A few days ago, we wrote about how belief in the magical power of body parts led to the slaughter of albinos in Tanzania. Which got us thinking about how other vile beliefs are affecting our neighbors lives here every day...
When people believe that eating foods that look like blood will make new blood in the body, they will feed their sick children bottles and bottles of ketchup.
When people believe that widowed, elderly women in their villages are witches whose evil eyes are causing crop failure, elderly women will be murdered at night by roving bands of vigilantes.
When fanatical pastors, inspired by American televangelists, claim that they’ve completely “healed” sick members of their flock, those sick people will stop taking their AIDS medications.
When people believe that sex with a virgin can cure HIV, three and a half year old girls end up in critical care at Bugando Hospital after being raped and tossed in a ditch.
When people believe that girls are worth less than boys, girl children will be treated like property. Like animals. “From womb to tomb”, as they say.
We know that people immersed in the culture we come from suffer from, and harm one another because of twisted beliefs too--obviously of much different character and intensity. Keeping that in mind helps temper somewhat, our tendency towards cultural hubris. That said, it's hard to fully express our rage and disgust at the heavy toll these evil beliefs impose on people already overwhelmed by many troubles.
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