Comments on: Exporting Anti-Witch Hysteria? http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/08/exporting-anti-witch-hysteria.html Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:15:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: mrsb http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/08/exporting-anti-witch-hysteria.html/comment-page-1#comment-2109 mrsb Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:50:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/08/exporting-anti-witch-hysteria.html#comment-2109 I've seen quite a few pagans denounce the need to defend those in other countries who are wrongly accused of witchcraft. Often these are the same pagans who travel to Salem and love to cry out "Never again the Burning Times!". Are these modern "witches" any less our people than those Salem "witches"?<br/><br/>As pagans, and as people, should we not stand up for anyone wrongly accused?<br/><br/>The thought that we shouldn't be involved because it is "over there" is fine and dandy. Except that before you know it, "over there" is knocking at your door and dragging you out of your home at night. I’ve seen quite a few pagans denounce the need to defend those in other countries who are wrongly accused of witchcraft. Often these are the same pagans who travel to Salem and love to cry out “Never again the Burning Times!”. Are these modern “witches” any less our people than those Salem “witches”?

As pagans, and as people, should we not stand up for anyone wrongly accused?

The thought that we shouldn’t be involved because it is “over there” is fine and dandy. Except that before you know it, “over there” is knocking at your door and dragging you out of your home at night.

]]> By: Yvonne http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/08/exporting-anti-witch-hysteria.html/comment-page-1#comment-2108 Yvonne Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:19:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/08/exporting-anti-witch-hysteria.html#comment-2108 I think the persecution of witches is "our" issue wherever it may occur; however we must be careful not to make the situation worse for the victims of persecution. If the country where the persecution occurs is anti-western, then us blundering in as openly Pagan/Wiccan defenders is not going to help, because the country in question is just going to say "See, we told you - decadent western ways" and ignore us.<br/><br/>But sometimes it can help to be open about our beliefs, as in the cases where analogies with Wicca has actually helped to stop persecution of traditional shaman-type practitioners.<br/><br/>I also think that, as Michael says above, that constant vigilance is necessary. I think the persecution of witches is “our” issue wherever it may occur; however we must be careful not to make the situation worse for the victims of persecution. If the country where the persecution occurs is anti-western, then us blundering in as openly Pagan/Wiccan defenders is not going to help, because the country in question is just going to say “See, we told you – decadent western ways” and ignore us.

But sometimes it can help to be open about our beliefs, as in the cases where analogies with Wicca has actually helped to stop persecution of traditional shaman-type practitioners.

I also think that, as Michael says above, that constant vigilance is necessary.

]]> By: THE Michael http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/08/exporting-anti-witch-hysteria.html/comment-page-1#comment-2106 THE Michael Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/08/exporting-anti-witch-hysteria.html#comment-2106 When are pagans going to get their heads out of the sand and stand up to this deadly stupidity? I say that in those places where we have FINALLY earned legal protection, we start standing up for ourselves and DEMANDING that people stop accusing us of being evil, especially when they hypocritically use the EVIL of murder and persecution against us, even if out of ignorance. Here, where I live, somebody even LOOKS at me the wrong way, I LOOK back, and tell them to BRING IT ON, if they think they are going to hurt ME or MINE in the name of Jesus, no less. These people respect those who stand up to them, so quit thinking that singing Kumbaya is going to protect you. If the Jews, the Tutsis, and other genocide victims haven't made the lesson of human nature perfectly clear, then you deserve to be in danger. The Wiccan rede does not magically protect anybody, anymore than the ten commandments have. Wake up and get real or suffer the consequences. When are pagans going to get their heads out of the sand and stand up to this deadly stupidity? I say that in those places where we have FINALLY earned legal protection, we start standing up for ourselves and DEMANDING that people stop accusing us of being evil, especially when they hypocritically use the EVIL of murder and persecution against us, even if out of ignorance. Here, where I live, somebody even LOOKS at me the wrong way, I LOOK back, and tell them to BRING IT ON, if they think they are going to hurt ME or MINE in the name of Jesus, no less. These people respect those who stand up to them, so quit thinking that singing Kumbaya is going to protect you. If the Jews, the Tutsis, and other genocide victims haven’t made the lesson of human nature perfectly clear, then you deserve to be in danger. The Wiccan rede does not magically protect anybody, anymore than the ten commandments have. Wake up and get real or suffer the consequences.

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