Salem - the Witch Trials
In 1692, led by the hysterical accusations of a handful of bored Puritan teenage girls, over 150 innocent men and women were accused and imprisoned under the charge of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Of those, 29 went to trial and all were found guilty. It was a true kangaroo court: The girls came to court to accuse their ‘tormentors’ and would often throw hysterical fits, claiming to see the spectral evidence of the devil, sent by the accused to attack them. If a verdict of not guilty was handed down, the testimony from the girls would simply continue until the jury could comfortably settle on a guilty verdict. |
The hysteria began in the home of Reverend Samuel Parris. On cold winter evenings, their daughters and other girls, listened to Tituba's tales of her home country which was filled with stories of magic and the occult. Tituba was a servant to the Parris household and a native of the Barbados. The over-imaginative girls began a chain of events fed by fear, reaching levels beyond their control. Tituba, trying to save herself, agreed that she was the messenger of the devil and so the hysteria began. | From June to September of 1692, 20 innocents were publicly hanged and one was pressed to death under heavy stones. The charge was witchery. Another 5 or more perished due to the deplorable conditions of imprisonment in the witches’ dungeon. Hysteria happened in a big way! Let's remember these innocent victims of mass hysteria, fear & anger. May we learn the lessons of the Salem Witch Trials offer us, and may we, once again, not repeat history. |
The Pilgrims - Plymouth Rock & the Mayflower II
I don't think I need to elaborate on the historical significance of Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower. Thus, I'm just going to show you some photos.
One encounter worthy of mention is our convincing ways to obtain passage when we came across the very first church in Plymouth built nearly 400 years ago, also known as the National Memorial Pilgrim Church.
During the time we arrived, the church was actually closed to the public. However, the front door was ajar and one of the parishioners was coming out as he thought that we were the staff who needed to set the church community center for some sort of event. When he told us that the church is closed, I played the 'most disappointed' tourist who traveled 'all the way from Hawaii' just to see this historical sight and whined that 'I probably won't ever have the chance to be here again'.
Well, he actually stayed firm, but when Allan gave him his camera so that he can take a few inside pictures for us while we wait outside, he really felt sorry for us and..... we got a personal tour... WOO HOO!
One encounter worthy of mention is our convincing ways to obtain passage when we came across the very first church in Plymouth built nearly 400 years ago, also known as the National Memorial Pilgrim Church.
During the time we arrived, the church was actually closed to the public. However, the front door was ajar and one of the parishioners was coming out as he thought that we were the staff who needed to set the church community center for some sort of event. When he told us that the church is closed, I played the 'most disappointed' tourist who traveled 'all the way from Hawaii' just to see this historical sight and whined that 'I probably won't ever have the chance to be here again'.
Well, he actually stayed firm, but when Allan gave him his camera so that he can take a few inside pictures for us while we wait outside, he really felt sorry for us and..... we got a personal tour... WOO HOO!