Writers become oddly specialized in topics the more they write. Usually that's a mixture of your own interests and stories you have to cover. I've focused on energy, Israel and even lefty protests.
But witchcraft? Apparently, I have to focus on that for a spell. Three years ago, I wrote about the culture in post-Christian America. I included the truly awful and anti-Christian TV show Salem in that cultural cauldron. Witchery abounded.
Early in the presidential campaign, I criticized the media for its attacks against then-candidate Donald Trump. I called it all part of the Modern American Witch Hunt and explained, "The media and the left are going all-in attacking Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who committed the sin of saying something that upset them when he was discussing illegal Mexican immigrants."
That assault looks mild compared to what we have now. Perhaps, I was peering into my crystal ball. I bring up my own past wizardry because Trump recently complained about the witch hunt against him, and the media went utterly insane in response.
"This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" wrote Trump in a May 18 tweet. While history is replete with politicians the media have hated or that governments have killed, Trump's war with media is different because there's so much media attacking him.
And because the attacks are so nuts. The Washington Post responded to Trump's complaint with an op-ed asking, "Is Donald Trump a witch?" It was an attempt at a humorous take mocking the president by showing others who have had it rough. Only no president has ever been the target of media and social media the way Trump is. Twitter, Facebook and the rest of anti-social media are at most 10 years old. While they were used against President Obama, he wasn't vilified by the press the way his successor is.
The witch hunt proves Trump right. HuffPost followed his comment by talking to people who claim to be actual witches. "Twitter Witches to Trump: Don't You Dare Compare Yourself to Us." Yes, HuffPost is a member of the White House press corps. The article informed readers that, "Witches lashed out at the president on #WitchesAgainstTrump and #TrumpWitchHunt after their identity was invoked." In 2017, we are now worried about Witch Americans or perhaps WiccAmericans.
I weep for our nation.
The Los Angeles Times, one of the most prominent newspapers in the country, ran an op-ed on the issue headlined: "I put a spell on you, Mr. President." This isn't some crazy alt-left alt weekly. This is journalism, such as it is. The piece, by novelist and essayist Diana Wagman, alleged that Trump is the victim of spellcraft.
Actual quote one: "Thousands of witches, believers and people like me all over the world performed 'A Spell to Bind Donald Trump and All Those Who Abet Him' under the waning crescent moon last month," wrote Wagman, hopefully before she sought psychiatric treatment. Though Wagman teaches creative writing, this appears serious. Actual quote two: "But before I lighted my candles, I researched binding spells. I didn't want to send bad vibes into the universe."
She went on to compare, "Spells, meditation, mindfulness, the oms I say in yoga, the prayers my Episcopalian family send my way" and even quoted the Bible (Matt. 21:22 about receiving what you pray for if you have faith). I guess she forgot Exodus 22:18: "Do not allow a sorceress to live."
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