Long ago, in a forgotten village nestled deep within the dense, eerie woods, there lived a woman named Delilah. She was known by the villagers as a witch - a wicked sorceress with supernatural powers. Her existence was shrouded in mystery and whispers of her malevolence echoed through the narrow streets. The fear of her dark magic gripped even the bravest of souls. Delilah's life had been marred by tragedy. As a child, she was orphaned and left to fend for herself in a world that saw her as an outcast.
The advisor said she invited the owners of Elemental Magick to discuss the process of starting a small business. But the women also identify as Wiccans, a coven of witches who worship nature. And the advisor was called to task by the school and Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh after it was learned they gifted the students crystals, which the Wiccans believe have special powers. "I know that the aspect that was brought into our school is not appropriate for our schools," said Michelle Peduto. Peduto, the diocesan director of Catholic education, said educators in the diocese sign a pledge promising to align their instruction with Catholic teachings, and the crystals and the visit run counter. "I am not a theologian, but I am a mom and I'm a Catholic mom and I'm a Catholic school administrator," Peduto said. "I do understand what we want to have in our Catholic schools and what does not fit in our Catholic schools, and this clearly did not fit." "I was led to believe this was kind of a big deal and a letter of warning would happen," the counselor said. "I said OK fair, I get it." The employee was put on administrative leave while the diocese and school investigated. In the meantime, the school sent an email to parents and guardians telling them to dispose of the crystals and advised them to say a prayer to St. Michael the Archangel to cleanse their homes. The diocese won't comment on what action was taken next, but the employee said she got a letter calling her error "egregious" and asking her to resign.
And the advisor was called to task by the school and Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh after it was learned they gifted the students crystals, which the Wiccans believe have special powers. Karen Holland accused her newsagent bosses of turning on her when they found out she practiced Wicca, and took them to the English Employment Tribunal with claims of unfair dismissal, sex discrimination and religious discrimination.
As a child, she was orphaned and left to fend for herself in a world that saw her as an outcast. Misunderstood and feared, she sought solace in the mystical arts. The villagers believed that her affinity for the occult brought upon their misfortune, and they blamed every hardship on her supernatural abilities.
Air Force Pledges to Review 'Witch' Complaint from Fired Hindu
Deborah Schoenfeld, a former Air Force contractor and Hindu who said she was called a witch by coworkers and then fired by the service when she complained, now plans to sue. (Photo courtesy Military Religious Freedom Foundation)
13 Nov 2015 Military.com | By Bryant JordanThe Air Force says it will continue to look into allegations of religious discrimination against a Hindu woman fired in September from her job as a contract dental technician at Epes Clinic at Fort Meade, Maryland.
The Air Force Equal Employment Opportunity office located at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, in October dismissed the discrimination complaint that Deborah Schoenfeld filed in September, saying it arrived too late and because the employees she named were not in the Air Force.
Schoenfeld told Military.com Nov. 6 that she plans to sue the service.
Air Force Capt. Connie Dillon, chief of public affairs for the 11th Wing at Andrews, told Military.com Nov. 12 that wing officials "take these allegations seriously and will continue to look into them through the appropriate processes.
"To ensure the integrity of the ongoing processes, we have no additional comment but remain confident the matter will be handled appropriately," Dillon said in an email.
Schoenfeld was fired from her job at the clinic, where she worked for an Air Force dentist, on Sept. 2, the same day she made an informal complaint to the EEO about harassment. She said her supervisor gave as a reason for firing her that she swore at a fellow-employee -- an allegation Schoenfeld denies.
She said co-workers had called her a witch and Satan, and told her that the meditation and yoga she practiced as a Hindu was witchcraft. She described the work environment at the clinic as openly Christian, with workers placing religious tracts on desks and office celebrations -- birthdays or promotions -- starting off with a Christian prayer.
Schoenfeld said that she followed up on her informal complaint with an official on Sept. 9, well within the 15-day time period for filing. She filed the notice by U.S. mail but the EEO office claimed it never received it; she emailed a digital copy on Sept. 29.
