Examination of a Witch by T. H. Matteson, inspired by the Salem witch trials (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I’m writing this in view of a post I read yesterday about the recent death of Margaret Thatcher where one blogger called her a witch. My post is NOT based on the former prime minister but on why women are prone to being called witches, whether they are one or not.
I don’t want to start a debate about witchcraft, whether it exists or not nor whether you believe in God or not. Again, let me reiterate another fact, I don’t want this post to be long, so I’ll try to cram everything in as quickly as I can.
I watched a program recently on National Geographical channel (the few times I now watch TV) where Heinrich Kramer, an infamous witch hunter purportedly wrote ”The Malleus Maleficarium,” in 1486. Heinrich changed the thinking of generations of people in Europe and it’s alleged that over 60,000 innocent women died based on his ‘how to’ manual in capturing a witch.
‘Such graphic figures,’ you may exclaim but it’s true! Women were burnt at the stake based on the views of one eccentric man, a man who believed he knew it all. Many times, we’ve maligned people unjustly and unfairly (I’m not excluding myself from the bunch) We’ve all done it one time or the other and I think it’s fair to say, we’re not perfect.
Heinrich Kramer is dead, but he left a horrible scent of his evil journal, one wise woman said, ‘there is good in us all, we only need to look deeper.’
I hope we can find truth in those simple words.
Thanks for reading my post.
Much love, always! 🙂
Seyi Sandra David 
Quite a touchy topic but well written nonetheless! Good job Ms. Seyi Sandra David.
Thank you, some words must be written!
Well said!
“Wise women” aka witches I revere. The word is also used in sundry other ways. cf. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=witch
Interesting post Seyi sandra, though I’m not sure exactly what the point is that you’re trying to make.
For me, the ugliness of that sordid aspect of history raises so many questions, and I doubt that the way history records the tip of the iceberg as to the motivation of it all . . . and the only thing I can say for certain i that there is nothing natural about it, nor is there anything ‘supernatural’ about it . . . and yet it happened.
My point is simple, people malign other people just because they wanted to, not because such people are necessarily bad! Women have been tagged as witches as long as I could remember! Since the existence of mankind I believe!
Well there’s no argument here . . . not sure it goes that far back though. The strange is not just the man you mention, but also how so many will follow that kind of insanity . . . now we don’t need witches to conquer – we have the “war on terror”.
I get your point Ben, the post came nonetheless, it just whipped up Kramer’s witch hunt (since 1486) Your post was just a catalyst not the reason for my post. Thanks for your visit!
Cheers. 🙂
Thank you for this post Seyi. Some people believe that witches exist today, and I am not going to discount that. Someone having a reputation doesn’t cause them to be something. Admittedly that person probably wanted to use a more polite word than the one they wanted, but your post proves – that’s not the point.
Thanks again
Thanks for reading Alastair, hanging onto other people’s reputation like a leech when every one has their own short comings is downright deceptive. I’m glad you got the gist of my post!
🙂
I did. It was a
I get it dear friend! 🙂 🙂
It’s often forgotten, of course, that men used to be called witches too; but the witch crazes were so successful (?) that now only women get called them. Ah.
Yeah you’re right, ‘men witches’ are called wizards! Glad you saw the humour in my post. Thanks for your visit.
Cheers. 🙂
Wow, that is so sad. Superstition will always be bring about horrible things, because people aren’t grounded in the truth. Thanks for this post.
Yes Teryn, superstition has ruined many people’s lives, but we can actually make a better world! Thanks for your visit!
🙂
Hi Seyi,
Great post and what really resonated with me is your parting line, ” ‘there is good in us all, we only need to look deeper.’
As you think of Mr. Kramer today, what do you see? What could have motivated him to write his “How to” book? Was it an inherent need to prove his dominance over the female of the species? Or did the action stem from some insecurity?
I remain curious.
