Simpsons Episode Causes Harsh Feelings

Did you catch Simpsons last night? Do you watch Simpsons? So if you missed it the episode was called “Rednecks and Broomsticks”. And it featured rednecks and Wiccans. If you watch the show often you know that they poke fun on just about everything. They have been offensive to some in the past and last night was apparently no different. The basis of the show is that Homer comes across some rednecks w/moonshine. And the rednecks possess every stereotype imaginable. If they didn’t possess it, they addressed it. Anywho Homer gets to enjoying some moonshine and somehow it ends up in the water supply. I kinda forget how, I was totally tweeting while watching. Sorry! Anyhow while out in the boonies Lisa goes for a walk, gets lost, and comes across 3 teens whom are Wiccan. In the course of the show they address every stereotype about Wiccans.

1. They are teenage girls. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard or seen on some message board that a requirement for wicca is that you are under 18 and female. Step in to a ritual and you will find people of various ages and the ones under 18 are there with their parents. The local grove usually has about half of the attendees as male.

2. They were honoring Lilith. Now, I found this one fascinating that they would pick Lilith. I would think Hecate, Morrigan, Cerridwen, or even Brigid would be chosen because I find alot of non-pagans have heard of these goddesses. Instead they chose Lilith and several fundies I have had rounds with have accused me of “cavorting with Lilith whom is a known demon”. Yes, some Christians view Lilith as a demon! Interesting pick you Simpsons people! Now for some of you that may not know about Lilith there is no clear cut explanation. It has been said, and supposedly is in the Torah (and I have yet to read a Torah so I can’t back it up), that Lilith was Adam’s first wife. Supposedly when they went to procreate, Adam got upset that Lilith wanted to be on top. She was too headstrong and cast off to the side and Eve was created. Since then, some Christians have taught that Lilith was a demon trying to possess Adam or something to that effect. Now this doesn’t mean Wiccans don’t honor Lilith as a dark goddess. She is certainly not a demon to us, just the darker side of life (which does not equate to necessarily evil). I personally don’t honor Lilith or have any sort of relationship with her so I am not well versed in Lilith. Oh and where was the God? While Wicca may be seen as a goddess tradition, many honor both….not just one.

3. There is a witch hunt. YEP YEP a witch hunt. In our modern days you just don’t hear about witch hunts in the developed countries. At least not like what was depicted in the toon. Pitchforks, an angry mob, and a dunking chair. When explaining how the dunking chair worked, one could see just how stupid it sounded. Many people these days (with maybe the exception of citizens in Salem, Massachusetts) pretty much brush off witch hunts as old lore. But reality it’s a big part of history. Not so much that we witches should feel persecuted (on the contrary we are far from persecuted) but that human beings being treated in such a harsh manner. And it shouldn’t be forgetten lest we make the same mistake again!

4. Mass hysteria blames the Wiccans. What leads to the witch hunt is that Lisa makes some comment about people being blinded by their closemindedness. Then suddenly large amounts of people go blind. And whom is blamed? The Wiccans of course! Again not something too common place but it has happened in the past. It turns out that the moonshine that made it’s way into the water supply caused massive blindness. It was the cataclyst of the entire episode. Sort of a “see, they aren’t evil and we are so wrong about Wiccans”. Of course the angry mob wanted to avenge something so they had to find something else to be angry about. Another stereotype about the masses.

The Simpsons have never been anything to take absolutely serious. I am not an avid fan or anything but I have watched enough to know that they push the boundaries on everything. As a pagan I would find it hypocritical to be upset about this one episode and not every single episode ever done. Take a look at the next door neighbor, Ned Flanders. A Christian man whom they make fun of just about every show. I mean he was in this one claiming Buddhism leads to witchcraft. Is it ok for us to take offense only at what affects us directly? Or should we be taking offense at everything that affects us indirectly? I may not be Christian but it is a religion. And if we can’t laugh at religion of any kind, including our (or my) own then I should be offended by it all.

It really depends on how you view things. I am not going to knock someone for taking offense, all I am going to ask is are you defending every other group and/or religion that has been targeted by Simpsons? If you are, than I have mad respect for you. If you aren’t, I am going to point out the hypocrisy of it.