Return of the Scarlet Letter

Modern day witch trials

This article is not going to lean one way politically, although for some readers it is going to seem that way. The article will sway left to right, and back again, like Poe’s pendulum of death. Not all the references are from the same story, yet they share a common theme.

I grew up in Massachusetts in the 70’s. In elementary school, we would take class field trips to the Salem Witches Museum. It was fun, and a little scary. I was pretty young, but from what I remember, it was very dark, with some red back lighting, and cheesy wax mannequins.

Back then we marveled at how human nature could be so crazy. We thought this was an isolated incident in an over zealous small town.

Years later as an adult, I read several books on the subject. I thought those people must be fairly stupid. Good thing it happened over 300 years ago. Losers! (chuckling in my Homer Simpson voice).

In about the year 2000, I was living in Alamogordo, and attending the local community college. I was taking a class on children’s literacy, because I was considering teaching. The main church in town was right next door. I don’t think the liberal college and conservative church cared for each other.

The barefoot teacher in a long skirt walked in with a fair chip on her shoulder. Apparently something had been brewing, that I was unaware of. She put a book on her table, and announced that we would be reading a Harry Potter book in class. Several students got up, walked out, and quit the class.

I don’t remember the exact length, but some time later the church held a bonfire book burning. It started with Harry Potter books, and then other people had more suggestions. Next came Lord of the Rings, and then Black Sabbath albums, etc.

There was a fairly robust and civil protest across the street, however the bonfire received most of the attention on TV coverage.

It’s ironic that the preacher was wearing a black bowler hat, under a full moon, with a bonfire in the background. Looked pretty evil, like a character in a Stephen King book.

As I mentioned before, I mocked those people in Salem. However, I have now realized that we are the same people and society. Many characters in the original Salem trials were not stupid people. They were Harvard graduates, spoke several languages, and knew more about physics, chemistry, biology, civil government and law, than most citizens living today.

There are many houses in New England that are still standing from the 1600’s, and you can still tour them. In the middle of the day there are creaking floors, candle light, drafts and whistling winds, drooping glass that has sagged and distorted outdoor images, clouding skies next to a turbulent grey coast. Pretty scary, even in the middle of the day. I can’t imagine how terrifying night time must have been.

Should we give those Salem residents a break on ridicule? Infant mortality was much higher back then. What caused that to happen? Spells? Specters?

There are other theories to explain what happened in Salem. One is that the local rye was infected with a fungus, after an especially wet year in the marshes. The fungus in question produced seizures and hallucinations, similar to the afflictions the citizens suffered.

Other accounts don’t match this as well. Accusations started to grow like wildfire. When they started to reach people higher in government, the accusers were reminded of slander laws. Conveniently, some of the accusations started to recede from that direction.

Fast forward 330 years, and there have been discussions about interning people, or ruining careers, for questioning the vaccines. Granted, the early days were full of fear, but that is the common theme over the ages. Fear and ignorance.

Were vaccine passports a scarlet letter in reverse? You were denied participation in society unless you signed off.

A few weeks ago, a citizen testified before a congressional hearing, which had nothing to do with taxes. A few hours after that hearing, that individual was visited at his home by an IRS agent. Coincidence? Or a message from the Spanish Inquisition.

Is our current government, 330 years after Salem, a modern day Court of Oyer and Terminer?

If so, that’s scary as hell.