The Pbd witch hunt refers to the phenomenon where individuals or groups are unjustly accused, persecuted, or targeted based on their involvement or affiliation with the Pbd organization. Pbd, which stands for Personal Business Development, is a popular networking and personal growth group that aims to empower individuals through professional development and entrepreneurship. Although Pbd has gained a significant following and has been successful in helping individuals reach their personal and professional goals, there have been instances where it has been met with controversy and skepticism. Some individuals and organizations have raised concerns about the motives and practices of Pbd, leading to a witch hunt against its members. The witch hunt against Pbd members can manifest in various forms, including defamation, character assassination, and social ostracism. Critics often highlight alleged unethical behavior, pyramid scheme-like practices, or dishonest recruitment tactics associated with Pbd, which can lead to negative perceptions of the organization and its members.
The witch trial in Pownal is believed to be Vermont’s only one. The victim was a woman referred to in an account of the earliest days of Bennington County — compiled by historian T.E. Brownell in the 19th century — as “the widow Kreiger” or “Mrs. Kreiger,” Dunne said.
Suggested roles prosecution, defense, defendants, witnesses against, character witnesses for family, friends , jury, judge, bailiff, medical expert witness. While I read the book I was struck by the similarities between the witchcraft of puritan New England and the Borderline Personality disorder of today.
Critics often highlight alleged unethical behavior, pyramid scheme-like practices, or dishonest recruitment tactics associated with Pbd, which can lead to negative perceptions of the organization and its members. However, it is important to note that the witch hunt against Pbd may be based on misconceptions or misinterpretations of the organization's principles and activities. Pbd emphasizes personal growth, networking, and entrepreneurship, rather than engaging in fraudulent or illegal activities.
Vermont witch trial to be part of ‘Legends’ TV segment
A promotional image for “Witchcraft,” a “New England Legends” TV series segment, showing a 1613 British notice of witch trials. [P]OWNAL — A witch trial involving some of the earliest white settlers of Pownal is among several tales featured in the next segment of the “New England Legends” series, which will air on Halloween evening on Vermont public television.
“Witchcraft,” produced by Jeff Belanger and Tony Dunne, marks the sixth episode in the Emmy-nominated series. The segment will explore the witch trials of New England, including the famous 17th-century trials and executions in Salem, Massachusetts.
Belanger, who was raised in Connecticut, said in an interview that he was surprised to learn the earliest known witch tribunals in New England were held in that state, in Hartford, in 1647. Less was written about those trials, he said, speculating that after the 1692 Salem trials, which generated strong negative reactions, Connecticut officials covered up evidence of their own trials.
In Hartford, 11 executions resulted, beginning with a woman named Alice Young.
Join 27,000 Vermonters starting their day with Daily Digger
It’s all the Vermont news you need to stay informed and connected. Sign up to receive VTDigger’s free morning newsletter delivered Monday through Saturday to your inbox.
“The records are just missing,” Belanger said, adding that researchers know of those events from letters and other family papers from the era.
While working on the “Witchcraft” episode, Belanger said, he began to think of the anti-communist witch hunts of the 1950s and of playwright Arthur Miller, who wrote “The Crucible” with that era and McCarthyism in mind.
“This story just kept growing bigger and bigger,” Belanger said. “I began to feel like Miller must have felt in the ’50s.”
“It suddenly felt that we needed a reminder of what can happen,” he said.
The historical witch trials of New England “were a lot bigger than just Salem,” Belanger said, although those events in 1692 were the most horrendous. There were 20 executions, he said, and hundreds were imprisoned during mass hysteria over allegations of witchcraft or devilish influences.
In addition to those executed, Belanger said, some people died while imprisoned, and several dogs were hanged.
He said he believes mounting fear during several bloody wars between New England settlers and the Native American tribes they were displacing was a factor in producing hysteria, particularly while preachers were calling the natives “minions of the devil.”
The stories in the show are “strangely relevant today,” Belanger said, referring to increasingly bitter political battles and vicious attacks via social media.
“At least then, you had to stand up and point at someone to accuse them,” he said.
While no date has been ascertained for the Pownal witch trial, there was an attack by Native Americans on the Brimmer Farm in nearby Petersburgh, New York, in 1755 during the French and Indian War.
Other attacks on farms in Pownal and New York state are referred to by historian Joseph Parks in his 1977 history of the town, most occurring around the time of French and Indian campaigns against English-held Fort Massachusetts in what is now North Adams, Massachusetts.