The complaint was rejected on Oct. 27, with officials saying the Sept. 29 filing date was 11 days too late.
They also claimed that no one named in her complaint was an Air Force employee, though it does accuse her first-line supervisor, Air Force Tech. Sgt. LaShonda Jones, of soliciting back-dated letters of complaint about her from other clinic employees.
Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said the organization is close to finding a lawyer to represent Schoenfeld.
--Bryant Jordan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @bryantjordan.
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Schoenfeld was fired from her job at the clinic, where she worked for an Air Force dentist, on Sept. 2, the same day she made an informal complaint to the EEO about harassment. She said her supervisor gave as a reason for firing her that she swore at a fellow-employee -- an allegation Schoenfeld denies.
One fateful day, when a terrible plague plagued the village, the villagers reached a boiling point. They became convinced that Delilah was the source of their suffering, casting curses upon them from her lair deep in the woods. Driven by fear and anger, they gathered at her doorstep, brandishing torches and pitchforks. Delilah emerged, her fiery red hair flowing like a waterfall of flames. Her emerald eyes glowed with a mix of defiance and sadness. She tried to reason with the angry mob, explaining that she possessed no ill intentions and sought only to heal and protect. But her pleas fell on deaf ears as the villagers were blinded by their prejudice and superstition. In an act of desperation, Delilah decided to prove her innocence. She demonstrated her healing abilities, relieving the pain and suffering of those infected with the deadly plague. Her powers soared through the air, casting a golden light that illuminated the surrounding darkness. For a moment, hope flickered in the villagers' hearts. However, their fear and ignorance overpowered their reason. They accused her of using her magic to trick them, to blind them with false miracles. They refused to acknowledge the good she had done and rather clung to their superstitions that painted her as a wicked sorceress. With heavy hearts, Delilah realized that her efforts were in vain. She knew she could never change the villagers' perception of her. Weary and broken, she gathered her belongings and disappeared into the night, leaving the village behind. In the years that followed, the village prospered, free from the grasp of the plague. But a cloud of regret lingered, for the villagers knew they had wronged Delilah. They spoke of her with remorse, recounting the acts of bravery and kindness she had shown during her time as their dismissed witch. Delilah became a legend, a cautionary tale passed down through the generations. She became a symbol of the consequences of ignorance and prejudice, a reminder that judgment based solely on appearance can lead to unfathomable loss. As for Delilah, she continued her journey, wandering from village to village, using her magic to help those who were open-minded enough to accept her. Though dismissed and misunderstood by many, she found purpose in spreading light and healing wherever she went, a testament to the strength of her spirit. Thus, the story of the dismissed witch unfolded, a tale of resilience, forgiveness, and the power of a single individual to defy the stereotypes thrust upon them. Delilah's legacy would forever live on, reminding us to question our own preconceptions and embrace the beauty that lies beyond appearances..
Reviews for "The Dismissed Witch: A Victim of Ignorance"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "The Dismissed Witch" as I'm a big fan of fantasy novels, but I was hugely disappointed. The plot was incredibly predictable and lacked any originality. The characters were one-dimensional and I didn't feel connected to any of them. The writing style was also very basic and didn't engage me as a reader. Overall, it was a mediocre read that didn't live up to my expectations.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - "The Dismissed Witch" was a complete waste of my time. The story was poorly developed and confusing. It felt like the author was trying to cram too many ideas into one book without paying attention to coherence. The pacing was all over the place, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed resolutions. The writing itself was dull and lacked any sort of descriptive language. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Dismissed Witch" but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The world-building was weak and left me with many unanswered questions. The magic system was never properly explained, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The main character was also incredibly frustrating, making foolish decisions without any real growth throughout the book. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest halfway through. Overall, it was a disappointing read that didn't capture my attention.
4. David - 1/5 stars - "The Dismissed Witch" was a poorly written book with numerous grammatical errors and inconsistent storytelling. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the characters lacked depth and development. The author seemed to rely on cliches and tropes without adding any fresh perspective. The ending was unsatisfying and left many loose ends. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time with this book.