Wish I'd known about this earlier

[wendyzski]

...because this makes me all kinds of angry. And a big thank you to stealthbunny for mentioning this to me.

Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George NY is having Fright Fest. Like a lot of the other parks, this features a variety of spooky entertainment.

However, one of the shows listed is a "Witch Hanging" show.
"Based on the story of the Salem witch trials, this slideshow will feature two versions: a day time version based on Monty Python, and a nighttime version that is graphically intense and NOT recommended for children.
Hours: 2:00, 4:30 & 6:00 at Carousel Plaza"

Yeah - because getting a crowd to chant "Burn The Witch" at a teenage girl is a GREAT way to spend a fun-filled evening!

Apparently there have been some letters to the local paper from area Wiccans who are upset by this - partly because of the chanting crowd but also because they were now having to explain a lot of things to their young children that they'd rather have waited a bit for.\

(Besides they are missing the point. Witches aren't scary. CLOWNS are scary!)

You'd think in the day and age, when you can get a pentagram on your military dogtags or your headstone, that people would think twice about putting up this kind of crap.

It's too late to do anything about it for this year, but if any of you are members of more active pagan communities, I think the word should get out about this and letters to both Six Flags and Snickers (the corporate sponsor) should start going out as soon as the show closes.

Comments

[woody-whistler.livejournal.com]

I think us Christians need to express some outrage as well. The Salem witch trials was not exactly a shining moment on the history of Christendom, and to see it turned into a "graphically intense" entertainment spectacle is to rub salt in a lot of wounds that need to be healed.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Whee - let's have a "dress up like a Crusader and torture the infidels" pavilion!

Yeah - ick.

[telaryn.livejournal.com]

That was my first thought. Let's have an Inquisition Pavillion! Oh, and we especially can't forget the centerpiece of it all...

"The Holocaust Show"!

Sheesh.

Passing on - now I have to tell Robin that her favorite candy will no longer be purchased with my money.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

that was the analogy that one of the local letter-writers made. "Would you have a Holocaust slide show as "graphically intense" entertainment?

[ashtalet.livejournal.com]

It was certainly the first thing that came to my mind in response. I would hope that eventually we'll learn that inciting crowds to want someone dead isn't a good idea. There's no precedent for it, though.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

Witches aren't scary. CLOWNS are scary!

Hrm... witches or clowns... I have one relative who is one or bordering on it, and another who is the other.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Heh. Fear of clowns seems nearly universal. The clown room in the Houses ALWAYS smelled of urine.

[raven-ap-morgan.livejournal.com]

This is not funny.

I didn't happen to click on the link, but if you happen to find an address to send letters of protest, believe you me, I'm sure I can rustle up a few...

Raven (annoyed)

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

stealthbunny was not able to find the actual letters to the editor, and I'm not really part of any organized group, but I figured that there were some people on my Flist who would want to be outraged too. I'll post if we find anthing,.

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

How about a Clown Hanging?

[geekymary.livejournal.com]

CLOWNS are scary

HEY!

well, ok, a little bit.

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

OK, we won't hang you.

[geekymary.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Chumley with a chainsaw. 'nuff said.

The clown rooms always smelles like pee.

[geekymary.livejournal.com]

It's the dog's fault.

[rileybear67.livejournal.com]

Hell, Chumley just being himself, sometimes!

aw...

[mustang-bex1126.livejournal.com]

So I saw "Great Escape Lake George New York" and went YAY! I love that place, we used to go there all the time with my cousins... and then saw the REST of it and was all "boooooo! Tact FAIL!"

I also chocked on my water when I read (Besides they are missing the point. Witches aren't scary. CLOWNS are scary!)

I live near the Fernley Veterans' Cemetery where the pentacle controversy was centered, and I was happy to see Sgt. Stewart did have his memorial of choice last fall when we interned my husband's Uncle there. The man lived and died for this Nation, and it's the least we can do to honor and acknowledge the great diversity of the people who lay down and sacrifice for our freedom. Maybe it struck me harder because my best friend is a pagan and is overseas with the Navy currently too. lol

[stealthbunny.livejournal.com]

Actually, this is the second year they've done this particular side show feature. And this is the second year there's been at least one person writing in to the Post Star "letters to the editor" complaining about it. Obviously it didn't do any good the first time, since they did the show AGAIN this year.

I wish I could find the letter from this year, but it was a couple of weeks ago, and it is no longer up on their site, and I'm afraid that issue ... er... lined a bunny litterbox the next day. Which is the main reason WHY I get the paper... for the rabbit box.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Writing to the local paper makes you an "eccentric character" or a "local wierdo", depending.

Writing to the corporate headquarters and getting a lot of other people to do the same - well THAT makes you an activist!