
to the Studios USA execs. As long as people keep signing,
the studio will keep getting new installments of the petition.
> and was also wondering what
> the general feeling was regarding the re-instatement of ‘The Way’,
> i.e. will it happen?
This is something we have no information on. The studio will
either reinstate the episode or they won't. We'll only know
the answer when the studio announces their decision.
Kit
Info from England
From: Karen Williams <karenw_uk@yahoo.com>
Hi everyone,
Firstly, I know the petition is still doing well, and was just curious
to know when it was going to be handed in, and was also wondering what
the general feeling was regarding the re-instatement of ‘The Way’,
i.e. will it happen?
Can I now ask for advise and help from XAC, I watched the brilliant
episode ‘Ides of March’ on Saturday but sadly found the ending spoiled
once again by Sky One’s hatchet man, as you may be aware this is one of
two UK stations that broadcast this wonderful show but seem insistent
that it is a children’s show and edit it accordingly. The other
channel, CH5, on the other hand ‘air’ it later on in the evening with
very few cuts, so what’s the problem you ask yourself--- the answer to
this is, Series 3 hasn’t been shown here yet so it will be a year or
so before I get to watch this episode in its entirety..
I have taped every episode of series 4 and at the beginning of the
series worked out that I would be able to fit 8 episodes recorded in
LP on a 3Hr tape (without the adverts), on the first tape I managed to
fit 9 episodes and the second 10. Using the second tape as an example,
this would mean on average each episode is approximately 36 mins long,
presuming I am right in thinking each episode is 45 mins long when
broadcast in the States, this would be equal to approx 9 minutes being
cut (that’s quite a lot) and a total of 3Hrs 18mins being cut from the
series as a whole. I feel not only cheated by missing out on vital
scenes but feel this is an injustice to this excellant show, (I hope my
calculations are right, maths was never my strong point). Anyway this
is where the help comes in, I want to try to get Sky One to broadcast
the show without cuts, this will probably mean getting it moved to a
later slot, how do I go about this, is there anyone here in the UK
willing to help me in my quest i.e. good at writing letters and will my
fellow XAC assist us if help is required.
PS! Does anyone know where I can purchase videos for import into the
UK, there are no copies for sale over here, I am trying to get my hands
on copies of ‘Sins of the Past’, ‘Chariots of War’ & ‘The Reckoning’,
apparently the distributors feel there is not a big enough market in
the UK, does anyone know if this is true? (maybe that’s my next
campaign).. I have found various sites but they only appear to have
the Hercules/Xena Trilogy for sale, I also know Real Entertainment have
episodes from Series 1 & 2 but the problem is they wont sell outside
the US & Canada.
Karen
23 May 1999
Petition Numbers
I am proud to report that as of 2200 23 May, there are 665 names on the
fourth list of the on-line petition, making the total on-line signatures
collected 6226.
If you or someone you know wants to sign the on-line petition you can find
it at: http://starpoet.com/names.html
or a Spanish version at:http://starpoet.com/espanol.html
I am also happy to report approximately 300 signatures have been collected
at the Hard Copy Petition collection point in the USA.
If you happen to be anyplace you can gather signatures, please print out a
copy of the hard copy at:
http://www.nutbread.com/headquarters.html.
We are also pleased to announce that there are now FRENCH and ITALIAN
TRANSLATIONS of the info
explaining the protest/counter-protest and the petitions .
For Both Petitions:
All information entered here is confidential. Your name and personal
information will NOT be given or sold to any media or commercial concerns.
Only the recipients of this petition at Studios USA and the persons
compiling them will see this information.
Thank you all so much for your time and support.
BATTLE ON AND REMEMBER "THE WAY"!!!!!!!
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief-SSPA/NBB
<http://www.nutbread.com>
HH, HCPMT
Hard copy petitions
From: "JacQuest" <jjalv@ida.net>
Great work!
You should mail your petitions to:
Becky Calvert - 8039 Callaghan Rd. - PMB # 513 - San Antonio, TX 78230
Happy to report that we have made great progress with the hard copy
petitions organization. Working on a special post to XAC with lots of
information and to give you all a chance to glimpse the special work done by Becky and crew.
Think you will all be very pleased and impressed.
Feel like the announcer of upcoming circus show.
"See the new petition kits"
"Meet the petition Group"
"Greet the International Contacts"
"Check out the new Logo"
"Guess who and where"
Come one, come all!! We need you, each and everyone!!
Jacquee
HH, HCPMT
XAC Information Index
http://www.poky.net/xac.html
Hard copy petitions
From: "chris cosco" <crypto88@hotmail.com>
I have a couple pages of signatures ready to send out. So where do I send
them? (I'm in Ontario, Canada).
Remember the Way!
Questions
From: "Lisa Jain at Starpoet" <lisajain@starpoet.com>
Becky wrote:
< As of now, communication from StudiosUSA has been minimal.>
We do have reports from a number of sources that we have made StudiosUSA
uneasy. (I have that from two sources.)
And we can assume that Rob Tapert knows what we are doing is using the
leverage we are applying.
<thanks to one American born convert fundamentalist from a group that is
considered dangerous or has contacts in dangerous groups>
This is a related part of the same group(s):
"NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- The Congress party charged Sunday that a "fascist
clique" plans to kill Sonia Gandhi, its leading candidate for prime
minister. Current Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee immediately
strengthened protection for Gandhi, a top Congress official said.
Senior Congress official Arjun Singh, when asked at a news conference in New
Delhi if he knew the people or groups responsible for the threat, said he
did not want to name names. But he said the "same fascist clique" that
assassinated Mohandas Gandhi in 1948 "is now trying to target Sonia Gandhi"
through a "diabolical plot," Indian news agencies reported.
Mohandas Gandhi, who led the Indian independence movement against British
colonialists, was fatally shot by a Hindu militant who blamed him for the
creation of Pakistan. "
It's all power politics played out on a world stage. It had little to do
with religion.
LJ
Questions
Afraid we aren't kidding.
Just select affiliates and LA were targeted. It was fear of reprisal by
what was believed to be the voice of all India and all the Hindu's in the
world that the execs bought into -- thanks to one American born convert
fundamentalist from a group that is considered dangerous or has contacts in
dangerous groups and one political lobbyist, who has said he would never
get involved in anything that had religious roots again.
As of now, communication from StudiosUSA has been minimal.
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief
SSPA/NBB
<http://www.nutbread.com>
Questions
From: DarKer <rverde@flash.net>
Lisa Jain at Starpoet wrote:
> > BTW, do we know how many e-mails, protest letters, etc, TPTB received
> before
> > "The Way" was pulled?
>
> It wasn't that many. We have many more names on the petition then they
> received letters in L.A. It was POLITICAL influence not the letters that
> caused the first decision to be hastily made.
>
> LJ
You're kidding me, right? From the way what I heard & read sounded, I thought
RenPics & StudiosUSA had been inundated with e-mail messages, faxes, letters,
petitions & phone calls from radical Hindi all over the world. Have TPTB
(particularly StudiosUSA) responded to our protest in any way, shape or form?
I never got a response from any of the e-mails or letters I sent--not even
canned responses acknowledging that they'd received what I sent. I feel very
ignored. AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Petition Update
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
As of 0900 EDT 23 May, there are 630 names on the
fourth list, 6191 total.
If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to
sign the online petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
20 May 1999
The on-line Petition
From: Malena Karlsson <mysterygurl@usa.net>
Swedish Xenite wrote:
Am I right, if I say that the low numbers on the online petition,
simply depends on that people don't know?
In that case, word by mouth (er, word-by-mail/chat?) could be a way to
increase the amount of signers.
By the way, does anyone think that ILGA would be intrested in supporting us?
Check their site at http://www.ilga.org and give me some feed-back.
Keep it going!
/Swedish Xenite
19 May 1999
Where do I sign
From: lori.puster@orst.edu
I'd like to say it's because I've been out of the loop for awhile, but frankly, I'm not the
brightest crayon in the box (or perhaps, with this
crowd, sharp as a Chakkrum would be more appropriate), and I don't know what online petitions I have or haven't signed. So, if you have a petition and my name is not on it. Please send me the web address, and I will sign it immediately. Also, if there is a hard copy petition in my area (near Eugene, Oregon USA)I would be happy to sign it as well.
Additionally, as I am new to this group, I'm wondering what actions people are taking, if any, in addition to snall-mailing/e-mailing/FAXing letters or gathering signitures. I've seen a lot of ideas bandied about, but what is actually being done?
Sincerely,
Lori Puster
Send Vids and Petitions to TV
From: Simon Bailey <stb@xalanth.demon.co.uk>
Has anyone suggested sending copies of 'The Way' along with
hardcopy petitions to TV companies, especially X:WP franchisees and
other related bodies such as the ITC in the UK?
It should be stressed that the people can sign using their work
address or private address, as a representative of their organisation,
or as individuals; and that we are not responsible for any disciplinary
action against anyone as a consequence of signing the petition.
Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?
Simon Bailey, | No strawberry-blonde bards
Carrera AMD K6 with modem, | were harmed during the composition
Waterlooville, Hants., England | of this message.
http://www.xalanth.demon.co.uk | BSc MEng ROCTOS GGGHD P45 BBC ITV PTO
Information about Xena In Brazil
From: "Aida, Nanda & Lola" <apca@fiemg.com.br>
Hi There!
We have sent the translation of the Petition and Join the Protest to the
ones who are "in charge" of it. I hope we could have helped somehow. I
would like to ask , if there is anyone else on this list who is from Brazil
or who speaks Portuguese. It would be nice to talk to them! : = )
I have sent a message to the Brazilian USA Network and asked them about
Xena. We know the show here in Brazil is very popular among people who have
cable TV. I'll have more details when the people from the Brazilian USA
reply my message.
