NationStates Jolt Archive

I was horrified when I logged into my account today to see the following Issue:

"Recent studies showing that the sources of Valiumnia's most common street crimes (vandalism, muggings, joyriding, and witchcraft) are children under the age of criminal responsibility has prompted a national outcry for government action."

Since when is witchcraft considered a CRIME?

I am respectfully requesting a revision of said Issue to remove the offensive connotation to what is for many, a valid, LEGAL, peaceful religion, and requesting that if this is not the correct place for such a request, that you please let me know where is.

Thank you.

its humor just cool your jets
i dont like the wording on the first choice of this issue

#22: Nazi Sympathizers Plan Rally

The Issue
Far-right-wing Nazi supporters plan to stage a rally in the city center tomorrow, giving voice to their violent, racist views.

The Debate
1. "Frankly, I'm appalled that the government can even consider allowing this travesty to go ahead," says prominent Jewish banker @@RANDOMNAME@@. "We can't let these animals broadcast their message of hate. Surely @@NAME@@ is too civilized for that."

2. "It's exactly because we're civilized that we must let the demonstration proceed," says free speech campaigner @@RANDOMNAME@@. "We may not like what they have to say, but in this society, people have the right to argue whatever political view they want, no matter how hateful, selfish, or stupid it is." i am not an animal

This one caught me totally by surprise. I received a rather irate telegram from a follower of the Wiccan religion who was outraged that witchcraft had been listed as a crime, despite the fact that it still is in most of the world today. That asides, it had never been my intention to offend anyone, I had just thought it would be funny to juxtapose something totally un-streetlike amongst the crimes. I originally considered embezzlement and forgery, but the idea of street punks selling their wares spliced with eye-of-newt and wing-of-bat was too much to resist.

All in all, when people argue with me about issues being politically incorrect I have only one thing to say: it's not me doing it, it's the crazy people you get arguing in the issues!

From his blog, dated 24 April 2005.

And of course the reason I'm posting this here is because I pretty much agree with his argument but was too lazy to type out anything much myself.

From his blog, dated 24 April 2005.At what URL is his blog located? (Sorry about the weird grammar; it's the only correct way.)

First of all, I think there's a difference between something being mentioned as the opinion of one of the characters offering 'solutions' to the dilemma posed, and something stated as part of the problem in the initial text. The argument "it's the crazy people you get arguing in the issues" IMHO does not apply to that initial text, and that's where the reference to witchcraft being a crime is made.

Secondly, "the fact that it still is in most of the world today" is an interesting statement as I'd like to see it backed up in some way. I thought the negative concept of a 'witch' was a western culture invention stemming from the middle ages, and so it is hard to imagine for me that laws forbidding witchcraft would be in force at all outside western countries... and I similarly think that a legal prohibition on being a 'witch' has been removed from the lawbooks in a lot of western countries anyway. Maybe not the USA though ;)

Ballotonia

Ballo, I think you'll find that most of the world where it's considered a "crime" won't have it actually physically listed in any legislation. It was never written down in the U.S. during such times as the Salem witch trial era either.