Santaria animal sacrifice controversy in Sacremento brings out fear of the religious “other”

In an article published on sites such as News10.net a Santaria practitioner has been targeted by what seems to be a lone detractor who doesn’t want to play nice with the “strangitude” of the otherness of her neighbor.

But to some neighbors, the ritual slaughter of geese and goats at a Tracy woman's home is too close for comfort.

"I don't care what they do to express their religious belief, but I don't believe it should be in a residential area," said neighbor Vicki Pease. She is worried about the animal sacrifices that take place at her neighbors home and the impact it could have on children in the neighborhood.

Looks like one of the neighbors is upset by something they haven't even witnessed happening. Everything but the sounds of the rituals and their knowledge of the ritual slaughter drove the comment about, “it shouldn't be happening in a residential neighborhood.”

“…the impact it would have one children in the neighborhood.” Really?  Does anyone really buy this sort of malarkey? Really, we need some sort of bigot bingo to add “think of the children” to the list of items. They complain primarily about the sound of Congo drums and her fears that the culture of her neighbor might “taint” children in the neighborhood. There’s really no polite way to approach this one other than: “Grow up lady!” If you cannot come up with something actually substantial that might affect the “children of the neighborhood” you shouldn’t be bringing them up. This particularly cowardly, passive-agressive tactic for trolling against things that you’re prejudiced against is so well documented that it colors you only with your dishonor.

I like how the article breaks down the actual civil issues taking place (parking problem, which is a problem with any gathering) and pretty much puts the theme in the lap of the law.

As for the occasional sights and sounds of her faith, Marquez believes it's far less offensive than many other things her neighborhood endures. "People have parties with DJ's, people getting drunk, driving up and down the street, shooting, fighting, and we don't do that. We don't even drink."

With an amusingly wise quote from the practitioner at the end, reflecting that what she doesn't doesn't cause harm, is her own thing, and puts it in context of ACTUAL PROBLEMS these people could spend their energy on rather than ruffling their feathers at religious practices for non-reasons.

Link, via News10.net

More commentary, via the Wild Hunt blog.