In the area I live, some people that I know love the show but others think
it is silly and they don't like it. Most of them haven't watched a whole
episode and mock at Xena and Gabrielle's relationship. They also think that
Xena looks to good to be a warrior. On the other hand, me, my sisters and
some of our friends love the show and would do anything we could to stop the
censorship. There is a friend of ours who lives in Mobile, AL. He and his
wife have been taping Buffy for us for a year or so. Since we get into Xena
he also started to tape this awesome show. Unfortunately he missed THE WAY.
But, luckly we could watch some of its scenes on avi videos available on the
'Net. Actually, that's what we do with all the other episodes we want to
watch in English because the show is aired here in Brazil dubbed in
Portuguese. If we hadn't got the Internet, we wouldn't be able to watch the
episodes in English and would have no idea what was going on with THE WAY.
I'll try to interview those people and find out what they think about the
show. Then I would have more information to pass on and start getting some
signatures! :)
In Brazil we're watching the 1st, 2nd and 3rd seasons. It is the 3rd time
we're watching all of them in its correct order. The epsiodes are not aired
the same way as in the U.S. Here we watch the whole season without repeating
one episode. Then when the season is finished they started all over again
instead of showing a new season ( in our case, the 4th season ) From Monday
to Friday at 7:00pm we watch Xena on cable ( The Brazilian USA Network ). On
cable Hercules is not aired. Both Hercules and Xena used to be aired on a
free network. It is not anymore.
Unfortunaly, I guess most Xena Braizlian fans have no idea what is going on
with the epsiode THE WAY. Unless if the Brazilian Xena fans have Internet.
Other than that, nothing has been said about it down here. Even the show ET
is not aired on the Braizlian USA Network anymore. It used to help us a lot
getting information about the show. USA asked the audience's opinion and it
was said that people did not like this kind of program. So they did not
renew the contract of ET. So, on TV one can not have information about Xena
and the fight against censorship , only the ones who have Internet access at
home can . Even the Brazilian USA network hasn't mentioned anything on its
website. You can check the link bellow:
http://www.globosat.com.br/usa/menu/menindex.asp
http://www.globosat.com.br/usa/prog/prgindex.htm ( look for series -> Xena
I also don't know anything about a Brazilian Xena fan club. I am thinking
about starting one but I am not sure about it. What I would need to do and
how I would let people know it exists. We here in Brazil are somehow unware
of what goes on on the rest of the world. That's why the Internet is so
important to us in order to keep us informed about "life out there".
Otherwise we would know nothing about Xena and the fight against censorship.
Buffy on the other hand is more famous than Xena. It is aired on cable on
the FOX channel. That's another topic, then!
Thanks for your time and patience!
Love from Belo Horizonte - Brazil
Aida, Fernanda and Carolina.
17 May 1999
Montreal Update
Hi mswami,
On behalf of the hard copy drive, I want to thank you for your continued
support and activism. Some folks are a bit slow on the uptake, but once you
get them to understand the implications ----- they come around.
I also found that many Xenites did not have a clue about the
protest/counter protest. So, not only is it up to us to get signatures,
but to educate and inform people of the situation.
Again, we thank you for your continued support and assistance.
BATTLE ON AND REMEMBER "THE WAY"!!!
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief
SSPA/NBB
<http://www.nutbread.com>
On-line Petition Update
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
As of 1900 EDT 16 May, there are 423 names on the fourth list,
5983 total.
If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to
sign the online petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
Montreal Update
From: mswami@aei.ca
Hi all,
still here after the "ides of march" with
even more resolve to continue with the hardcopy
petition.
the comix/scifi stores are very receptive but
surprisingly enough the gay book store doesn't
seem to really care. "television" repeated
with disgust and disaffected stares greeted me
and my partner as we tried to explain the
situation.
i have been in communication with another xac
member from montreal (good).
my partner and i found that most people we talk
to don't have a clue (like the bookstore) but
were more than willing to sign the petition.
i will go back to the gay bookstore this weekend.
they have posted the petition but do not seem
to have read the material i left them.
still looking for any members in montreal area.
the fight continues. i am a xenite forever.
Battle on!
mswami
Hard Copy Petition
Yoo guys:
Just got back from standing all day at DMV and I was able to only get 100 signatures. I will try to do better next week.
If there is some one out there that lives within the Reno, Sparks are please let me know maybe if there were two of us we can get some more signatures.
be Nice!!!!!!!!!!
Beboman
16 May 1999
Looking for a volunteer
Yoo friends:
Still looking for a volunteer who lives in the Reno, Sparks area in Nevada that has some time off on Monday, 17 May to stand with we at the DMV in Reno and get signatures for the hardcopy petition.
Beboman
Things are coming together
Hi All,
Well, I did the San Antonio Conference this weekend. Saturday was Star
Trek and Sunday was the Herc/Xena Day. Naturally there was a bigger crowd
and much more support for our cause today. I will not slight the Trekkers.
They did show some interest, we got some signatures, and I meet with some
of the webmasters who promised a push and some links from the Alpha
Quadrant. And I don't blame the Trekkers for the low numbers of sigs
because there were problems within the hotel about the set-up.
Today everything was in order. I put petitions just opposite the
registration table, along with some attention getters. It worked well,
there were many questions about why the episode was pulled--as well as many
suprised fans who knew nothing of the current state of "The Way" or our
drive towards re-instatement.
Gina Torres and Clare Stansfield were both unaware that the pulling had
gone global or that the national syndication had been scrubbed completely.
Both were very gracious, asked for a bit of quick info, and were more than
happy to sign the petitions. In total, over a 4 hour period we collected
over 100 signatures.
Since this was the first official conference outing I am very pleased with
the results and am a bit wiser as to what may be important when we are
trying for signatures in a large, crowded area.
The attention getters are very important when trying to get people to
notice you are doing more standing around than holding up the wall. With
help, I designed 4 attention getters which are great for at least getting a
double take. These along with the new anti-censorship logo especially
designed for the Hard Copy Petition Drive (but looks great as a symbol of
support against censorship on any web page) make an eye catching wall
display. These and translations of the packages into various different
languages will all available at Petition Headquarters in the very near
future. The petition packages, individual protest petition pages, and logo
can be downloaded now. Petition Headquarters is located at
<http://www.nutbread.com/headquarters.html>
I want to thank everyone for their continuing support in the name of "The
Way" and for caring enough to do something about it. Please help us by
obtaining a few forms and as many signatures as possible. Every signature
counts. And don't hesitate to send in your signatures if the page isn't
full. This isn't a contest -- it is a petition drive where every little
bit counts.
BATTLE ON AND REMEMBER "THE WAY"!!!!!!!
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief
SSPA/NBB
<http://www.nutbread.com>
San Antonio Convention and Petitions
Hi everyone,
Just got back from the S.A.Con. Was a great show and lots of fun
stuff--new stuff--to buy or dream about.
Gina and Clare were GREAT!!! Lots of familiar faces among the crowd. Some
rather bizarre questions (To Clare: Is Lucy really pregnant? Clare assured
the asker Lucy was indeed pregnant and they had been baby clothes shopping
together in L.A.) Like "DUH!!"
This also marked the first Official Convention for the Hard Copy Petitions.
Today there was alot of interest in the petition and alot of information
passed because it seems like few people, other than those on-line, knew
about "The Way".
Gina and Clare were both suprised that it was pulled internationally and
removed from national syndication--and they BOTH were happy to sign the
petition!!
In total we got about 120 signatures, not bad for a half day outing--and
over 50 people took petitions with them. And this wasn't that big a
con--but a good turn out for San Antonio.
Anyway--I just wanted to share!!
BATTLE ON AND REMEMBER "THE WAY"!!!
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief
SSPA/NBB
<http://www.nutbread.com>
Hard Copy Petition Update
15 May 1999
Petition Update
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
As of 2000 EDT 15 May, there are 302 names on the
fourth list, 5862 total.
If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to
sign the online petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
An idea that came through
My Xena friends:
For the last few days I have been working in getting authorization from t Reno DMV to be able to stand there from 9:00 AM - 2:00PM on May 17, 24 and 31.
Today I got a letter from them were we are authorized to use their facilities to place our petition and get signatures.
This I one step forward in our battle.
If there are any Xena fans that are with in the Reno area and have a few hours to spear on Monday, May 17 and want to give me a hand please let me know.
All you all take care and
Be Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beboman
14 May 1999
Translating
Translating
Hi again guys!
As I told you before, I'm mexican and I'm willing to translate any material
you want, I can also get someone to translate into German and French.
I'd also like to ask you some hard copy petitions so my friends, and other
Xena Fans can sign it.
Thanks and don't stop fighting!!
Angi
Translating
From: e-stefani@usa.net
I'm Italian and I think there's only an Italian Xena web page (the
Italian fanclub's).
I'm a member of this club so I already told them (and the italian
mailing list) of our fight for The Way. Many of them signed the
petition. Unfortunately I can't join the hard copy campaign but asked
the others to do it.
Storm
13 May 1999
Translating Our Materials
From: "Aida, Nanda & Lola" <apca@fiemg.com.br>
Hi,
We're from Belo Horizonte - Brazil. We speak Brazilian Portuguese, which is
different from the one from Portugal. We can also help you out with the texts.
I don't have a homepage though, but I wouldn't mind to translate anything that
might help us,
Battle on!
"Censorship is not the Way!"
Aida
Turkish Sites
From: e-stefani@usa.net
I think what we really need is to involve Turkish fans somehow.
They say every week 60% of the viewers watch XWP. If only we could reach
them we'd have thousands signatures...
Any suggestion on how to do it?
Storm
Updates on Oz
From: "MaryD" <kira@zip.com.au>
Hi folks
I need volunteers to drop petitions at: South Australia, Northern
Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania or anywhere you are living
at so we get the message across. Email me at kira@zip.com.au and
we can organise this.
The petition at Galaxy Bookstore is rather slow - only 17 signatures.
We are leaving the petitions there for more signatures.
