Silly (and insulting) column about Wiccan in the Daily Iowan

[Djiril]

http://www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2006/10/27/Metro/The-Daily.Break-2405919.shtml?norewrite200610281857&sourcedomain=www.dailyiowan.com

This guy is a bit rude, but he seems to have done his homework, or at least a Google search:


Some Wiccans claim that those hanged in the Salem witch trials were actually practitioners of Wicca. Scientists think that they may have eaten wheat that contained poison fungus, causing adverse behavioral changes. Considering Wicca hadn't yet been invented in 1692, I'm inclined to go with the scientists on this one.

Wiccans sometimes adopt more nature-centric names such as "Lady Foxwind Moontree." Lame, huh?

Many Wiccans are dismissive of pop-culture portrayals of witches, because of their "propagandized" nature. Except for Buffy. Buffy rules.

[magickal_realism]

But is it really silly? The author is right...Wicca was NOT around in 1692, and the victims of the Salem witch trials themselves were, each and every one, Christian. As far as the more insulting takes -- it's not the beliefs of Wicca that's being mocked, it's the cultural behavior. We're as a group NOT consistent about our response to fictional portrayals, and there's a lot to do in terms of gaining enough confidence in the legitimacy of neopagan faiths to NOT need "backup" from ancient and more recent history.

[Djiril]

But is it really silly? The author is right...Wicca was NOT around in 1692, and the victims of the Salem witch trials themselves were, each and every one, Christian. As far as the more insulting takes -- it's not the beliefs of Wicca that's being mocked, it's the cultural behavior. We're as a group NOT consistent about our response to fictional portrayals, and there's a lot to do in terms of gaining enough confidence in the legitimacy of neopagan faiths to NOT need "backup" from ancient and more recent history.

By "silly" I actually meant "humorous." I added "insulting" to warn more sensitive readers who might be upset by it.

BTW, can you read it? The first time I opened the page I didn't have any problem, the the next time I tried it was suddenly "subscription only."

[magickal_realism]

It was mainly a sidebar, correct? I did look at it, and it's probably one of those "view once then subscription required" deals.

[Iris]

Ok...comparing Wiccans to fascists was a little too far, however jokingly it was done...

I liked the bit about 'bad poetry and setting things on fire', though. ;)

[Agaliha]

Wicca was NOT around in 1692, and the victims of the Salem witch trials themselves were, each and every one, Christian.

Yeah, that was correct. Wicca wasn't around then and everyone killed was Christian.

Another thing that I see people say that's not correct is that people were burned on stakes in Salem. They weren't. They were hung and Giles Corey was pressed.


Were the victims of the Salem witch trials burned at the stake?
With the exception of Giles Corey--who was crushed to death for refusing to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, the executed were hanged, not burned. In Colonial America, witchcraft was a felony punishable by death by hanging. However, in Europe witchcraft was considered heresy and punishable by burning at the stake.
From: Salem Witch Trials FAQ Page (http://www.salemwitchtrials.com/faqs.html)

But yet I've seen and read so many poems about the witches burned to death at Salem (not Europe) and the "Never Again" sites with mention of Salem and burning on stakes.
Just shows no research was done.

*

The wheat fungus was called Ergot, here's some links about Ergot poisoning and Salem:

