Witchcraft

This week in American Studies we started reading the play “The Crucible”. The Puritan society described in this play is run by religion. In Act 1 hysteria has broken out over “witchcraft”. Ironically, haven't I heard this alarm go off in 2010 America? In the recent political election there was a candidate named Christine O’Donnell. She is a Tea Party Republican from Delaware who was running for the Senate. Christine O’Donnell in 1999 appeared on Bill Maher’s “Politically Incorrect” where she said, “I dabbled in witchcraft.” The media and the political pundits ate this statement up. Responding to the media air horn, one of the first things Christine O’Donnell’s 2010 campaign commercial feels the need to clarify is, “I am not a witch”. (watch campaign commercial click here)

There is so much hysteria in our current political field. To me it seems counter productive and in a way turns me off of our entire political system. The superficial drama generated by the media to sell media does not do anything to benefit our country. It does not help the struggling American citizens and in fact works to stir up emotions of fear, frustration, disgust and divisiveness. The system pits one side against the other in a black and white choice never imagining moderately working together in rational compromise.

The hysteria in the Crucible tore their community apart. Tituba, the black slave is associated with the town's young girls who are caught dancing and chanting in the woods. This scandalous behavior is so threatening to the ministerial reputation of Reverend Parris that he stokes up the paranoia and fear. His power in the community enables others to jump on the band wagon. Neighbors suspect neighbors, logic is lost and fear creeps into every judgment. Each individual that has their own personal problem or agenda finds an opportunity to vent their frustration and anger. Your beliefs are either Christian or Satanic and there is nothing in between.

When I watch politicians during this last campaign the frenzy got as deranged as 1692, Salem add to it 2010 technology. The only protection we have is education, moderation and a good sense of humor. That is why I loved Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert's "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear". At that rally, Jon Stewart said, "If everything is amplified you can't hear anything". He was referring to the media coverage of the election. Now I know (mainly from talking with my Republican grandfather) some people find the humor of Stewart and Colbert biased too. I get it. But Stewart made the analogy of driving in traffic through toll booths and tunnels, we all have to compromise and take our turn. We have to look hard for the facts and listen to opposing viewpoints.