I called TV Week and let them know about our petition. The lady I
spoke to said she was aware of it. I asked her if they planned to write
an article on The Way. She wasn't sure.
I emailed Woman's Day (the showbiz column that interviewed me
recently and got my name wrong :-) and giving birth to MaryDee)
telling Peter about the petition. Haven't heard back from him yet but
I'll follow that up in the next day or so.
MaryD
kira@zip.com.au
http://xenite.simplenet.com/
12 May 1999
Signatures
Petition Update
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
As of 1700 EDT 12 May, there are 158 names on the fourth list, 5720
total.
If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to
sign the online petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
Translating Materials
From: "Zylch Obscure" <zylch@hotmail.com>
Wow, that post from me took a long time to show up and is pretty irrelevant
now... unless anyone is wanting to go to the Kansas City Renfest
I know there's also a site in Italian... I have to find it again, but it's
somewhere on the webring. We might try contacting the webmasters of these
sites, since I'm sorry to say most of them probably speak english better
than we speak their language. Sad, but true. And they would be less likely
to accidentally say something emabarrassing in translation (what was coca
cola in Chinese? suck the wax rabbit or something like that)
To anyone trying to find times and stations, I recommend TVquest.com. You
enter your zip code and click on your provider, and they'll show you a list
of what's playing at the time (bookark this! it's great!) From there, there
is a button marked show search. All you have to type in is Xena. It will
list times and stations for about the next week or so.
zylch
Translating Materials
From: "Alicia Lewis" <aleatha@mailcity.com>
I speak German fluently and write Spanish -- if you haven't found any takers, let me know, and I can do this for you. I also have a very good friend who speaks Greek, if you would like a translation inot that language <G>.
Alicia
Translating Petitions
From: simahoyo <simahoyo@blarg.net>
Could we get some people on this list who speak French, German, Spanish,
Dutch, Portugues and Finnish well enough, to translate our materials
into those languages, and urge web masters who run sites in those
languages to put those up on their pages?
It would vastly increase our numbers, I think.
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/4207/
This is supposed to be Xena Online Resources, which lists International
sites. If it isn't, someone's frames don't work right, and it is a page
in Argentina.
Simahoyo
11 May 1999
Petitions and Patience
From: "theresa maria holl" <eholl@eudoramail.com>
Hello, I'm a hardcore nutball who has been following along about the ad and the petitions and the charity etc. What we need at this point is endurance. We have stepped deep enough into this battle to know how much it hurts to be ignored. We all have strong opinions and strong energy but the strongest punch is useless unless executed with precision and intelligence.
I don't mean to preach at my fellow Xenites but seeing so many of us divided made me wonder what we must look like to those we must convince of our conviction. We are either a great nation or we are a bunch of scattered tribes.
I suggest we sign the petitions and ENDURE in our struggle to get the hard copies off the ground and in the hands of those who don't yet know that they support us.
Battle On and remember "The Way"
Theresa...........................
Seattle Activists Calander
From: simahoyo <simahoyo@blarg.net>
Looky here.
**SAT MAY 29, 1 - 3 p.m., at U District Public Library meeting room,
Rooosevelt
NE at NE 50th; Seattle XENITES AGAINST CENSORSHIP will be showing
the
censored episode of Xena; Warrior Princess, and collecting petition
signatures for
reinstatement of the episode, info Linde Knighton 206- 467-1370 or
http://www.blarg.net/~simahoyo/localfight.html [Background from the
website which
includes both sponsor of theis event and opposing viewpoints:
Studios USA pulled the
Xena:Warrior Princess episode, "The Way" from worldwide
distribution, and asked
the affiliate stations who still had copies of the tape to destroy
them. They also forced
Xena producer, Rob Tappert to issue a public apology. Xenites
Against Censorship
wants the episode restored to television viewing-not only because
they are fans of the
show, but because they recognize anyone, from The Teletubbies, to
Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, could be next; Xenites Against Censorship see this as a
freedom of speech
issue; Several American Hindu groups have protested the Xena
episode, 'The Way,'
because they consider that it is disrespectful of the Hindu
deities; this is not consistent
among Hindus, see website for more info, calendar compiler does not
feel qualified to
take a side on this]
Simahoyo
10 May 1999
From: dtr <donnat@hooked.net>
At 01:10 AM 5/10/99 -0500, Becky Calvert wrote:
>
>Gee, did I miss something here?? I don't know who said something about
>signing one and not the other--the 2 petitions are independent of each
>other. It isn't an either or issue.
>Both petitions are strong in their own respects and reach different
>populations, but there is some
>overlap. That is to be expected and is something we can all live with.
While I agree that there is most definitely a place for both
petitions in this battle, I think it's a good idea *not* to have people
sign both. We don't want Studios U.S.A. just dismissing the
hard line petitions with the assumption that they're primarily made
up of duplicate signatures from the people who signed the
online ones. What's most important, from what I can see, is
that the studio receive the largest possible collection of
names of *unique* individuals, whether those names come
via the online or the hard copy petitions.
Donna
Recap as I see it
From: dtr <donnat@hooked.net>
At 01:10 AM 5/10/99 -0500, Becky Calvert wrote:
>
>Gee, did I miss something here?? I don't know who said something about
>signing one and not the other--the 2 petitions are independent of each
>other. It isn't an either or issue.
>Both petitions are strong in their own respects and reach different
>populations, but there is some
>overlap. That is to be expected and is something we can all live with.
While I agree that there is most definitely a place for both
petitions in this battle, I think it's a good idea *not* to have people
sign both. We don't want Studios U.S.A. just dismissing the
hard line petitions with the assumption that they're primarily made
up of duplicate signatures from the people who signed the
online ones. What's most important, from what I can see, is
that the studio receive the largest possible collection of
names of *unique* individuals, whether those names come
via the online or the hard copy petitions.
Donna
Hard Copy Petition Need Help
From: "Becky Calvert" <lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net>
Thanks so much for the complement Susan, but I must pass the credit for the
NBB site look to our webmaster extrodinare, Shary Singer. She is ready to
rip out my throat I am sure as I badger her every day with more ideas,
changes, additions, rewrites, etc.
I also want to take time here to thank all the other sites that have spent
so much time on this protest and petition. From the beginning there has
been Kit, Missy, LJ, DarkWorrier, Mary D and the XAC.
Even though we all may have some of the same information, we also seem to
have an area we have dedicated more time to. Kit has the most extensive
list of who to write and addresses, Missy, the local affiliates. DW has as
a large amt of information gleaned from places unknown, and all very
interesting. And then there is the XAC site and index. Jacquee has put an
unbelievable amt. of work in there trying to stay current. LJ has hosted
and continues to host the on-line petition. NBB has info, ideas, examples
of writings, and ways of presentation that are easily understandable, and
the site is easy to navigate (for the computer challenged like me--if I can
navigate it--anyone can!) NBB has come into it's own with the protest and
will continue to grow as the protest does. I like things very spelled out
for me so that is the path of the NBB page.There are many sites who have
spent time putting together protest pages. I would recommend a look at
them all--knowledge is never wasted.
I truly believe this protest has been an example of how Xenites can and
will work together for "the greater good". Methods and strategies may
differ, but in the end I think we all compliment the other and we are much
stronger with each other than without. The same applies to the petitions.
We need everyone's participation. Together, we are a force to be reckoned
with.
BATTLE ON AND REMEMBER "THE WAY"!!!!
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief
SSPA/NBB
<http://www.nutbread.com>
9 May 1999
Recap As I See It
From: asov@worldnet.att.net
THE ONLINE PETITION
This has been working great. We've got over 5100 signatures, and could
still get many more to sign by spreading the news on the net to other
Xenites who haven't heard of the news yet. Some are saying that it's
"ineffective" and think that because the numbers are dwindling it's a lost
cause, and dying. That can be changed, you know. And another explanation
for the lesser numbers can be the...
HARD COPY PETITION
When someone made the point about a hard copy petition possibly being more
effective because it showed that offline people also had an issue with the
pulling of "The Way", and not just "hard core nutballs" or "those obsessive
fans," many people may have decided that was the way to go, and dropped
their online efforts. Telling online friends to sign the hard copy
petition instead seemed to have a stronger effect. Now, I'm not bashing
either one of these petitions. I say to promote both with all we have, and
show equally strong support from online and offline.
THE AD
This is where I detected "Rift" signals. While I did agree with some
arguing against the placing of the ad, I did wince in sympathy for Stand-in
at the "ouchiness" of some of the comments being made. I know (well, maybe
"think" is a safer word here) Stand-in, and many others, really want to
just kind of...bring in the heavy artillery? but maybe waiting would be the
best idea, to really examine the field before we do anything that may, even
the teeniest bit, be detrimental to our cause.
CHARITY DONATIONS
This seemed to have started out as an innocent way to help those in need,
while possibly letting more people know of our cause. I liked the concept
at first, seeing as how many people were readily offering money for the ad
in the first place. You know, "Why not all that money go to charity
instead?" But then some raised the issue of "not donating for charity's
sake, but rather to just get publicity." That just put a damper on the
whole thing. I had envisioned a sort of thing for the charity donation
like we'd just kinda help out with the donations, and they'd know that the
donations came from us. I wasn't thinking about news coverage or anything
silly like that. I use silly because I wasn't thinking of us raising a
huge amount notable by the press. I wasn't really thinking about publicity
at all. I think I was in my own world of "having that warm and fuzzy
feeling inside." If charity donations were made like that, I would go for it.
Recap of the Recap
My final message is "Promote the petitions!" Thank you for your time, and
to whom do I pay my soapbox rental fee?
asov
Hard copy petition -- need area support personnel
From: Virginia V Kelly <vkellyian@compuserve.com>
I'll talk to the local Pride celebration in my ara, and I'll try some of
the comic book/fantasy shops.
Hard copy petition -- need area support personnel
From: "Becky Calvert" <lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net>
Hello fellow Xenites!!
