Samantha Stevens statue in Salem Mass. Appropriate?

[Disney1fan2002]

I think it is tasteless, and agree with someone interviewed on the news, the Salem Witch Trials is a tragic,tragic part of our history, to take a fictional witch character, and put her statue in a town where innocent girls were murdered because they were thought to be witches, is not appropriate, IMO.

Samatha Stevens was a sitcom character. We laughed at Bewitched. Is this statue meant to be a joke?

The company sponsoring the statue said that there is a statue of Mary Tyler Moore in Minneapolis. Great! Was the MTM show set in Minneapolis??? I don't see the connection. Why bring up Mary Tyler Moore?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Didn't see a problem when I read your thread title...then read your post--and kind of agree with you.

Perhaps they are trying to offset the negative history with something positive from pop culture and not poking fun at all.

 

[Charade]

I agree with you.

 

[MsLeFever]

Yup - sounds tacky to me. And also sounds like something to picque interest in the new movie of Bewitched.

 

[Crankyshank]

It's totally inappropriate and I'm still not sure why they want to put it there. The show didn't take place in Salem.

 

[Aneille]

The show didn't place in Salem but there was one episode that I remember where they went back to Salem. I watch a lot of TVLand.

I find it rather tacky and quite silly. It doesn't upset me politically, but I don't see the point at all. If my home town got a Samantha Stevens statue I'd be laughing to hard to care. No really, the whole idea is dumb.

I'm from MA and I have never been to Salem. I have always wanted to go. The history is fascinating but Samantha Stevens isn't going to get me to go there anytime soon. Whose bright idea was this anyway?

 

[Maleficent2]

here's a good link to the trials if you are interested.

http://www.jls.palo-alto.ca.us/virtualmuseum/ushistory/salem2/

Sarah Cloyse jailed for witchcraft but not tried
Abigail Hobbs a confessed witch
Deliverance Hobbs a confessed witch
William Hobbs jailed for witchcraft but died before trial
Tituba a confessed witch
Elizabeth Procter convicted but saved by her pregnancy
Bridget Bishop hanged
George Burroughs hanged
Martha Carner hanged
Martha Corey hanged
Mary Esty hanged
Sarah Godd hanged
Elizabeth How hanged
George Jacobs Sr. hanged
Susanna Martin hanged
Rebecca Nurse hanged
Alice Parker hanged
Ann Pudeator hanged
Wilmot Reed hanged
Samuel Wardwell hanged
Sarah Wilds hanged
John Willard hanged
Giles Corey pressed to death


WITCHES LAMENT


FOR ALL THOSE WHO DIED...

STRIPPED NAKED, SHAVEN, SCORN,
FOR ALL THOSE WHO SCREAMED IN VAIN TO THE GREAT GODDESSS...

ONLY TO HAVE THEIR TONGUES RIPPED OUT BY THE ROOTS.
FOR ALL THOSE WHO WERE PRICKED, RACKED, AND BROKEN ON THE WHEEL FOR THE SINS OF THEIR INQUISITORS.

FOR ALL THOSE WHO'S BEAUTY DRIVED THEIR TORTURERS TO FURY; AND FOR THOSE WHO'S UGLINESS DID THE SAME.

FOR ALL THOSE WHO WERE NEITHER UGLY NOR BEAUTIFUL,
BUT ONLY WOMEN WHO WOULD NOT SUBMIT.

FOR ALL THOSE QUICK FINGERS BROKEN IN THE VICE.
FOR ALL THOSE SOFT ARMS PULLED FROM THE SOCKETS.

FOR ALL THOSE BUDDING BREASTS RIPPED WITH HOT PINCHERS.
FOR ALL THOSE MIDWIFES KILLED MERELY FOR DELIVERING MAN INTO AN IMPERFECT WORLD.

FOR ALL THOSE WITCH WOMEN, MY SISTERS,
WHO BREATHED FREER AS THE FLAMES TOOK THEM,
KNOWING AS THEY SHED THEIR FEMALE BODIES
THAT DEATH ALONE WOULD CLEANSE THEM OF THE SIN OF WHICH THEY DIED...

THE SIN OF BEING BORN A WOMAN WHO IS MORE THAN THE SUM OF HER PARTS.

