Salem Witch Hunts, Only Worse?

[Mike]

Last month Helena was accused by her parents of sickening two of her nieces with evil spells. In retaliation, the bewildered girl says, one of her small hands was burned on a red-hot stove. Her meager possessions, including her clothes, were torched. She was choked. And finally, to destroy her reputation in the community, she was beaten in front of a large crowd. Her mother and elder sisters administered these punishments.

This is horrible!

[super gerbil]

[The Real Bingo]

Now there's some stupid, uneducated people for ya.

And not at all atypical of 'undeveloped' societies. Do a little homework, this kind of thing has been going on since time immemorial. Someone decided to make waves by publishing a story on it now is all. It just gives people more reason to go in and interfere with another society that doesn't want their 'help.'

Is it right? Not to me and you. Should we stop it? Tough call.

[John Prophet]

to see the other side of the coin.....

are there such things as witches who can indeed put spells on people??

in any other country but America..the answer is an instant yes. In America it is also true...but we dont like to say "yes" to the question.

(im not saying whatever was done to the girl was right..I didnt read the whole article..but in many countries...casting spells is as well known as putting on makeup or tying our shoes is here, lol)

JP

Horrible yes, why not look into the way kids are treated in Brazil?
It's horrible the way they are living in the streets and garbage dumps in packs. Addicted to glue by the time they are 5 or 6.
Beaten, raped and murdered by adults, law enforcement not exempt.
Or women in Muslim cultures? As in death if they are suspected of premarital sex, severe beatings for minor offenses. Female children have their genitals mutilated to prevent them from having feelings of sexuality when they mature.

Here kids are destructive if they don't get a new game, hate their parents for not getting them a new car...

[Mickwish]

This is a recent thing, according to the article. What has started this? Most likely some misinterpreted or misunderstood outside influence, viz:

Some blamed the recent proliferation of fire-and-brimstone evangelical churches in Angola, whose apocalyptic vision of the universe--and profit from exorcisms--meshes nicely with an epidemic of witchcraft.

Sometimes Western culture interferes in ways which cause great damage to the social fabric of other cultures, from which they never really recover. Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australian native cultures are all good examples of this. Sometimes the best intentions can do great harm, if attention is not paid to the existing culture.

Mick

(no Cheers here. )

[Mykex]

Makes our trials sound downright saine.