Well, whether we like it or not, XWS is almost upon us. In 2 weeks we will
begin that dark time, know as summer re-runs. Instead of lamenting the end
of new episodes for 3 months why not do something in the name of Xena?
We are finally to a point where we have most of the strategy for the HARD
COPY PETITION DRIVE
mapped out. Now it is up to each of you to help make this work.
Naturally we need alot of people to try and collect signatures. But we
also need area coordinators. These coordinators will collect the petitions
from people in their area (duh <g>) or themselves and then send them to the
drive coordinators (I suppose that would be me or Jacquee) so we can bundle
them into groups of 1000 signatures). We need individuals from all parts of
the US and Canada. We also need coordinators for any other countries or
regions who can bundle signatures and ship them to us or directly to the
studio if the are in big lots (just tell us how many signatures you sent).
Contrary to what some have said, the petitions are working. A tremendous
impact has been made with the on-line petition that is still continuing.
(To date that petition has collected 5647 signatures, with 1150 names on
the third installment). And the on-line petition is still going. We
haven't reached many people other than those who monitor these lists or are
referred this direction. But given time we will.
Believe it or not, there are some poor souls out there that don't have
on-line access. Some don't even have computers!! <*GASP*>. I know, it is
a sad situation. Many have no idea what has happened to "The Way", or the
dangerous precedent it sets. These are the individuals we want to target
for this drive. Without your help, we have no drive. Every signature and
every person counts.
These people can be found at conventions, in clubs, at school, in
bookstores, comic book and fantasy merchandise stores, in the work place,
or at a ball game. The groups of people we can reach is only limited by
your imagination. We have tried to make this drive as painless as possible.
There is an on-line petition package you can dowload from the "War Room"
<g> at http://www.nutbread.com.
This pack has a petition and the explanation of what this protest is about.
If you want just a single petition form, these are also available at the
same location.
Other sites, which can be accessed from this page, also have petitions,
some tailored for specific groups. We have links to major protest sites
and the on-line petition. Please remember that these are 2 separate
petition drives and the numbers will not be added together. Each petition
has a target community, but this community may overlap heavily into the
off-line population, which IS in our best interests. Because you signed
the on-line petition, this does preclude you from the Hard Copy Petition
drive. Again, these 2 petitions do not overlap -- but many people do.
Any support, time, energy, or help you can give will be greatly
appreciated, not only by those of us at XAC Hard Copy Petition Headquarters
(ok--we haven't got a name yet and this is the first thing I could think
of) but by everyone who has seen, read about, or knows about "The Way".
We can't do it alone. We need each one of you. Everyone can make a
difference. United in a cause, we can make a big difference. Consider
becoming a "collector of names" (like that title ?)
or an area coordinator. Let us unite in a battle for "The Greater Good".
Let's keep our rights as viewers and the rights of the Xenastaff to
continue to bring us the programs we like. (I know, some of you like some
better than others, but they are Xena.)
Please help us in letting StudiosUSA know of our displeasure over their act
of corporate censorship. Tell them we are not going away. Let them know
that we want to see "The Way".
Please Volunteer. Everyone is important. Each one of you can help make a
difference.
Let's help the studio to find "The Way".
Thank each of you for all your support, your time and your attention. If
you would like to become an area coordinator please contact either me
<lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net> or
Jacquee at <Jacdau2@aol.com>.
(I apologize for the cross posts. If there is a list or two I have missed
and you believe someone would be interested in helping with this drive,
please pass this on.)
BATTLE ON AND REMEMBER "THE WAY"!!!!
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief
SSPA/NBB
<http://www.nutbread.com>
ICQ# 12967331
Jacquee Alvord
XAC Information Index
http://www.poky.net/xac.html
8 May 1999
Moving Ahead
From: "JacQuest" <jjalv@ida.net>
XAC is now just over a month old. There have been over 700 posts to the
list. It is almost unbelievable to chronicle the wealth of information and
ideas that have been posted to the list. The common theme throughout has
been to advance the effort to restore "The Way" and to combat the
censorship of Xena Warrior Princess. Now it appears that there has been a
shift from fighting for a common cause to arguing about the means to
achieve
the goal. The "Ad" proposal has generated a great
deal of interest and enthusiasm, but there has been no logical plan for collecting the
money
and no promise that the ad, if purchased, would have the desired effect.
Remember Sharon's advice:
>From: outback@primenet.com (creation)
>I think we might table talk of an ad for now, but keep those petitions
>coming <G>
>Sharon
>P.S. Please pass this along :)
Let's stop debating and move ahead with the petitions. Support the on-line
petition. Talk to other Xenites you know, find out if they care, and get
them to take five minutes to show their support. There are over 1000 Xena
websites. If you visit a website drop an email to the owner, tell them
about the petitions, and ask for their support. Help us with the hard copy
petitions. We have set up a central location and with your help we can not
only collect petitions, but help and advise others on how to distribute the
petitions.
Let's move ahead with proposals that we can all support. There have been
many, many great ideas posted, with new ones almost daily. Think about it,
what can each of you do tonite, tomorrow, in the weeks to come?
XAC NEEDS YOU! XENA NEEDS YOU!
Jacquee,
XAC Information Index
http://www.poky.net/xac.html
For fun and food visit
The Ultimate Xena Cookbook
http://www.poky.net/cookbook
7 May 1999
Petition Update
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
As of 1630 May 7 We have 1067 names, 5564 Total.
If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to
sign the online petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
You will be asked for your name and e-mail address.
Your street address is optional but encouraged. None
of your information will be available to the public. It
will be collected and a hard copy will be sent to Studios
USA.
Kit
Question
From: "Arthur Chappell" <arthurchappell@clara.net>
DON'T! The questionnaire is marked in its online version as confidential -
It should stay that way - While many will sign specifically as Xena fans -
others will be signing as 1/. human rights activists. 2/. people opposed to
censorship in general (even if they have no particular interest in Xena
itself) 3/. Gay rights activistsa, not necessarily gay themselves. Iftheir
names and addresses fall into the hands of hardline fundanmentalists
opposing their liberal mindedness, they could be in for some serious
countermeasures of various degrees. We should be cautious what we say
regarding approaching the opposition directly. Some would happily take up
dialogue with us, many more won't. Best wishes. AC arthurchappell@clara.net
http://www.arthurchappell.clara.net/unbanxena.htm
-----Original Message-----
From: Arianne Barreto <arianne@navybase.net>
To: xac@onelist.com <xac@onelist.com>
Date: 06 May 1999 14:40
Subject: [XAC] Question!
Are we sending the same petition to the Hindu groups? I mean, THEY were the
ones who put up the fight with us. We should sign "another" petition,
telling them to come to terms with us Xenites.
We have to send them messages as well as we are doing with Studios USA.
Should we sign a petition to the Hindu group? or, Is the same petition sent
to the Trusta Krishnadas?
Arianne
US Hard Copy Petition almost underway
From: "Becky Calvert" <lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net>
Hello to all Xenites!!!
Well, we may be a bit behind the Aussies in getting started and organized
when compared to Mary D, but we finally have the US petition drive
coordinated.
Here is the scoop.
We are still looking for a few good Xenites who would like to volunteer
(shudder) to be area coordinators, both in the US and in other countries as
well. What this means is that for the area surrounding where you live, you
would be collecting the petitions that people have signed or had filed out.
When you get 10 pages of signatures (or whatever you have in 2 week
increments) you then will mail them to me. I will be responsible for
putting the petitions I receive from all over the States into bundles of
1000 names and sending them to the studio. We feel that this is more
organized and will be more efficient than people sending in a page at a
time, and be much more cost effective.
We invite EVERYONE to participate in this drive. There will be a list
posted of coordinators for several strategic locations in this country as
well as those in other countries as soon as possible. Send your petitions
to them or if there is not an area coordinator near you, send the petitions
on to me. In cases where there have been extremely large numbers of
petitions completed (like at a con where you may get 40 or 50 completed
pages) the area coordinator may send them in from that location and just
give us the total of signatures being sent to the studio. If you are
sending directly to the studio, the petitions should be addressed to Jim
Benson.
For all those sending petitions to me to collate, bundle and send on to the
studio my postal address is (yes-I rented a box just for this <g>)
8039 Callaghan Rd.
PMB # 513
San Antonio, TX 78230
Don't worry about loosing this address as it is on the bottom of the
petitions which you may print out from my site. We have put together a
"Hard Copy Petition Package" to make it easier for you, one stop and click
will give you an explanatory article about the whys and hows of the
protest, and the petition itself. Of course you can print these items out
separately when the need arises.
Just enter the War Room found at <http://www.nutbread.com> and click on
"Hard Copy Package".
This portion of the protest is going to be much more pro-active and we
really need EVERYONE'S help. Even and maybe especially the younger fans,
who we forget sometimes. They also enjoy the show. By helping to collect
signatures, they may learn about calm, rational protesting as opposed to
violent reactions when in a situation they object to. Possibly we can help
them find better ways to show displeasure than by armed force or bullying
tactics.
Please take advantage of this package and drop copies off anywhere there
are people who might be interested. We need everyone's help. And I assure
you this petition drive is not in vain regardless of what you might read.
We ARE making a difference. That is something no one can take away from us.
The petitions do have power. They may not be big and glitzy, they may
appear to be slow and they might not be something that jumps out an chews
off the head of station execs, but they are working. I see this protest
with the petitions very much like building a good house. You slowly and
carefully build a strong foundation, you let the concrete set and then
build the rest of the house with precision and by the plans. If you rush
to buy a lot and throw up a house quickly just so people can see it, you
may end up with an empty shell that is likely to fall down around your
shoulders at any time.
I propose we take this protest step by step. We are continuing the on-line
protest. We will pick up steam with the hard copy protest. We all may be
pleasantly suprised by the support and results this brings about. If you
want to be pro-active and involved, help us gather as many signatures
off-line as possible. When that is working well we can start looking at
the next step. But before you say it isn't doing any good, let's give it a
chance.
