Albino the Other White Meat

Albino the Other White Meat

by shannon | Published on October 19th, 2009, 11:04 am | Life

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8296495.stm

Wow! It's a good thing my mother in law was born in America. I was completely unaware that this was an issue. While we can sit here and believe that using body parts from albino people for witchcraft is quite a primitive idea we are dealing with people like Judge Keith Bardwell right here in the U.S. Seems worldwide, the color of skin is an issue whether we like to admit it or not.

I just can't believe that this lady is scarce on alternative options. She will never be able to live without trauma and fear if she goes back to her village. How sad the world is that even at home we survive without peace?

Wow. Talk about self-control: going for a whole year without murdering any albinos. They must be so proud of themselves to have restrained their desire for love potions. No wonder the government thinks this woman should be evicted from her safe house.
:banana-fingers:

What gets me is this drive by humans -- a rather primitive drive, I expect -- to de-humanize those who are different from themselves. It drives me nuts. What's the point of having so many different countries, religions and sports teams? So that we can say "our group is better than that other group," that's why. Skin color is at least a non-imaginary means of separating people into classes. It's arbitrary (I've seen "Black" people who had very light skin and "Whites" with skin that looked like tanned leather) and just as ridiculous, but by and large, it's real. And divisive.

And this whole thing about the suspects who got off from their charges in this attack... this woman's family fears they will get revenge from them and their families...? For accusing them of a crime? I could understand if they were indeed innocent, that they'd be miffed. But if they did carry out the attack -- shouldn't THEY be worried about revenge being exacted against THEM? Of course not! They merely were trying to harvest animal parts so they could get those good old-timey potions! :roll:

This story makes me sick. Not just for the plight of this poor woman and her family, but for the whole ugliness of human nature that it indicates.

It's what happens when superstition runs rampant.

Unfortunately there are many people in America who do believe in witches, demons and possession. Some even post here.

It's only a thin veneer of civilization that prevents them from getting their pitchforks and torches. As it is exorcisms (which often become violent or abusive) are not infrequent.

Oh the things I could do to Liv with a voodoo doll. hmmm......

Ironically I found this from my home town today. While we're not chopping her and my mother in law up for good luck, even here this little girl is living with unnecessary drama. I always tell my kids that our differences are what make us special. How can I raise them to believe this when clearly differences make us targets?

These parents must feel so frustrated with the public. I know that it is something we have gotten a taste of with Serenity having to wear her eye patch. It's a given from kids, but I am shocked by the times the adults make a big deal about it right in front of her like she's not even there. Complete strangers walking up to us asking about it. Like it's any of their business. There are some rude people out there.

Interesting... albinism affects 1 in 17,000, and most people will go through their entire lives without meeting anyone with that condition. Meaning that (on average) we probably meet less than 17,000 people in our lives, I guess.

Speaking of rude strangers... On my last vacation, we encountered a young girl at the place we were staying. She was in a wheelchair, and had casts on both of her forearms. Half of her hair was gone, so my GUESS was that she was suffering from some form of cancer. I never found out because I didn't think it was any of my business to ask. Or to stare. When we shared a table with her at a class for making painted mugs, we interacted with her the same way we interacted with the other kid at the table... we gave suggestions on her efforts with the mug, complimented her on her result, and so on.

I'd like to think that this was a normal experience for her, that we didn't stare or make comments that she could overhear and be offended by -- but I rather doubt it.

shannon wrote:Oh the things I could do to Liv with a voodoo doll. hmmm......

Did Liv just scream and jump?

I created a bread dough voodoo poppet and dedicated it in the approved manner, so at precisely 2:19 EST Liv should have felt a sharp pain in the rear.

: Liv Ouch!

Damn and I thought that was just the jalapeno bread.

You must be feeling a little hot right now, about 375F to be precise.

SouthernFriedInfidel wrote:...we shared a table with her at a class for making painted mugs...

Uh.... how old are you?

A Person wrote:It's what happens when superstition runs rampant.

Unfortunately there are many people in America who do believe in witches, demons and possession. Some even post here.

It's only a thin veneer of civilization that prevents them from getting their pitchforks and torches. As it is exorcisms (which often become violent or abusive) are not infrequent.

Harming or killing another person because your beliefs, superstitions, etc make it okay? I guess to some degree it's in our nature to put self before others though there's always some feel-good story or another out there when someone does something "heroic" and risks (or even loses) his or her life for another person.

I don't know much about wicca, but I remember hearing about the wiccan rede:
(via http://www.religioustolerance.org/wicrede.htm)

Overview:
The Wiccan Rede is the rule governing Wiccan behavior. It permits Wiccans to engage in any carefully considered action, as long as it harms nobody, including themselves. The Rede is reinforced by the Threefold Law. This is the belief that any harm or good that a Wiccan does to someone else comes back to hurt or benefit them -- magnified three times over. Both are mentioned in the Wiccan Credo, a poem about Wicca whose origin is unclear.

The Wiccan Credo:
The Wiccan Credo is a Wiccan poem. Some Wiccans believe that it was written circa 1910 CE by Adriana Porter. Others suggest that it was created during the very early years of Gardnerian Witchcraft, during the 1940s and 1950s. 1 It includes the text of the main Wiccan rule of behavior, the Wiccan Rede, and a reference to the Threefold Law.

The third last stanza refers to the Threefold Law. It states, in part:

"Mind the Threefold Law you should,
Three times bad and three times good."

The end of the Credo contains one version of the Wiccan Rede. It reads:

"Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An' it harm none,
Do what ye will.
Blessed Be to thee."

...

The Rede states that a Wiccan is free to do what ever they want to, as long as it does not harm themselves or anyone else. Harm is normally considered to include manipulation, domination, attempts to control, physically injure, emotionally harm, or hurt another person or group in any way.

To me it sounded like another version of "the golden rule"... and was just another thing that secured me on a path that doesn't include organized religion.

BecauseHeLives wrote:
SouthernFriedInfidel wrote:...we shared a table with her at a class for making painted mugs...

Uh.... how old are you?

Old enough not to feel that a craft class is beneath my dignity.

A Person wrote:You must be feeling a little hot right now, about 375F to be precise.

Freezing my butt off lately.... actually right now isn't too bad... went up to mid 70s today... but we've had a "no heat" rule in effect and it's been cold lately....

Had socks, jammies, my cardigan, my threddies, and a blanket on the last few days....

Which reminds me....

where's my scarf?

Maybe your voo-doo does the opposite of what it's supposed to.... Anyhow can you do some positive voo doo for me? Like that which involves, paychecks, and EU citizenship?

Liv wrote:Maybe your voo-doo does the opposite of what it's supposed to....

I must be a white witch. "Warlocks" I hear you reply, but it's true.

Liv wrote:Anyhow can you do some positive voo doo for me? Like that which involves, paychecks, and EU citizenship?

Hmm, To do that I would have to create a poppet and remove some of your money from it. OK, send me some money and I'll have a go

My life is like a country song... no money, no insurance, .....