MAN: Since your extraordinary public statement last month, there has been quite a bit of fanfare.
This frank revelation about your cult-- that's sparked quite a brouhaha in the media, and...
WITCH-LEADER: Let me clarify that, Bill.
We are not a cult.
We-we don't proselytize.
We have no agenda, we're not recruiting.
Women who identify as witches are born as such, and their abilities-- which we call powers-- are part of who they are, part of their DNA, if you will.
MAN: Oh, I see. So, in fact, you're saying that it's not a choice, being a witch.
WITCH-LEADER: That's exactly what I'm saying.
There are so many young witches who have resisted their calling because they're afraid... of how they may be perceived,
or what's expected of them.
But there are still hate crimes.
That is true, but, you know, when you hide in the shadows, you are less visible, you have less protection.
We'll always be targets for the ignorant.
It is what it is.
But we are strong women, Bill.
So, what would you like to say to all those girls watching and wondering if they might be witches?
Hmm?
Call us, e-mail us or just come to New Orleans.
There is a home and a family waiting for you.
Some viewers criticized the scene as a too blatant allusion to gay rights. Others criticized the plausibility of accepting witches into society:
In the final episode, the [Witch-leader] goes on TV and gives an interview. The scene equals witches to gay people, but like True Blood before it, this show didn't get that while people are stupid to fear LGBTQ people, they are most certainly NOT to fear witches, as we've been repeatedly shown this season that they are really likely to abuse their powers.
See even more parallels to sociopaths now? But it's interesting how this commenter has misinterpreted what the Witch-leader is really saying. No one said anything about not fearing witches. In fact, she explicitly says, "It it what it is." Similarly, no one has said that there is no reason to fear sociopaths (or vampires, to tie in True Blood). Rather, she seems to merely clarifying misconceptions -- that witches don't choose to be witches, but rather are born with it.
But maybe if there isn't a clear parallel to gay rights, there is a legitimate parallel to rights of the mentally ill? Maybe, like with the witches, there are some reasons to fear the mentally ill, or at least take a certain level of care with them. But what next? Even if it is understandable or even right for people to fear the mentally ill, what should we do about that? Permit hate crimes against them? Weed these disorders out of the gene pool through forced sterilization? Assuming the worst (e.g, these people might hurt you or a loved one), what would you do to ensure that never happens?
And what, then, would be your criterion for doing the same to all other people you don't like, but would still manage to exempt all the people you do like. I'm honestly curious. What are people's proposals?
