While reading stories such as The Crucible, that focus on the Salem witch trials, modern day readers tend to looks at civilians during that time as crazy. We think "who would ever accuse their neighbor of being a witch, so they would be hanged?". Thinking of something like this happening today seems unreal to us. But we can't be so sure that it has not.
For example, during 9/11, a lot of Americans stereotyped Middle-Eastern people as terrorists, just because of one group's actions. In WWII, Japanese Americans were put into concetration camps, just because of their race. Americans feared that they were harmful to the country, when they were just living their daily lives in America. This is extremely similar to what happened in Salem, MA. Innocent people were wrongly accused, and in turn their freedom and justice was sacrificed. In Salem, almost anyone, on any given day could be accused of doing witch craft.
If something like 9/11 happened now, concerning one specific group of people, the same type of situation could come about again on any race or religion of people.
These incidents did not happen too long ago. Who are we to say that something similar to the Salem witch trials will not happen again?
Nice post, I agree with you how things like this occur today and we can't be blind and think it doesn't. Also, things like things will continue no matter what we do, its part of a way of life I guess. But we must try our best to try to stop things like this from happening. Good article!!!
Posted by: Louis A. | 10/08/2009 at 10:24 PM
I really like the way you brought the allegory into more modern terms than the McCarthy era, or the Salem witch trials. I don't know if I would entirely agree that the crucible is about stereotyping so much alienating.
Posted by: Cai L. | 10/08/2009 at 10:51 PM
You had some great connections to some closer history that we know more about so it's easier to relate. I really like your question at the end of your blog. It really makes me think and wonder what America would be like if people just started accusing each other of terrorism or communism...that would be bad.
Posted by: Kevin B. | 10/08/2009 at 11:36 PM
I think that you analyzed the situation in an interesting and thought-provoking way. It really makes me think if humanity will ever stop accusing people for one incident that a type of person may have done. I think that these differences make people feel comfortable with them and alienating others makes them seem like higher beings.
Posted by: Carmen P. | 10/09/2009 at 12:47 AM