BATTLE ON and REMEMBER "THE WAY"!!!!
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief
SSPA/NBB
<http://www.nutbread.com>
Jacquee Alvord
XAC Information Index
http://www.poky.net/xac.html
Petitions
From: simahoyo <simahoyo@blarg.net>
> From: MHeckrotte@aol.com
>
> All right,guys...let's get a little realistic.> if you don't want to do an ad then don't...just keep
> fiddling with petitions and all of this is going to go
> away...by the fewer numbers signing the petition, it's
> already on its way out...needless to say I for one am
> TOTALLY against using any funds to promoted causes like
> that because that is not giving, it's capitalizing...
> certainly I would rather and am donating my contributions to organizations
> without ulterior motives..
To be fair, I snipped some of this for space. This post is one of many
where disagreement is starting to fray our collective tempers. This is a
long and slow process. Let's table both the donation and the ad talk for
a while, and work on increasing the numbers on the petitions.
The Seattle group has four great opportunites to gather signatures
this month and next. There are cons all summer, there are village fairs,
county fiars, etc. All we need to do is some good old fashioned work.
I think that in the interests of getting the job done, we need to
table other projects for a while. This does not mean that they need to
be forgotten. If the petitions absolutely do not work, then we have
other items in our arsenal. OK?
Simahoyo
From: cedar <cedar3sc1@yahoo.com>
I only just want to say what I have been feeling.
As soon as I hear the word "money" I felt there would
be the potential for a "rift" amongst the Xac members
as to how to use it.
I for one feel this money thing, now matter how
noble...no matter if it is for promotional purposes
via charity or ad...it is setting up for a can of
worms.
Money is not the route to go in my opinion....too much
troubles and strife.
The petitions are the best way to go!!! We just gotta
flood USA Studios like hell! Names and numbers count!
The talk show radio thing like Arthur Chappel
mentioned is an excellent way to get the message
across too.
The censorship is what we are fighting....not the
Hindu fundamentalists....so if anyone goes off on
their own and does do an ad, please keep this in mind.
**and another comment
On a personal note, when I have seen letter examples
closeting or saying the lesbian issue is "in the eyes
of the viewer"...I am grieved to my soul, and feel
half ill. TPTB may on occassion use this line of
reasoning/closeting when confronted by the
media....and I have my own feelings about *that* too,
BUT I would never hide from this issue in this protest
and do not believe in denying it when things get hot.
Lesbianism was attacked,via the fictional Xena and
Gab,right out in the open and was successfully
censored by cancellation of The Way in the name of
religion and offense...amongst other fundamentalist
agendas as such as a major self-promotion/power
issues.
I read a letter that moved me by CW I think, sorry I
cannot remember exactly now who...but its spirit and
soul I cannot forget.( it was to that Philly reporter
who had never seen Xena but knew all about it) about
her being a dyke and people's words and reactions,but
she is calm and comfortable in her spirit...... and it
was one of the most beautiful moving pieces I
read....thankyou for reading that! I wish I had not
deleted that accidently.....I wanted to keep that one.
The petitions are our strongest suit...save the will
to keep fighting...without divisions
just my thoughts
cedar
From: cedar <cedar3sc1@yahoo.com>
I only just want to say what I have been feeling.
As soon as I hear the word "money" I felt there would
be the potential for a "rift" amongst the Xac members
as to how to use it.
I for one feel this money thing, now matter how
noble...no matter if it is for promotional purposes
via charity or ad...it is setting up for a can of
worms.
Money is not the route to go in my opinion....too much
troubles and strife.
The petitions are the best way to go!!! We just gotta
flood USA Studios like hell! Names and numbers count!
The talk show radio thing like Arthur Chappel
mentioned is an excellent way to get the message
across too.
The censorship is what we are fighting....not the
Hindu fundamentalists....so if anyone goes off on
their own and does do an ad, please keep this in mind.
**and another comment
On a personal note, when I have seen letter examples
closeting or saying the lesbian issue is "in the eyes
of the viewer"...I am grieved to my soul, and feel
half ill. TPTB may on occassion use this line of
reasoning/closeting when confronted by the
media....and I have my own feelings about *that* too,
BUT I would never hide from this issue in this protest
and do not believe in denying it when things get hot.
Lesbianism was attacked,via the fictional Xena and
Gab,right out in the open and was successfully
censored by cancellation of The Way in the name of
religion and offense...amongst other fundamentalist
agendas as such as a major self-promotion/power
issues.
I read a letter that moved me by CW I think, sorry I
cannot remember exactly now who...but its spirit and
soul I cannot forget.( it was to that Philly reporter
who had never seen Xena but knew all about it) about
her being a dyke and people's words and reactions,but
she is calm and comfortable in her spirit...... and it
was one of the most beautiful moving pieces I
read....thankyou for reading that! I wish I had not
deleted that accidently.....I wanted to keep that one.
The petitions are our strongest suit...save the will
to keep fighting...without divisions
just my thoughts
cedar
6 May 1999
Petition at DragonCon
I checked out doing the petition at DragonCon. This is their
response. They are not being mean, they just have rules about who does
what where. I think the best way around this is to share table space
with an established 501c3 group, or a merchant, perhaps.
Simahoyo
From: Michael Martinez <
michael.martinez@eudoramail.com>To ad or not to ad
From: Bongo Bear <thebongobear@yahoo.com>
--- Becky Calvert <lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> Once again, I am not certain what the exact thing was (threats, money
> issues, boycotts, or people standing at the gates of Universal Studios)
> that motivated the pulling of "The Way".
>
>
> Becky Calvert
Whatever reason(s) we give the executive management to put THE WAY back into
syndication should be more persuasive than the reasons they had to pull it off
in the first place. I don't know StudioUSA's original reasons or even which of
the numerous Hindu groups actively protested against THE WAY or most
importantly, how they managed to succeed. Perhaps researching and documenting
these basic facts should be done before we change the current strategy of
petitions. Does anyone have this information already? Once we know what there
is to know, then formulate some alternative strategy.
There's time to think this all through. The situation is not going to get any
worse. After all, what has changed since this whole controversy started?
Nothing much except a little media coverage on the Net. I don't know if
anything has been publicized in any other media. In the meantime, give the
petitions a chance to soak in. Let it be known far and wide, within the Net
and beyond, especially beyond, that the petition exists and why.
Bongo Bear
The ad, the fanatics and the petitions
From: "Alicia Lewis" <aleatha@mailcity.com>
Of course we should continue the petitions, steady faith will show the studio that their bottom-line, if nothing else, is wholly supported by their fans. Although I think, in honesty, they chose to recant the episode because of conscience (theirs) rather than lack of backbone. Tapert's letter makes it pretty clear that they are uninterested in bending to hatred and bigotry -- just so they are unwilling to be bigoted. Having said that, I think that all avenues open to fans are equally valid. The petitions are a traditional, and extremely effective form of making your voice heard. But neither the ad nor the charity are bad ideas-- even right now. I admit that the idea of waiting and showing that our dedication will last longer than a month is tempting. But there is also the saying, strike while the iron is hot. I would agree than an angry, accusatory ad at this point would be counterproductive -- heck it would be at any point. But it doesn't sound like that is the plan. It sounds like the ad is intended not to slam the Hindus or the show but rather to show the producers the depth of support we have for their show and the trust we have for them.
My $.02
Aleatha
From: "Zylch Obscure" <zylch@hotmail.com>
We must keep the petitions going, but we must also make the public aware. Is
an ad the best way to do this? I'm not sure.
If we do run an ad, it is true that we must be careful with our phrasing.
ANYTHING printed can count as libelous. If we use a graphic, what would we
use? Are photos of Lucy as Xena (the most likely thing to give readers an
instant identification... "Xena? Who's Xena? Oh, yeah, the chick in
leather.") copyrighted? My bet is they are, which means more money or
RenPics can sue us for copyright infringement as well as libel. And I
certainly don't want to offend them; honey instead of vinegar here. We need
a way of getting positive attention.
The video idea is interesting, but I have a sneaky suspicion that Tusta
Krishnadas will protest any incarnation (no pun intended!) of "The Way." We
also don't want to give the impression that we can be bought off ("look, not
only do we get them to be quiet by selling them videos, but we make money
too!") The idea of them donating part of the profit to charity is nice, but
it's called show BUSINESS instead of show volunteer work for a reason.
Making art is nice, but making money is necessary if you want to stay in
'the biz.'
I also don't think a picket or anything of the sort would be very
productive. We want to change the effect of the WVA protest, not sink to its
level. We want TPTB to realize that their decision was wrong and try to
rectify it, not force them into doing our bidding. We want to support them,
not push them around.
A donation from us to charity sounds attractive, but how would we make sure
it got media attention? It's a worthy cause, even if we don't get any
attention, but I would prefer a news story here or there. Kosovo sounds good
to me... stopping the cycle of hate and war by love and the way of
non-violence, anyone? Lawless' choice is also good, but I think we might be
able to make more of a link to Kosovo, which would give us a better chance
of publicity.
Re South Africa: We are Xenites against censorship, and this is censorship.
If we are going to do anything about it, however, I think we need to be
conscious of a few things: Remember how annoyed we were that emails from
Poland, Russia, etc got them to take the episodes off of stations
everywhere? How many of us are from South Africa? If we do protest, it can't
be in the way that we're trying to get "The Way" back (petitions, etc),
because we'd be seen as outsiders trying to force our will on their
government. We would instead need to find a group there willing to protest
and do what we could to help and support them. This should include
censorship of other shows there, since it seems to be a more widespread
problem than just XWP. I am
willing to look into/ make contact with groups over there if this is the
route we choose. We should also keep this issue separate from "The Way."
It's a different kind of censorship by a different entity, and for different
reasons.