Ergot Poisoning (LSD) - the cause of the Salem Witch Trials - PBS Secrets of the Dead (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geurdmM0RFulwBiZZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3N2lpNDk1BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANGNzU0X zEwMQ--/SIG=127l9t1l9/EXP=1162183910/**http%3a//www.luminet.net/%7ewenonah/history/ergot.htm)
The Witches Curse - PBS (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geurdmM0RFulwBkZZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3YXNiMXFqBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMwRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANGNzU0X zEwMQ--/SIG=11us51693/EXP=1162183910/**http%3a//www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_salem)
No. 1037: Rye Ergot and Witches (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geurdmM0RFulwBlpZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3MnFqZGg3BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDNARzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANGNzU0X zEwMQ--/SIG=11p6l2bg4/EXP=1162183910/**http%3a//www.uh.edu/engines/epi1037.htm)
Ergotism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geurdmM0RFulwBopZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3bzVyMmVuBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDNwRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANGNzU0X zEwMQ--/SIG=11plc5c60/EXP=1162183910/**http%3a//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergotism)
MAPS: ergot & Salem witchcraft (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geurdmM0RFulwBqZZXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3MWVibzA5BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDOARzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANGNzU0X zEwMQ--/SIG=12ijt2v7p/EXP=1162183910/**http%3a//www.maps.org/pipermail/maps_forum/2001-June/003600.html)
Hallucinogenic Drugs in Salem (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geuo7GM0RFDpUAUDBXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4Z2RvaHFoBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMTEEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDRjc1N F8xMDE-/SIG=148nksc9c/EXP=1162184006/**http%3a//faculty.fmcc.suny.edu/barry/An%2520LSD%2520Trip%2520in%2520Salem.pdf%23search='Ergot%2520poisoning%2520salem') (PDF)
Ergot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geuo7GM0RFDpUAWDBXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4dnRyOWQ0BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMTMEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDRjc1N F8xMDE-/SIG=11mepj06r/EXP=1162184006/**http%3a//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergot)
What Caused the Salem Witch Hysteria? (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geuo7GM0RFDpUAXzBXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4Mjc0aWtqBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMTQEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDRjc1N F8xMDE-/SIG=159au475c/EXP=1162184006/**http%3a//www.howard.k12.md.us/glenwood/sapple/sapple/8th%2520grade%2520notes/Salem%2520Hysteria%2520Interp.pdf%23search='Ergot%2520poisoning%2520salem') (PDF)
Ergot of Rye: History (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geuo7GM0RFDpUAazBXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4MmhrbDJsBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMTcEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDRjc1N F8xMDE-/SIG=12foka9uo/EXP=1162184006/**http%3a//www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/wong/BOT135/LECT12.HTM)
For more just search "ergot poisoning salem"

[Carla O'Harris]

What about the Voodoo element?

[Agaliha]

What about the Voodoo element?

You mean Tituba? What about her?

Tituba was probably an Arawak-speaking Indian. After her birth in Guiana, Tituba was enslaved on the British Caribbean island of Barbados, where she was purchased in 1680 by Samuel Parris. Tituba and the rest of the Parris' household moved from Boston to Salem Village, Massachusetts around 1689 so that Samuel could pursue a career as a minister. As Tituba had been known in the town to tell tales of omens, voodoo, and witchcraft from her native folklore, she was among the first to be accused of witchcraft along with Sarah Good and Sarah Osborn. She was the first to confess to witchcraft and, as in the case of all who made confessions, was not executed.
Tituba - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geuqRPQkRFK7QA4ahXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3MWVibzA5BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDOARzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANGNzU0X zEwMQ--/SIG=11ng3j1vl/EXP=1162187727/**http%3a//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tituba)

Tituba wasn't killed and therefore it can be said that all the people killed were Christians. Not sure if that's what you were meaning or not.

[Xentor]

Interesting. The ones who confessed weren't executed? Then what did happen to them? Were they getting "treatment" of any kind? Expelled maybe? (I didn't read the Wikipedia article, maybe it's in there?)

[Djiril]

Interesting. The ones who confessed weren't executed? Then what did happen to them? Were they getting "treatment" of any kind? Expelled maybe? (I didn't read the Wikipedia article, maybe it's in there?)

From what I remember, the logic went that if they confessed, that meant the had resisted the Devil since the Devil wanted them to lie. Not that a lot of logic was involved in the situation.

http://www.iath.virginia.edu/salem/further.html


As the documents reveal, the magistrates were successful in obtaining dozens of confessions of witchcraft, which meant testifying to having made a covenant with the Devil. The records show that 47 people confessed to witchcraft, and many did so when it was apparent that confession would put off a trial. This was an unprecedented exception to the law pertaining to capital offenses. Much persuasion and some torture was used to make people confess to a covenant with the Devil. All those who confessed were saved, whereas those who maintained their innocence were executed. This, again, was unprecedented legal procedure. When some confessors recanted their false confessions, for reasons of conscience, serious doubts about the confessions of others were raised, and the legal process called into question.

[Evendusk]

The impression I get from this article is that the writer has had a run in with at least one fluffy bunny. Maybe an ex-girlfriend, which would explain his tone.

[River]

"Wiccans sometimes adopt more nature-centric names such as "Lady Foxwind Moontree." Lame, huh?"










Funny cuz it's true
:yikess: