Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Timeless

The past few weeks I've been stitching away on the The Primitive Needle's Salem Remembered. I have friends that say, "what's up with you and the whole witch thing". Well what happened in Salem back in 1692 represents the worst in human nature, all of our deepest, darkest weaknesses.

As far as the witch thing, well I grew up with Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. I want to believe that there is magic in everyday life, whatever form it takes. It's more often than not the smile of a new baby, the first bloom of a flower. There is magic all around you and you just have to take a minute, open your eyes and see it. Sunrise, sunset, a miracle every single day.

I want you to look at the year at the top of this sampler. 1692.




Now check out these news stories:

Child Witches: Accused in the Name of Jesus - ABC News

BBC News Africa Child witches in the Congo

As a world we've come a long way haven't we? I was sick last week when I caught the story on ABC News. Here I am stitching away on Salem Remembered and half a world away, hundreds of years later, people's problems are being blamed on witchcraft and the people being blamed are too young to have a freakin' clue about what is going on. You know, life is hard, life is pain, bad things happen. Your grinder is going to break and it's not because your five year old is a witch.

Here is a link to information on the Salem Witchcraft Trials:

An account of the Salem witchcraft investigations, trials, and aftermath.

What is going on in Africa today is no different than what happened here a few hundred years ago.

Here's a link to National Geographic's Salem site:

National Geographic: Salem Witch-Hunt-- and here's a link to the kid's site:


The Salem Witch Trials -- National Geographic Kids

As much as we like to believe the world has come along way since the days of Way Back When, we haven't. It's much easier to blame your troubles on everyone else and toss in a good mix of greed from these so-called ministers and everyone loses except the ministers charging for their exorcism services.

So when someone tells you cross stitch is obsolete, out of date, has no relevance today, well Salem Remembered is more current than I ever imagined.




7 comments:

Margaret said...

I love this piece. It really is relevant today, much as one hopes that it's not. It's so sad what's happening in Africa.

Brigitte said...

I love what you are stitching. I've read several books about what happened in Salem and I agree that this piece of cross stitch is far from being obsolete or out of date. It reminds us of something that has really happened. Such a memory can never be out of date.

Mel said...

This is a fantastic piece indeed!
And mostly... people are just horrible. They will find any reason, whether true or not, to condemn others to make themselves feel better.

Missy Ann said...

And what also troubles me are the people that are right here in this country that call for Harry Potters' "death". I hear one more time "shall not suffer a witch to live" I think I'll puke.

Michelle said...

I love this piece...your progress is beautiful. And we do kid ourselves if we think this thing no longer happens. Look at The Crucible - it was timely then as well.

Julie said...

I saw this piece several months ago and thought it was extremely interesting and designed tastefully. You are making excellent headway with it. I would like to stitch this one myself.

Tanya said...

I love Primitive Needle designs.
What you say is so true. History is history whether it happened yesterday or in 1692. I hope to stitch this design soon. Such sad news in Africa.