BTW, did anyone watch Bitter Suite on USA this evening? Minor censorship,
but still annoying. They cut the "naughty word" when Ares says "Ding dong,
the bitch is dead" (poorly, I might add), and they cut Xena calling Ming
T'ien a bastard (even though he technically was one... Lao Ma was Ming
T'zu's concubine, not his wife).
Okay this was a really long post and I apologise, but I think it needed to
be said.
zylch
Petition in NY
From: OLEON2276@aol.com
Hi I would like to offer my services in collecting the petition in the NY
area or anywhere near the NY area, please let me know that you are sending in
your email and I will provide you with my address so you can send your
petition, my email address is oleon2276@aol.com
Online petition
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
As of 4 PM EDT today, May 6, we have 964 names on the third edition of
the
petition, for a total of 5465 names on all three petitions.
When this one reaches 1000 we will send it in to Studios USA.
Kit
I'll be sending my petitions
From: "Becky Calvert" <lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net>
LJ has her hands full with the on-line petition. We are coordinating the
central collecting points and will give out that info when details are
completed. Please give us a chance to organize before appointing us to
stations <bg>.
As for the ad, I strongly feel that this is not the right time. We are
making changes doing what we are doing. The petitions (on-line and hard
copy) are having a desirable affect without rubbing anyone's face publicly
in the mud. The industry knows what went down. Making this protest a
public spectacle will not, in my opinion, further our cause at all. In
fact, I believe it will breed hostility.
It almost seems like a bully tactic -- push them in a corner and hope they
buckle. Well, StudiosUSA has buckled under pressure once. That is why we
are petitioning . We don't want them buckle to outside pressures.
By overstepping our hand, we might create a larger problem in that the
studio will not take note of any public opinions or outcries--and that
includes us. We want the studio to know that we were displeased with thier
actions and that we do not want it to happen again. We want to help
StudiosUSA build a backbone and remember to investigate the lodging
protesters so that misinformation is not taken at face value. (Remember the
"100 billion Hindu's and the 6 billion Hindus). We would like the studio
to consider us as a type of benevolent watchdog. We are here, we are not
going away. We will tell them when we think they have made a poor
decision, but we are not here to reduce them to quibbling suits of jello.
At least I am not. (pudding maybe--jello, never)
Please, let's give the petitions a bit more time. We can always bring up
the issue of the ad at a later date. We really don't want to make any
enemies. We want to make our stand known. We want to increase our
numbers. We want to be a constant reminder to the studio of a poor
decision made in haste.
We don't want to be seen as "radical", "overbearing", or "fanatical". This
is not "The Way" for us to make a point. "The Way" to succeed is to
continue on the path we have already laid out and we know is beginning to
work--slowly but surely.
(And that having been said, Becky jumps down from the pulpit and high tails
it back to the flame proof room)
Battle On and Remember "The Way"!!
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief
SSPA/NBB
<http://www.nutbread.com>
Petition Question
From: "Becky Calvert" <lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net>
We cannot turn any petitions over to anyone other than Studios USA
personnel. That was a condition promised to those that signed.
I would not advise anyone to try and contact, let alone interact with Tusta
or groups associated with him. Not only would it be totally frustrating,
but could possibly be dangerous.
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief
Are we sending the same petition to the Hindu groups? I mean, THEY were the ones who put up the fight with us. We should sign "another" petition, telling them to come to terms with us Xenites.
We have to send them messages as well as we are doing with Studios USA. Should we sign a petition to the Hindu group? or, Is the same petition sent to the Trusta Krishnadas?
Arianne
5 May 1999
Clarification between the 2 petitions
From: "Becky Calvert" <lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net>
Just so no one gets confused, the hard copy petition drive and collection
of these petitions is not related to or in anyway associated with the
on-line petition. These 2 petitions will remain as separate entities as
they target different groups. We also want to uphold the anonymity
promised to the signers of the on-line petition.
The delivery of the hard copy petition will be to Jim Benson as there will
be only one copy produced, but the up side is that 1000 hand signed
petitions (about 20 sigs to a page) will probably give the mail room
employees fits and topple Mr. Benson's desk. As with the on-line petition,
the names on these lists will not be sold or given to any media or
commercial concern. Only the individuals handling the petitions and the
designated StudiosUSA personnel will have access to these petitions. We
will however be more than happy to let anyone and everyone know how many
signatures have been collected. I hope this clears up any confusion.
More information will be given as soon as it becomes available.
Thanks to everyone for their support.
Battle On and Remember "The Way"!!
Becky Calvert
Commander in Chief
SSPA/NBB
<http://www.nutbread.com>
Petitions
From: outback@primenet.com (creation)
I think we might table talk of an ad for now, but keep those petitions
coming <G>
Sharon
P.S. Please pass this along :)
Hard Copy Petitions
From: "JacQuest" <jjalv@ida.net>
Hi All,
Firmly agree with Sharon that we need to have a coordinated effort to handle
the petitions. We have been working to set up a procedure for the processing
of hard copy petitions through XAC. Believe that there should be close
coordination between mailing the hard copy petitions and the processing of
the one-line petitions. It is considered that in addition to setting up a
central location in the United States, there should be central mailing sites
in other part of the world to collect and send the petitions forward. Becky
Calvert has agreed to set a post office box for the collection of all the
hard copy petitions in the United States. MaryD will be handling the
petitions in Australia.
Petitions in Australia should be sent to:
Mary Draganis
P.O. Box M4
Missenden Road
Camperdown NSW 2050
Australia
We are busily working out the details and setting up a support group to
manage the hard copy petitions. If you have any suggestions or
recommendations please send them direct to:
Becky: lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net (Becky Calvert)
MaryD: kira@zip.com.au
Jacquee: jjalv@ida.net
Liz: hecate@ida.net
Thanks,
Jacquee and MaryD
XAC Moderators
XAC Information Index
http://www.poky.net/xac.html
I'LL BE SENDING MY HARD COPY PETITIONS
From: outback@primenet.com (creation)
I'd recommend having all the hard copy petitions bundled together if
possible. These batches of 1,000 names are impressive. Could anyone
volunteer to be the central mailing place?
Sharon
4 May 1999
XAC] I'LL BE SENDING MY HARD COPY PETITIONS....
From: "bookdaft" <bookdaft@voyager.net>
Hi all,
I just thought I'd make everyone aware that I'll be sending my set of hard
copy petitions to Studios USA sometime this week, probably Saturday, unless
I pick them up sooner from my comic store guy. I missed seeing him last
week.
I'll most likely send them by registered mail, since the recipient has to
sign for them. I don't know how the online version has been sent so that
confirmation is received (Kit, Becky? Any information on how its done?),
but if there is a different method let me know and I'll do it the same way.
I'm considering sending it the fastest way possible through the Postal
Service, so I don't have to wait a week or more for it to get there.
If you want your hard copy petitions included in this mailing, e-mail me
privately and I'll send you my snail mail adddress. It would be more
impressive if we had these smaller sets packaged up into a slightly larger
batch, but may not have any more impact. After all, it seems to me more
important that Studios USA get the idea that support for our position is
more at the grassroots level, and beyond the Internet, than they imagine.
bd
From: mswami@aei.ca
Hi all,
spent lunch hour arranging for a table at the pride day celebrations (called Divers Cite here)
they didn't have a clue about the whole thing. thats why montreal is a lot of work. there are two languages here and english is not the official language. french viewers only got to see about
3/4 of season one. but most people can communicate in both so global houses the bulk of xwp viewers here in english. xwp is a popular show though so i expect a favorable response for the most part.
our pride weekend runs from jul28 to aug01.
please folks, understand i am an extrememly shy person so its taking a lot for me to do this
kind of stuff - again.
but if i can so can others.
battle on!
ensemble nous vaincrons!
mswami
3 May 1999
From: beboman <beboman@cwix.com>
I have a hard copy of the petition, I have some signatures on it as soon as
I get 100 I will send it Studios USA.
If you guys who have hard copy want to send it to me I can make sure that it
gets to Studios USA.
If interested please contact me at
beboman@cwix.com
Be Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beboman>
From: "Zylch Obscure" <zylch@hotmail.com>
2 May 1999
From: dtr <donnat@hooked.net>
Now that the online petition numbers are starting to wind down, it might be
encouraging to know how the hard copy petition drives are doing. Does
anyone have any counts? Perhaps we could start adding them to the online
petition updates. I realize that counts will go up once people attend
various Cons, but I'm curious how things are going now.
I also suspect, if anyone has any ideas, that it's time to spread news of
the online petition even further afield, to different sci fi and gay lists,
and possibly as a direct link on some web pages that get a lot of traffic.
(I wonder whether GLAAD, for example, would be willing to post a link.) I
know that some folks have hit a few of the sci fi lists, but I have to
think there are more we can reach. I would guess there are a ton of Trek
lists out there. There used to be some sort of general lesbian list that
some Xena fans were on, but I haven't heard tell of it in a long time, and
I don't know whether it still exists. Gay rights groups really seem a way
to go, as well, in terms of trying to get a link, or at least to get
signatures.
Donna
28 Apr 1999
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
That makes a total of 4491 names already sent to Studios USA.
As of 10 PM EDT Apr 27, we have 414 Names on the third petition.
Do you know anyone who you think would like to sign? Any lists we have
missed? Send this message to them.
If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to sign the online
petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
You will be asked for your name and e-mail address. Your street address
is
optional but encouraged. None of your information will be available to
the
public. It will be collected and a hard copy will be sent to Studios
USA.
Kit
From: "MaryD" <kira@zip.com.au>
Hi folks
Just got off the phone to Melanie at Galaxy Bookstore in Sydney. She was
aware of the Hindu protest about The Way and was quite happy for me to
send her a protest form so people can sign it. What she will do is photocopy
the pages and leave them on the counter for people to sign.
When it's full I will go and pick them up and send them to Studio USA. I will
now contact The Comic Kingdom also inthe CBD and see if they will agree to
it as well!