Shakti
You sum it up pretty well Shakti, in the documentary I watched, Kramer believed women are the embodiment of evil, that they tempt men to commit mortal sin but that didn’t justify his assertion that if a woman laughed too loud, she was a daughter of the devil and must be burnt at the stake. You can Google his name or click on the link to his name on the post and you’ll read the full story. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!
Blessings. 🙂
There were many things about Margaret Thatcher as I don’t like at all, but it had absolutely nothing to do with that she was a woman – it was her attitude to many things, as example her close relationship to chilean Pinochet and Mugabe ( Zimbabwe) – Thatcher wasn’t a witch, not at all, I like actually witches… 🙂
Calling women “witch” – typically the lack vocabulary us men have to fight against… 😉
You’re right, I don’t agree with many of her policies and she came across as anti-feminist, hard and harsh. All the same, I’m just concerned with the way we’re quick to point accusing fingers at people that’s all. The bottom line is… we’re all fallible. Thanks for your visit!
😉
Poor Adolf? Poor Stalin? Poor Pol Pot?To be fallible is one thing, but is not there a line to be drawn at some point?
Definitely, those guys you mentioned are what I call diseased souls! Telling a few fibs, stealing apples and making ‘normal’ mistakes comes with the baggage of being, ‘human,’ hence the fallibility factor. There’s absolutely nothing ‘poor’ about those men, they are evil, period.
People who claim to know what’s best for everyone are capable of doing horrific things. They prey on the fear of people who want to please God. Witch hunts seem so long ago, but in reality, it still happens. It just takes a new form.
Great post!
Exactly! You sum it up well, witch hunting is still very much around, where people preys upon their own kind! Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings. 🙂
Good one, sis. I think the word ‘witch’ is a common line often used around here–whether proven or not. What disturbs me is that some people are quick to seek out faults, so they could either please or make a name for themselves. I love your parting line. It wraps this all so nicely.
You got it right Uzoma, people are quick to see faults and we’re simply fallible, each and every one of us!
Thanks for your visit and comment!
Blessings. 🙂
God made women as partners…not property. Men and women were made for mutual respect and love….not exploitation and control.
You’re right Ike! Thanks for your comment!
Margaret Thatcher was my heroine, witch or not.
That’s a bold thing to say, I admire some things about her too. Thanks for your visit!
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Thanks!
It starts with treatment of women based on grotesque distortions (e.g., Thatcher character in Spitting Image), and proceeds with those burned at the stake over misunderstandings, irrational fears, easy accusations. And who can forget that some were murdered because of jealousy. Thoughtful post, and good painting selection.
Thanks Adam, I’m glad you like it! You’re right, many were indeed killed based on jealousy! It’s just the horrible way of the world we live in! Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
The deficiencies, and how fickle humanity can be about itself in unfounded reasoning through poor witness, and maligned evidence. I think it still goes on today, with a myriad of derivatives, to sequester on a much wider scale the fear of what the few don’t like, and broadcast it to convert the masses to their disjointed ways of thinking. To something far beyond the misconception of witches, and witchcraft today, for it is a foul world that blights its women and others for no reason, but because they can from both high, and low places, and all that is in between. Loved the write, Sandra, there is a lot of history in the topic, and much of it still is shrouded in a fog.
You’re right Sean, most of it is still shrouded in a fog! I just hate the way people are quick to judge others in what they perceived as ‘wrong.’ Thanks for your thoughtful comment!
It’s so easy for some to twist and snare the simple truth in words. I am glad that you wrote on this! Even though women have come along way, I am still not satisfied with where we are placed in the corners of society. Beautiful words, as always. 🙂
Thank you, you’re right! I don’t like where we are in society. But as always, we’ll have to fight our corners. I’m glad you like the post!
🙂
Ja es ist gut das die Zeit der Hexenverbannung vorbei ist,es gab da so viel Unglück ,das sieht man wieder wie grausam Menschen sind so wie heute auch ,nur wird es anders ausgedrückt ein sonnigen Tag wünsche ich dir
Thanks for your insightful comment gageier! I’m glad you stopped by!
Cheers. 🙂