Every now and then, the avid news reader clicks on a link or opens up a newspaper and is faced with something so strange that it simply cannot be comprehended. As we have seen recently, this seems to happen quite often in MSM coverage of religion.
So here we go again.
This bizarre Associated Press story, as sent to us by a faithful reader in Pittsburgh, is quite short. Thus, let me share — brace yourself — the whole thing:
PHILADELPHIA — An animal welfare official says a beheaded dog and cat found in Philadelphia appear to be the result of a ritual sacrifice.
George Bengal, Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals director of investigations, said the dog and cat were found … near a bike path in Philadelphia’s Olney neighborhood along with three beheaded chickens. He said he believes the animals were killed elsewhere and the remains dumped where a passer-by found them.
Mr. Bengal said there is usually an increase in ritual animal sacrifices at this time of year because of “a lot of high holidays that different groups celebrate.”
But he said most of those sacrifices involve goats and chickens.
Say what? Let’s read that quote again, the one in which it is claimed that the number of ritual animal sacrifices spike at this time of year because of “a lot of high holidays that different groups celebrate.”
Now, it is true that this strangeness takes inside quotation marks so, on one level, AP is off the hook. But what in the world are these words supposed to mean? Are we to believe that there is a wave of beheaded animal corpses because of (a) the arrival of Advent/Nativity Lent, (b) approaching observances of Hanukkah, (c) Kwanzaa festivities, (d) some alleged connection to Solstice? Is the goal to link this to voodoo or something?
But before you go there, please note that the story says absolutely nothing that would point toward Santeria and, even if it did, there is no discussion of whether these sacrifices in any way fit patterns of worship in that tradition. You see, it’s wrong for journalists to say, “Behold, beheaded animals. Those Santeria people are at it again.” That’s too simplistic.
So let me ask the obvious question and ask readers to weigh in: Precisely what “high holidays” are we supposed to assume are being discussed here? I honestly do not have a clue.
What does this strange sentence mean? Just asking.
 | Posted at 8:46 pm |  Print
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Comments (8) |
November 19, 2009, at 9:56 pm
Turkeys? I mean it’s awfully close to Thanksgiving. But that’s not generally regarded as a ritual religious slaughter.
I honestly don’t think the reporter had any idea of what the words were supposed to mean. Nor did the guy who said it.
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November 19, 2009, at 10:34 pm
Wow? If I’d heard that I would have had afollow-up question or ten. I bet this reporter did, too. I think this deformed story must be laid at the feet of an editor who had to juggle some serious space constraints.
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November 20, 2009, at 9:41 am
Terry, this is the kind of coverage neoPagans have come to expect from the MSM when mutilated animal remains are found. It’s a broken record (if I’m not dating myself too much with that metaphor).
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November 20, 2009, at 10:04 am
DAVE:
What is your take on the questions that journalists SHOULD have asked about this scene, this event?
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November 20, 2009, at 10:40 am
Poor journalism,the writer and editors choise to quote the city official statement is sensationalist at best.The scope of the article permeates a prejudice in the part of the city officer and implied endorsement by the writer and editor who leave it at that.
Unfortunate ,in a city of multiple creeds and faiths.Offensive for its bias tone .
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November 20, 2009, at 1:31 pm
Terry, if the community is multicultural enough to have practitioners of Afro-Caribbean paths, at least one reporter should be familiar enough with that scene to know whom in it to ask about any animal findings.
In any event, the reporter should ask any police official or “expert” what evidence they have if they assert a connection to Santeria or whatever. The same as if the official had blamed Jews or Catholics or Masons.
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November 21, 2009, at 5:11 pm
I hope the reporter DID ask more questions of Mr. Bengal.Simple ones, like,”Oh, what high holidays do you mean?” and, “Which groups celebrate those holidays?” As it stands, it either shouldn’t have been run as a news tidbit with that quote, or should have been run with additional questions asked and answered in the story.
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November 26, 2009, at 10:15 pm
The first thing that springs to mind is teenagers playing pranks, and I hope these animals were dead to begin with. If it’s a serious nut job who is doing it then this is a very cruel act that needs to be stopped and punished.
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