27692: K. White (comment) Re: 27663: Ogou: (comment) RE: Human sacrifices (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: librisia@comcast.net

Aside from the fact that there is no proof that this head was severed as part
of
a human sacrifice, Ockham's Razor states that there is a much simpler
alternative.  Compare:

1.  Human sacrifice option requirements: kidnapping, ceremony,
sacrifice/decapitation, transport/sale of head, head brought to U.S..

2. Grave robbing option requirements: decapitation of corpse, transport/sale of
head, head brought to the U.S..

Also, the text of the news article suggests that the head was old - "still had
hair and skin" - meaning that it was unlikely fresh.  Also, in order to amp up
the fantastical nature of the story, fellow passengers or airline workers would
have been asked if they had smelled anything.  No mention was made of anyone
commenting on odor either in the airplane or in the air port - implying that
the head was pretty well dessicated and thus would not smell (at least not
noticeably).  No mention was made of any attempt to match the head with missing
persons - implying that identification would be difficult or the authorities
saw no urgent need for identification - which would again suggested an advanced
state of dessication.  Of course, all of this requires a certain reading of the
text, but it's no more interpretive than a definitive statement that the head
was part of a human sacrifice.

It is so much easier to steal a head from a tomb than to kidnap and murder a
living human being in order to get a head.  Why do something the hard way when
you can accomplish the same thing with more simplicity?

My understanding of zombie lore is that the person creating a 'zombie astral'
need not murder an individual to make him or her a zombie.  Is that correct?
Again, the theft of human remains would be a much easier alternative than
kidnap/physical murder.

Please, anyone with more knowledge than myself, feel free to correct my
assumptions.

I admit, my own bias is to regard stories of human sacrifice in Haiti with
scepticism (like that big Satanic baby sacrifice scare in the U.S. during the
1980s).  I'm not saying it doesn't happen (because I've got not proof that it
doesn't), but I would wager that, if it DOES happen, it's not as common
occurrence as Mr. Ogou Ferraile suggests.

K.