--ANONYMOUS 16TH CENTURY

Blessed be

Mal

 

[marybet]

I think it is tasteless, and agree with someone interviewed on the news, the Salem Witch Trials is a tragic,tragic part of our history, to take a fictional witch character, and put her statue in a town where innocent girls were murdered because they were thought to be witches, is not appropriate, IMO.

Samatha Stevens was a sitcom character. We laughed at Bewitched. Is this statue meant to be a joke?

The company sponsoring the statue said that there is a statue of Mary Tyler Moore in Minneapolis. Great! Was the MTM show set in Minneapolis??? I don't see the connection. Why bring up Mary Tyler Moore?

The MTM connection is that they are being done by TVLand, and yes the show was set in Minneapolis. I think there is an Andy Griffth one too. I agree, it is a bad idea to put Samantha in Salem.

 

[LadyBears]

I do NOT agree with it!! Salem has a history that didn't include TV witches.

If this was Hollywood - maybe. Salem, MA?? NEVER! I liked the show, but this just is NOT the place to do something like this.........

Why don't they put a statue of Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) next to her while they are at it - they did an episode in Salem, too.....

Are they in the talking stages of this or is this a definite? I don't see that statue lasting very long before it is vandalized & removed without anyone knowing anything about what happened to it.

 

[tigger&me]

that would just be so wrong

i hope they do not go thru with it

 

[wr3170]

Didn't see a problem when I read your thread title...then read your post--and kind of agree with you.

.

totally agree

 

[kaylajr]

very inappropriate

i would be very upset if i lived in Salem

Samantha Stevens may have been a great TV character but
her statue there would be insulting to the true history of the city

 

[holycow]

I don't think they should do it...promotional stunt for the movie no doubt!

HC

 

[disneysnowflake]

I don't think it's appropriate at all.

 

[Virgo10]

I don't have a problem with this. Perhaps Bewitched piqued the interest in some people to find out the true story behind this shameful part of our history.

A great mini series was on years ago about these trials. If you ever get a chance to see it, you won't be disappointed.

Three Sovereigns for Sarah

 

[disneyworld!]

well, not sure if any of you know....but I live here and I was HERE when Samatha came to Salem to film Bewitched. I will never forget it!!!! the crowds...persoanlly I have no problem with it...techinally it has nothing to do with the witch trails. but more as a reminder of her being her!!! and I am sure I will drive by it everyday!

so I have no problem with it!!! and I live here

 

[memeny]

Just seems strange to me

 

[Disney1fan2002]

well, not sure if any of you know....but I live here and I was HERE when Samatha came to Salem to film Bewitched. I will never forget it!!!! the crowds...persoanlly I have no problem with it...techinally it has nothing to do with the witch trails. but more as a reminder of her being her!!! and I am sure I will drive by it everyday!

so I have no problem with it!!! and I live here

I don't think they want to put a statue in Salem honoring her presence there. You don't think it strange that Samantha was a witch, and they want to put her statue in the most famous town known for witches? How many movie stars have filmed scenes inside Fenway Park? There would be crowds of people outside, trying to get a glimpse of the "star". That is what stars do. They bring people out. Billy Crystal filmed a scene in Fenway Park for a movie. I don't see a statue of him inside or outside Fenway Park.

Wouldn't this be akin to someone going into a musuem that had all the history of Nazi Germany, and the POW camps, and they find a statue of Colonal Klink? Or Sgt. Schwartz? Would you be OK with that?

The point is, Salem is a town full of tragic history. To take something like that, and throw a TV SITCOM character in there, is ludicrious. Think about this. 100 years from now, a family is taking a vacation to Salem, to learn about the history of the town. How confused will they be when they come across this Samantha Stevens? She is not listed in any of their brochures as one of the Salem Witches. Who is she? And what happened to her or what did she do that she would have a statue honoring her?

 

[aengus]

I live extremely close to Salem, and what most of you don't understand is that is how that town makes its money. Witch tourism. There are museums where you can learn the truth of what happened here, and there are lots of 'fun' witch related things to do.

If any of you can ever get to Salem in Halloween season make sure you do. You would understand Salem a whole lot better and not see it as such a bold political statement.

Salem is about witches period. Fiction and non-fiction.

 

[Serena]

I don't think there needs to be a statue of her at all. I guess as long as the people there don't mind, then I won't.