(Pre-Samhain) News of Note
Some last minute essays, opinions, and stories (some of it dealing with the upcoming holiday), for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
The Times reviews Emily Wilson’s new book about the death of Socrates. Entitled, appropriately enough, “The Death of Socrates: Hero, villain, chatterbox, saint”, the book looks at the different perspectives through history of this famous free-thought martyr.
“For some Romans, Socrates talked too much while dying a rather comfortable death. According to Plutarch, Cato the Elder called him “a big chatterbox”; the painless demise was contrasted with the hideous suicide of Cato the Younger. As an explicit act of political protest, inspired by Socrates, Cato stabbed himself till his innards extruded; after his wound had been sewn up, he tore it open again and ripped out his bowels. This scene is illustrated, along with numerous versions of Socrates’ end.”
The book goes on to illustrate how Socrates ended up a hero to Christians (thinking that Christ was the culmination of the philosopher’s teachings), and being used as a popular character in a string of recent novels.
New DNA evidence was filed Monday in hopes of overturning the convictions of the West Memphis 3. The three teens were convicted for the murders of three children back in 1993, the case has long been criticized for using “Satanic Panic” to frame the teens, bringing up Damien Echols’ interest in Wicca and Heavy Metal music, and using an “occult expert” to gain a conviction.
“Defense lawyers say two hairs — evidence that looms large in a case long devoid of physical evidence — link the stepfather to the crime scene where the bodies of three 8-year-old boys were found nude and hogtied in a watery ditch … The prosecution’s theory of a satanic motive was key to the convictions … However, forensic reports offered by the defense attribute nearly all those injuries to predators — possibly dogs or raccoons — that fed on the bodies in the hours after the murders.”
In fact, according to a report filed in July, none of the genetic material found at the scene could be trace back to the three teens. It remains to be seen if this new evidence will in fact clear the teens (now in their 30s) or save Echols from execution.
The Idaho Statesman explores the famous witch-trials in Salem through three women descended from victims and accusers at that time.
“‘I lived this for about two weeks – what would he have said, what would she have done – and I literally entered her skin,’ Judith Alexander said. Judith Alexander, Rebecca Bowen-Odom and Lila Hill. The three women recently portrayed their ancestors in a dramatization of the Salem witch-hunt era for Pioneer, the local chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.”
The article thinks ergot poisoning was the most likely culprit for the witch hysteria, though there are several theories out there.
Mexico’s Roman Catholic Church has gone on record as saying it doesn’t like Halloween.
“Those who celebrate Halloween are worshipping a culture of death that is the product of a mix of pagan customs,” the Archdiocese of Mexico said in an article on its Web site yesterday. “The worst thing is that this celebration has been identified with neo-pagans, Satanism and occult worship.”
No word on if this includes Dia de los Muertos celebrations as well, or if the death-haunted holiday is significantly free of “occult” influence to remain safe.
Finally, a somewhat strange attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records was attempted by a group in Somerville, MA.
“The witches were urged on by Lesley Pratt Bannatyne, the Somerville author of the new children’s book Witches’ Night Before Halloween and an authority on the holiday. Witches’ Night (Pelican Publishing) is her fourth Halloween book, but her first for kids. Pratt Bannatyne wanted to celebrate Halloween in a new way, and Somerville — with its eclectic festivals and “the willingness of people to come out and do something different” — seemed like the place for the first known Guinness attempt for the ‘Largest Gathering of Halloween Witches (Reciting Poetry).’”
No word on how many of the “witches” were also Witches (of the religious sort), but they did succeed in winning the record. Maybe a Pagan group can work towards ‘Largest Gathering of Pagan Witches (Reciting Poetry)’ sometime in the near future.
That is all I have for now, have a good holiday in the coming days!
One response so far
Thanks for the West Memphis Three update! Please let this be the long-awaited breakthrough to speed their release from prison and save Damien from execution.
And do people still believe in that silly ergot poisoning theory?? I mean, if that were the culprit, would not a LOT more people have been showing symptoms? Also I notice this theory conveniently tries to explain the girls’ nightmares and epileptic fits, but also seems to be expected to explain a groupthink mindset that makes everyone suspicious of their pious neighbors…