The "Extremes" in Wicca?

Has anyone else ever noticed that sometimes our religion is misrepresented by people who go to extreme? It isn't solely our religion. In American politics there are those who are extremely liberal and those who are extremely conservative. It seems to me and many that because of these two extreme ends of the spectrum being unwilling to compromise, the "stalemates" in our governmental system occur.

No, I am not here to give a speech on politics. It is just a comparison. :) Anyway, what I was saying, it seems that we as Wiccans are misrepresented or represented badly by those who go to the extreme ends. On the one end there are those Pagans that are what could be considered "modern-day hippies". You know the stereotype: treehuggers, everyone is a vegetarian, being skyclad is an everyday uniform, and they are all smoking dope and being "away with the fairies." Then on the other end, those who are classed as "goth" or "dark". They constantly flaunt their "power", wear excessive amounts of spiritual jewelry (such as a pentacle ring, pentacle necklace, pentacle earrings... all at once), typically super feminist-manhaters.

Before I start getting hate mail, let me just state that I do not agree with these stereotypes, but they are out there. What I am trying to get at is that we shouldn't let either of these extremes be the solo "face" of our religion in the public eye. We have to represent ourselves proudly and honestly without the "extremes" taking over. Those who constantly go around flaunting their "power" are not true Wiccans. Neither are those who go around smoking dope day in and day out to get in touch with "nature." These people are fake. The problem is, in the public eye, these are many of the people using the honorable title of Wiccan, when it is not their's to claim. Because of this, those who are true Wiccans that honor that title by loving the divine and respecting nature, abiding by the law, and teaching those who desire to be taught our ways (insteading of flaunting "the mysteries") are frequently looked at as if  we are crazy druggy tree-huggers.

I am not one to complain. I am not one to dwell on the things that upset me-- in fact, I am extremely optimistic. But this is a topic that needs to be addressed. True Wiccans everywhere need to honor that title. It needs to be defended and taken back from those who slander it and do it injustice in the public eye. We need to represent our religion and our values in the beautiful light that it is deserving of. We need to give the God and Goddess a good name. Opinions are very touchy subjects because they are neither right nor wrong. Nobody will agree or disagree completely with another. But I feel like this needs to be addressed. I would like to hear your opinion on pagan misrepresentation as well. Thanks for reading and Blessed Be. )o(