MODERN-DAY VERSION OF THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS

The Salem witch trials reveal striking similarities to our present-day war
on drugs. Both were/are fueled by fear, not logic. The war on drugs is
waged against substances deemed to "possess" individuals, either causing
them to become evil or deliver death. The war on witches was against
spirits declared to produce the same results. Both were/are moralistic in
their declaration of saving humanity from sin by destroying a menace.

In reality, both were/are attacks on individuals, free will and choice. The
tactics used in seeking out violators are the same. Enforcers must hunt.
During the war on witches, those admitting guilt were given reduced
sentences while those declaring innocence obtained harsher sentences.

Under either plea, the government confiscated the assets of the accused.
Prosecutors were more interested in conviction than truth. Acquaintances
were persuaded to snitch. In federal drug cases, every one of these same
tactics are used today.

Both wars result in overcrowded prisons and favor conviction over
rehabilitation. Both demonize the accused and financially and physically
destroy families. Oddly, they both turn a deaf ear and instantly demonize
individuals requesting consideration of alternative solutions. They brand
them as either pro-drug or pro-Satan and play on public fear to maintain
the status quo.

When a prominent governor's daughter was accused of being a witch, it was
declared a private matter and never entered the courts. Today we have
examples of this same practice in Noelle Bush and Rush Limbaugh. When
poverty-stricken villagers were accused, a conviction nearly always ensued.
Nothing has changed.

Mankind is still allowing a fear of spell-binding potions to overrule
common sense. History will not be kind to us. They will sigh at our
ignorance, bemuse our blind insanity and eventually vindicate our accused.

MARIE CALDWELL, Biloxi