The witch trials, a very dark part of american history, happened over 300 years ago. yet, we are still facing one of the major issues of that trial: intolerance. Wheather it had to do with witchcraft at all, which is now doubted, there is no question that the puritains were afraid of anything different, especialy the devil. However, once the people started calling out names, it had more to do with who they didn't like, than who they thought was actualy witched. The first woman named was a homeless person-an outcast from society. One family actualy condemned people with land around their property, so they could get their land when they were hung. It was a horrible place in history,nothing like it has ever happened since, or has it?
In the 40's Arthur Miller wrote "the Crucible" about the trials. but he was inspired by the McCarthy trials- where people were named as comunists, and in order to get free, they needed to name others, just like in Salem. Ok, but the McCarthy trials were a long time ago too. but it's hapening again.
Right now there are Vampire hunts going on in africa. seriously. just as in all the other examples, people are afraid of the unknown. It is a continuing cycle of history repeating itself. when will it end? it wont, because there will always be intolerent people in the world that start these idiotic rings of violence. What is the answer?

The Salem Witch trials weren't really about women being witches or associated with the devil. They strated that whole thing, because they (the Puritans) were afraid the women were becoming too independent.

Just thought I'd mention that.

*Star*

I really don't see this situation in Africa as a cut and dry case of intolerance. The fact is that these people are genuinely afraid...they don't know better. When we look back on the Salem Witch trials we don't view the townspeople as intolerant, as the victims were not targeted because of any real differences, but we view the townspeople as hysterical.

I really don't know who the victims of the hysterical Africans are, but unless they share a characteristic that makes them "outsiders" this is not a case of intolerance, but of hysteria.