The Blessing of Laws

I just finished reading "Beyond the Burning Time" by Kathryn Lasky. It's a novel about the Salem Witch trials, a most intriguing and curious time in American history. Teh book was okay, but I don't think I'll ever learn enough about this dark episode from the colonial period. One cannot understand how on earth all those innocent people were killed without any form of tangible evidence damning them to death. But reading this book has caused me to greater appreciate living in a country and time where there are set laws and limits.

Even though I think some laws are silly, like the booster seat law just recently passed in Utah where all children 8 and under must be in a booster seat (this not allowing Rachel's preschool to do field trips anymore), I am glad they are set in place. Our beloved Founding Fathers had a heck of a time coming up with the Bill of Rights and then the Constitution. How on earth they were able to accomplish anything in the sweltering heat of a Philadelphia summer, especially without fans, air conditioning, or shorts? But they did it and they didn't kill each other in the process, an amazing feat. I am glad we have a system of set laws, even if I don't like them all. The laws help to protect me and my family.

You see, when the Salem Witch Trials were held, Massachusetts had no charter, no solid framework of laws. The colony's charter had been revoked and they were in need of another one. The new governor to the area didn't want to be bothered with the witch trials, he'd rather be out fighting Indians and the French, so he let the religious fanatics of the day take charge. Twenty three people were hung, crushed to death, or died in jail as a result of the trials. People who were arrested on charges of witchcraft and wizardry had their property and goods seized by the court and who knows what on earth happened to it all. Families were destroyed and innocent people murdered, all in the cause of fighting evil. As if none of those involved in overseeing the trials acted as devils themselves.

The kicker is that the evidence was based on the testimonies of girls ranging in ages from 11-18 about being attacked by witches. Most historians say it was a game of deceit gone horribly wrong. Others argue it was an actual medical illness that caused the girls to behave as if being tortured by unknown forces. Almost all agree it was a result of the "warring" factions between the Proctor and Putnam families. These two groups were always vying for power and land. Salem and Salem Village were growing and there was money to be had. The Putnams had a breakthrough when one of their daughters and her friends started to be harassed by specters in the form of other villagers. Soon the chaos spread and town folk started to blame all their misfortunes on accused witches. Some of the people tried and hung were the most pious members of the community. One was even a former minister to the area. Instead of saying "This is a bunch of crud. Those girls have gone too far", the common thought was "Oh no! If Satan can get to these saintly people, he can get to anyone!" Duh, duh, duh people! The stories grew, as did the fame of the girls, and by the end 23 people were dead. I think the trials will forever fascinate me because of their horribly unjust and tragic theme. This all could have been avoided if laws existed, if the people used half their brains and went on more than the testimonies of mere children. I know they were a superstitious people, but there were a lot of colonists at the time that were horrified and outraged by the trials. Not everyone was buying it.

And so we come back to the law. I'm not saying that there aren't injustices committed despite having laws. I know all about the Red Scare, Japanese camps in California during WWII, and immigration. I am not saying that some laws don't cause more problems than solutions or protection. I am not saying our court system is perfect. Far from it. My husband is a lawyer, we talk about these things, and I am aware of them. But what I am saying is that I feel blessed to live in a society that has laws. Where there is some form of order. In comparison to life in the colonial period, we have a sweet deal and I am thankful for the GOOD people who fight every day in their various professions to keep the laws intact.