Poppets at FL Cemetery Freak Out Scouts
Tuesday May 20, 2008
A group of Boy Scouts doing a graveyard cleanup as a service project got a little surprise when they visited Greenwood Cemetery in St. Petersburg, FL. The boys discovered a collection of "voodoo dolls" pinned to a tree, which one little boy described as "ugly creatures that [looked like they] would eat you alive." Scoutmaster Marty Robinson said some of the boys were "freaked out," but that others thought it was a pretty neat discovery.
Interestingly, at least one Scout was inspired to do a bit of research after the incident. Thomas Bulu, 13, did some investigating and told reporters that although the dolls could be used to curse someone, poppets can be used for healing as well. Props to Thomas for using his noodle to learn about something he had never encountered before.
Local experts have confirmed that the dolls are of the style used in various Afro-Caribbean religions, such as Vodun and Santeria. The cemetery's groundskeeper actually spotted the dolls last winter, but left them in place. No word on whether they've been taken down following the freaking of the scouts.
Interestingly, at least one Scout was inspired to do a bit of research after the incident. Thomas Bulu, 13, did some investigating and told reporters that although the dolls could be used to curse someone, poppets can be used for healing as well. Props to Thomas for using his noodle to learn about something he had never encountered before.
Local experts have confirmed that the dolls are of the style used in various Afro-Caribbean religions, such as Vodun and Santeria. The cemetery's groundskeeper actually spotted the dolls last winter, but left them in place. No word on whether they've been taken down following the freaking of the scouts.
Comments
Mr. Bulu should get a merit badge or some other commendation for his research. That is a level-headed, open-minded young man, and the embodiment of what Scouting should be.
I quite agree with Wolf Chases Stars. Kudos to the young man for wanting to *gasp* learn something.
The fact that the scouts were “freaked out”, however, just shows how very few people teach their children true tolerance for other people’s beliefs or try to expose them to multi-cultural experiences.
Hats off to the young man who actually thought to seek out what the poppets meant!Man fears what he doesnot understand!But to seek the enlightenment of the fear
brings out understanding!
Seeing is NOT believing…BUT believing is SEEING!!
My oldest daughter gave me some of those years ago. I didn’t know what they were for and she’s christian and told me they were for healing.
Yeah, yeah, I have a christian daughter who’s really a faere in disguise. She knows it, I know it and her daughters know it too.
As a former boyscout I’m pretty sure the whole “freaked out” thing is an embellishment. A much more likely reaction would be like “lol satan hurr” or something along those lines. Unless these bs are much more pansy then the ones in my old troop >.