The witch trial in Pownal is believed to be Vermont’s only one. The victim was a woman referred to in an account of the earliest days of Bennington County — compiled by historian T.E. Brownell in the 19th century — as “the widow Kreiger” or “Mrs. Kreiger,” Dunne said.
Dunne said that reference was unearthed by Joe Citro, the author of numerous books on paranormal phenomena in Vermont.
While certainly victimized, Kreiger fared better than many others caught up in a witch trial frenzy. She was accused of “possessing extraordinary powers,” Dunne said, and a committee of townspeople was formed to decide her fate.
She was then subjected to a “trial by water,” he said, meaning she “was tossed into the Hoosic” in winter through a hole cut in the river ice to determine whether she would fail to sink — considered a sign of being a witch, as she would have been held up by the devil.
However, “the legend says she sunk like a stone,” Dunne said. “And she was rescued and presumably lived out the rest of her life.”
Dunne said Kreiger was believed to be a member of one of the early Dutch families that settled along the Hoosic River in Pownal in the early 1700s. Pownal was chartered as a British settlement in 1760 and named after a royal governor of Massachusetts, Thomas Pownall.
Dunne said the show’s researchers could find no gravestone, but the Kreiger name is familiar in Pownal, and a cliff outcropping called Kreiger’s Rocks is located across Route 346 from the North Pownal Bridge over the Hoosic River.
The show’s producers have been working together since 2009 when Dunne wrote and produced the documentary “Things That Go Bump in the Night: Tales of Haunted New England,” for PBS. Belanger was featured in that documentary.
Belanger is the author of more than a dozen books on the paranormal, including “The World’s Most Haunted Places” and “Who’s Haunting the White House?”
He’s the founder of Ghostvillage.com, has written for newspapers like The Boston Globe, and is the series writer and researcher for “Ghost Adventures” on the Travel Channel.
Dunne has lived in New England his entire life and now resides in North Adams. He has spent the past 15 years working as a producer in news, commercial, independent and most recently public television at PBS.
“Witchcraft” will air Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Vermont PBS. Viewers who get WGBY out of Springfield, Massachusetts, can see the program Monday at 7:30 p.m. on that channel.
It’s all the Vermont news you need to stay informed and connected. Sign up to receive VTDigger’s free morning newsletter delivered Monday through Saturday to your inbox.
Many individuals have found success, inspiration, and support through their involvement with Pbd. It is crucial to approach any accusations or criticisms against Pbd with an open mind and seek out facts and evidence before passing judgment. While it is essential to exercise caution and skepticism when engaging in any organization or business, it is also important to avoid forming opinions based solely on rumors or hearsay. In conclusion, the Pbd witch hunt refers to the unjust targeting or persecution of individuals associated with the Pbd organization. It is essential to approach any accusations or criticisms against Pbd with a fair and objective perspective, seeking out facts before forming judgments..
Reviews for "Pbd Witch Hunt: Exploring the Role of Social Justice Movements"
- Sarah - 1 star - I found "Pbd witch hunt" to be incredibly boring and repetitive. The storyline seemed promising at first, but it quickly became predictable and unoriginal. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fates. The writing style was uninspiring and lacked any sort of literary flair. Overall, I was very disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
- John - 2 stars - While "Pbd witch hunt" had an interesting premise, I felt that the execution fell flat. The pacing was slow, and it took a long time for the plot to develop. The dialogue was also quite dull and didn't do much to engage the reader. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and left many loose ends unresolved. Overall, I found this book to be mediocre and would suggest looking for a more captivating read.
- Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Pbd witch hunt" based on the positive reviews I had read, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The story lacked originality and felt cliché. The characters were forgettable and their actions often didn't make sense. The writing style was also disappointing, with awkward sentence structures and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- Alex - 3 stars - "Pbd witch hunt" was an average read for me. While the concept was intriguing, I felt that the execution was lacking. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The characters were somewhat relatable, but I wished they had been developed further. The writing style was decent, but it didn't wow me. Overall, it was an okay book, but not one I would read again or recommend to others.
- Elizabeth - 2 stars - I struggled to get through "Pbd witch hunt". The story was slow and lacked any real excitement. The characters were uninteresting and seemed to blend together. I found myself not caring about their fates, which made it difficult to stay engaged. The writing style was also quite dry and didn't bring the story to life. Overall, this book was a disappointment and I wouldn't recommend it to others.