==
MaryD
>From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
>
>I sent the following letter to Deb Woodell of the Philly Daily News
>in response to her editorial, "Was pulling 'Xena' episode censorship?
>No 'Way'"
>If everything that might offend someone were removed from
>public view, we would have very little left to look at.
>Should Tinkie Winkie be removed from the Teletubbies
>because Jerry Falwell is offended by his apparent gayness?
>Should Jerry Falwell be removed from the public airwaves
>because every word he utters offends me?
>
27 Apr 1999
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
I've made a couple of samples of hard copy petition
forms available on my protest page. With any luck,
you'll be able to print them out using the print
feature of your browser. One has a little blurb
about the protest and one doesn't. Both are linked
from my main protest page at:
http://www.tsoft.com/~cmwilson/ProtestCensorship.html
The petition with information about the protest is at:
http://www.tsoft.com/~cmwilson/PetitionForm.html
The petition without information is at:
http://www.tsoft.com/~cmwilson/PetitionFormLong.html
The address to send them to is at the bottom of the
form. Just fold, address, stamp, and mail.
Kit
25 Apr 1999
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
At 2200 Apr 25 the current petition had 2040 names.
Combined with the first petition total we now have
4487.
For those of you who haven't signed it, you will find the
petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
You will be asked for your name and e-mail address.
Your street address is optional but encouraged.
None of your information will be available to the
public. It will be collected and a hard copy
will be sent to StudiosUSA.
Kit
24 Apr 1999
From: "Becky Calvert" <lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net>
We will not stop petitioning anytime in the near future unless Studios USA
re-instates the episode or we are sure this will never happen again. But
we would like for everyone to sign ASAP so we don't loose to much momentum.
Becky Calvert
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
Arianne Barreto wrote:
>
> Until when does everybody has time to sign the online petition?
We're hoping to keep a steady stream of signatures
coming in to Studios USA. We've already sent the
first bunch off. Another bunch is going out at the
beginning of the week. We'd love to send them a
few thousand new signatures every week or so, plus
the hard copy petitions that people are circulating
among their friends.
Kit
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
1645 EDT 24 Apr we have 1846 additional names
(42 more than this morning) and a grand total
of 4293.
From: Arianne Barreto
Until when does everybody has time to sign the online petition?
Battle On!
Arianne
From: "Becky Calvert" <lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net>
As previously stated:
Please be assured that we will not release the petition to anyone other
than StudiosUSA. We have discussed at length these issues and have agreed
that no commercial or media entity will receive this list of names.
Thank you all for your continued support and hard work.
Battle On!!!
Becky Calvert
From: MHeckrotte@aol.com
I saw where one petition signer was concerned about
her anonimity being maintained on the petition..and yet
has written several protests to various people..was curious to know why she
is so concerned about remaining anonymous if her name is already
out...granted the petition was to put pressure on Studios USA but it may not
be accomplished without outside resources..it does no good to TELL these
resources that a petition exists if the petition cannot be presented...who is
to say that
Studios USA will keep it private...they are under no obligation and if they
feel they can back people down by releasing the petition they will...I don't
think anyone
should be signing this petition if they are concerned about privacy..and
those who have these concerns may need to reconsider their names on it and
request them to be removed...maybe a step backwards but only the vocal
minority usually wins and anonymous people are rarely taken seriously in
anything.
From: mswami <mswami@aei.ca>
well folks i have a different.
i live in montreal and i have to get any petitions translated into
french. not a problem but the petitions here are better if they are
worded in both french and english or a french copy and an english copy.
The first season of xena aired here in french last year but was replaced
by another program in january without completing the whole season.
both french and english watch the english tranmission on the global
network. i watch on global and wgn.
i will work on getting a friend to translate for me.
but if there are any other montrealers out there a strategy meeting
would be a good idea.
so come on montreal. lets show them how its done.
mswami
From: Frankie Radford <fradford@yahoo.com>
I agree Kaysey:CIC please do not forward the petition anywhere
else other than Studios USA.
FR
23 Apr 1999
From: "Becky Calvert" <lostkiwi@worldnet.att.net>
Mr. Bear,
Obviously you have missed some of the posts about the petition. The
petition is being sent in parts--true enough--but I hardly consider over
2000 signatures, hard copied into a package about 1.5 to 2 inches tall, a
little at a time. There are 2 copies going to StudiosUSA execs--and the
packages must be signed for. We know the time and date of delivery and
verify delivery with a follow up call. We KNOW the packages have been
received. We have not received any direct comment from StudiosUSA thus far
concerning the petition.
We will not release the petition to any media because of the promise made
on the petition--but please feel free to notify any news media of the
petition's existence and the number of signatures on it.
I trust this answers your questions about how the petition is being
handled. I am sure others had questions similar to your own. Thank you for
your suggestions and feedback. I also want to thank you for you support.
Battle On!!!!!!!
Becky Calvert
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
For those who missed it, the following message was posted on
Tuesday, April 23:
> The Eagle has Landed.
> We have had verbal confirmation from the mailroom and assistants at both
> offices that the initial petition to restore The Way to worldwide
> syndication had been delivered to the executive offices of Studios USA.
> Delivery was at 10:30 AM PDT this morning . The recipients were Jim Benson
> and the President of Studios USA.
> This initial petition contained over two thousand names. This is just the
> beginning. We've promised them more and 900 names so far on the follow up
> petition. Another 2000 or more names would ensure that Studios USA knows we
> are serious.
> Please don't sign more than once but don't feel like you should limit
> spreading the word to Xena related lists -- we need to expand our effort
> and capture our natural allies. Talk to your friends, post the petition URL
> to other lists you are on -- tell them why it's important to sign the
> petition.
Kit
From Simayoho:
Here is a copy of the hard copy petition I made. Feel free to use it if
you want. I have to send this AnCII Text Windows, so if it is messed up,
go ahead and stort it out before use. There is no copyright. Now my
question is: Where do we send it? Also, I heard about a group that
gathered initiative signatures and were able to back a moving truck up
to the capitol step to unload box after box of petitions. I would like
to see us able to do this.
Simahoyo
From: Kaysey <kaysey@olypen.com>
I have seen several posts suggesting that the petition be sent to
various places. When we were asked to sign the petition we were
guaranteed confidentiality as we gave our real names and addresses. I
am very concerned about that confidentiality being broken. If the
keepers of the list wanted to send this petition to someone other than
USA then it would seem to me that they would need to get permission from
everyone who has signed the petition to do so. I will send letters on
my own and use my own name and address when I do this, but I choose that
for myself. I for one do not want that information sent to others
without my consent. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but along with the right
to free speech, we have the right to privacy as well. I hope I'm not
the only one this bothers.
Linda
From: Bongo Bear <thebongobear@yahoo.com>
Every once in a while there is a note about the petition. At what point will it
be wrapped up and sent out? Whose attention will it be addressed? And
finally, if the petition is being turned in a little at a time to whatever
powers that be in this particular case, how has it been received? Politely?
Skeptically? Enthusiastically? Effectively?
If the ultimate recipient is to be a StudioUSA executive, may I suggest another
one as well? One of the news organizations that has responded with a human
being rather than a pre-programmed email might always be a good place. A large
petition of thousands of Xenites might be considered a news worthy item and if
so its existence could be widely broadcast. A StudioUSA executive might take
receipt of such a petition and politely throw it in the trash and who would
have ever known about it, eh?
Bongo Bear
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
As of 1630 EDT 22 Apr we have 1478 additional names
(85 more than this morning) and a grand total of
3925 on the petition.
Kit
From: bookdaft <bookdaft@voyager.net>
Yep, guys I've read several of you souls who would like hard copy versions
of the petition, or want some form of coordination.
Well, foolish me, I'm willing to step up and offer my services to provide
the form and send the pages into Studios USA, if you like. I just mocked
up a form today because I want to leave several pages with the manager of
my local comic store tomorrow. He's a lovely man; he offered to host the
petition after hearing he couldn't see the episode. He missed it the first
time. And he's a big free-speech fan, as you might expect.
For those of you who are willing to do the legwork, any place that
champions freedom of thought, expression and choice would be a good place
to start. These would include book stores, your local library and even on
the corner, if you've such a mind.
1
If you want copies of the form, e-mail me privately with your home POSTAL
address. I recommend this because of word processing compatibility issues;
I am using Microsoft Word and not every one has it. It is just easier to
mail you the pages. Besides if I get enough, I can have them printed off
at a professional printer for less cost if there is a volume.
Don't worry about the cost. I'll stand any and all. I'll very likely be
working overtime this summer.
I'm also planning on having the petition at MediaWest*Con, for those of you
familiar with the convention and who may be attending.
bd
22 Apr 1999
From Dana:
Derya said:
******
Yes, I'm asking, begging my friends to sign the petition, I sent e-mails to my relatives in Turkey (I live in Holland), I even promised my brother to do the dishes for a week! But I could only ask those who have an e-mail address, since the petition requires name and e-address... Do you, or anyone, have an idea how to let friends who don't have internet sign the petition on internet..? Is it possible to enter their name and post address, or is an e-address really really required here..? If not, then I'm gonna lobby as Tartarus!
*******
You have a good point Derya, I was wonder about that myself - we need a little bit more co-ordination when it comes to physical hard copy petitions.
One of the biggest challenges we face in this protest is lack of media attention - us avid fans and internet junkies are aware of what is happening, but I find that the general public are completely in the dark.
I've embarked on getting on paper petitions on and have found that:
1 Casual viewers and the general public do not know that an episode
has been pulled.
2 When I explain the circumstances, 98% of people are supportive.
This has been quite a scary experience for me (I'm terribly shy), but I think getting petitions signed physically is a great way to contribute and let the studio know that it's just not hardcore nutballs protesting (no offense lol) , and to increase the petition tally. (Australians are huge petition signers).
