#2476: The Toledo Blade Slams Haitian Traditional Religion (fwd)

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From:Racine125@aol.com

Hi Mike!  In your recent article at 
http://www.toledoblade.com/editorial/kelly/0b22kell.htm, "Getting some 
supernatural help at work", you wrote,

"Voodoo also features various types of "hexes" or "spells," many of them 
involving the use of a doll, which symbolizes the person on whom the spell is 
being cast. By sticking pins into the doll, the person whom the doll 
represents will suffer whatever nasty fate the one wielding the pins wants 
him to."

Now, Mike, I know you are trying to be entertaining, but this just isn't 
true.  Dolls are NOT a part of Vodou, and Vodou is a religion, not a system 
of magic.  Dolls are used in European magic, so when propaganda is created to 
defame Haiti and it's majority religion, people who don't know any better 
draw on these dated images.

How would you like it if we went around describing Roman Catholics as 
"ceremonial cannibals and vampires", because you believe you consume the Body 
and Blood of Christ during a Holy Communion service?  I think you should 
hurry up and enter the 20th century - the rest of the world has already 
entered the 21st!  These dirty, degrading stereotypes of our religion serve 
only to vilify innocent people practicing the faith that their ancestors have 
preserved for generations.  We deserve more respect than that, Mike.  You 
can't slam Jews or Muslims, because they have wealth and power in the USA and 
internationally, but Vodouisants are fair game?  Shame.

Peace and love,

Bon Mambo Racine Sans Bout Sa Te La Daginen

"Se bon ki ra", 
     Good is rare - Haitian Proverb

The VODOU Page - <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/racine125/index.html";>http://
members.aol.com/racine125/index.html</A>