I've started with my workmates, I work in branch of 40 people in a organisation of 500 people, and so far with the exception of some hiccups (the why bother with a children's show snide that really irks me but I can't afford to take offense at) I've had some great support. I'm also planning to leave my petition with some articles and contact details (for more info), at the local science fiction book store (I know the guy there and he's real supportive), the comic store and even the new age stores. Be prepared to explain the whole thing tho - after one hour at lunch getting petitions signed I was all talked out - the knowledge on the streets is barely to non-existant.
Anyway, this is where I need some co-ordinated help from my fellow xenite activists, I'm in Australia, so I will need to send the petition to the United States, I would rather send it to one of you guys over in the States, perhaps someone who is already accumulating and co-ordinating petition sheets, mostly because I don't think I'm going to get any huge numbers (I'm hoping to get at least 200) and it would look a little silly sending a small list of petitions, some type of stopping point in the United States would be fantastic. A co-ordinated (unofficial petition central so to speak) would be great for people from UK, New Zealand etc to send petitions as well.
I am willing to put myself forward as the "petition central" for any Australians who are, or who are thinking about collecting petitions.
I hope that made sense.
This snail-mail process is going to take some time and co-ordination, but it's the best way of increasing the number of names and spreading the knowledge around. I can send my petition signing form for anyone who wants to copy it as well. Remember, this is something that's not goint to happen overnight, think of how long it took for the Trekkies to get Trek in Movie format!, but I feel it will snowball and eventually we will get our "Way".
How does that sound.
Dana
From: beboman <beboman@cwix.com>
I'm working on making a form and put it on the net that you can print out
and have your friends sign their names to it. Then it can be mailed it
Studios USA as hard copy. If you are interested as soon as I have it
finished and approved by XAC I'll send you a copy.
Be Nice!!!!!!!!!!
Beboman
From: beboman <beboman@cwix.com>
I'm working on making a form and put it on the net that you can print out
and have your friends sign their names to it. Then it can be mailed it
Studios USA as hard copy. If you are interested as soon as I have it
finished and approved by XAC I'll send you a copy.
Be Nice!!!!!!!!!!
Beboman
21 Apr 1999
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
As of 2230 EDT 20 Apr we have 1000 (YES!)
additional names (100 more than at 5:30
this afternoon) and grand total of 3450
on the petition.
For those of you who haven't signed it, you will find the
petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
You will be asked for your name and e-mail address.
Your street address is optional but encouraged.
None of your information will be available to the
public. It will be collected and a hard copy
will be sent to StudiosUSA.
Kit
From: MHeckrotte@aol.com
Since the petition is growing, why not start faxing or
emailing it to the different television stations around
the country, particularly the biggies like WGN...also,
why can't the list start going to some of the sponsers of the Xena series...I
know confidentiality might be
a problem with some people, but isn't it important to let the shows sponsers
know what is happening and how
people feel...they are the ones who could be greatly
impacted if people wanted to throw around the phrase
"boycott"...The fundamentalists didn't hesitate to play
that ace...why should we...
17 Apr 1999
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
As of 1830 EDT tonight we have approximately an
additional 300 some odd names and a total
of 2750, including those that have been sent
to StudiosUSA.
For those of you who haven't signed it, you will find the
petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
You will be asked for your name and e-mail address.
Your street address is optional but encouraged.
None of your information will be available to the
public. It will be collected and a hard copy
will be sent to StudiosUSA.
Kit
16 Apr 1999
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
1. We are going to send the initial petition signatures off to Studios
USA this weekend. There will be in excess of 2400 signatures on it. When
printed out, the petition is somewhere between 200 and 300 pages of names.
WE INTEND TO CONTINUE COLLECTING SIGNATURES AND WILL CONTINUE TO SEND
UPDATED PETITIONS OFF TO STUDIOS USA.
Please continue to sign the petition. The more signatures we send in,
the more like Studios USA will listen to us.
2. A quick look at the signatures collected in the last day and a half
shows they are from all over the world and spreading: Singapore,
Germany, England, Canada, Australia, USA, Puerto Rico, the Netherlands, Finland,
Italy, Scotland, Belgium. THIS IS A WORLD WIDE DRIVE. Don't limit
yourself to Xena Lists. Explain what we are doing and pass the
information along to others.
If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to sign the online
petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
You will be asked for your name and e-mail address.
Your street address is optional but encouraged.
None of your information will be available to the
public. It will be collected and a hard copy
will be sent to StudiosUSA.
Kit
15 Apr 1999
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
Danny Basile wrote:
> There is another petition to sign. Last time I checked we had only 29
> signatures.
> Visit http://www.angelfire.com/ar/beogodeo/theway.html
This points to the same petition. There is only one
petition, as far as I'm aware. The reason it has
only 29 signature is because we've printed out the
over 2000 we had and sent it off to StudiosUSA.
But we're still taking signatures. Let's send them
2000 more soon. (No fair signing twice.)
Kit
14 Apr 1999
From: LaoMo101@aol.com
Hi,
Petions are a good idea and cheap which is always good ! (I'm a true Scot!)
I remember before, we talked about putting a post in the press for something
to do with Lucy.. a congratulations thing I think.. but decided that it would
be costly
to do so. Do ya think that this time it may be a good idea to put something
in the 'Daily Variety' or 'The NY Times' or 'USA Today'..some national paper
that
gets distributed INTERNATIONALLY? In this case it might be worth all the
hassle.
It could be signed by the various Xenite groups (listing the number of
members) and
maybe someone from each group could be in charge of collecting a 'donation'
from
their group. I'd be willing to do so in the UK..OR...and I think this would
be almost
hassle free ..maybe someone Stateside (like Bonnie & Co !) could open a
'Xenites' bank account and we could 'wire' the money directly into the
account from anywhere in the world. I know my post office can do that here
and I live in the back o' beyond !
Just my couple of Dinars worth of suggestions !
Mo
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
As of 1700 EDT Apr 14 we have over 2000 signatures.
For those of you who haven't signed the petition
you will find it at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
13 Apr 1999
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
Arthur Chappell wrote:
> I've signed - maybe we ought t to look at ways of petitioning the public and
> Xena fans who are not fortunate enough (or reckless enough with their money
> to spend it in a manner not seen since Brewster's Millions, as in my case)
> to try to increase support from those not onthe internet too - Ideas on this
> welcome - - we'd need to all work withthe same petition, rather than lots of
> different ones in different wording to diferent targets AC
The text of the petition reads:
PETITION TO RESTORE "THE WAY" TO SYNDICATION
We, the undersigned, oppose the decision of STUDIOS USA to
withdraw the XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS episode "THE WAY"
from syndication. We respectfully request that STUDIOS USA
reverse their decision and restore the episode to worldwide
syndication.
This wording is intentionally brief and bland, because we
wanted *everyone* to be able to sign it. It simply states
our position and asks the studio to take an action.
Anyone is welcome to print this out on a form, with lines
where people can sign and circulate it like a regular
petition.
In addition to signatures, we need a snail mail address
or phone number for each signer, so that it can be
verified that they are actual real people.
The petition forms should also have an address for
StudiosUSA where the petition can be sent when it is
complete.
Kit
12 Apr 1999
From: "Catherine M. Wilson" <cmwilson@wildestdreams.org>
1600 EDT Apr 12 there are 1240 Names
For those of you who haven't signed it, you will find the
petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
11 Apr 1999
Please take a moment to sign the online petition at:
http://starpoet.com/names.html
You will be asked for your name and e-mail address.
Your street address is optional but encouraged.
None of your information will be available to the
public. It will be collected and a hard copy
will be sent to StudiosUSA.
Kit
10 Apr 1999
From: "Nikky Gibson" <nikky@gibson.demon.nl>
Hi all,
Has anyone thought about setting up a site which could act as a central
collection point for everyone around the Xenaverse who is protesting this
censorship? Kind of like an electronic petition. Sign your name, put your
country down - that kind of thing...
I admire all the hard work everyone is putting into sending letters and
faxes, but I have the feeling that we should think about coordinating it
all so that there is a single site which reflects the numbers of Xenites
who are outraged at this.
I am located in Holland and I've seen messages from South Africa and
Finland. While this storm has erupted in the US, it has repercussions
throughout the world. Most other countries are way behind the US screening
schedule - probably only in the second season (if we're lucky!) and it is
idiotic to think that because a splinter group can cause enough noise in
the US to get this episode pulled, we are all to lose out on what I
understand is a pivotal episode in the 4th season. This is one of the most
liberal countries in the world which means very little if we are not able
to decide what is in our own best interests when it comes to choosing our
television viewing.
Of course, I share the anger being expressed against the group who
precipitated this move, but I am also angry at Universal and RenPic for
bowing under this pressure without taking the time or trouble to get a
balanced view at the bigger picture before making their decision.
Unfortunately for the fans of the show, we were not given a forum for
expressing ourselves on this issue before the decision was taken and we are
cast in the role of being reactionary after the fact. To me, this hardly
shows the proper respect for the people (the fans) who have made a
significant contribution to the success of the show throughout the world.
Perhaps it is common practice in some countries to bow down before those
who shout the loudest but this is not necessarily the "right" course of
action.
Since there was no survey done before this happened, I think we should make
a more coordinated effort here to make a stand against this decision. They
should see how many people around the globe are against this action, and
see that it's a cross section of all religions and cultures. If everyone
is encouraged to do this, we become a loud voice too and not the odd shout
from different directions.
Unfortunately, I am not a techie but there are people who are setting up
protest sites as we speak. Could someone see whether this electronic
petition thing can be done?? If we have a URL to the petition site, then
everyone sending letters and faxes could also include the URL to direct
attention to it.
I am hopeful that we can get something positive to come out of this - even
if it's to show how extensive the Xenaverse is. As others have mentioned
before, this is a dangerous precendent to set. I am disappointed that it
was TPTB who set it, after proving time and again what free thinking
individuals they are.
BATTLE ON guys.
Nikky