NARRATOR:
Society's fear ended their lives.
Suspicion stemmed from ignorance and misunderstanding instilled by religion and created the illusion of a threat.
These alleged 'servants of the devil' may have been mentally ill, suffered from dementia or the effects of malnutrition.
Four hundred years has fostered this understanding.
Yet we still fear what we do not comprehend, whatever form it assumes.
Something that goes against our values, what we accept.
We no longer hunt witches, but witch hunts remain: the targeting of that which we view as a threat.
We would rather discriminate, ignore or attack than seek to understand.
A modern 'witch hunt' is still performed by those requiring justice, against perpetrators of crimes done to others.
But they can be against the innocent. The different.
Our evidence to justify our fear remains based on assumptions: we are not the same, therefore they threaten our existence, our preferred way of being.
Cancel culture hunts down the faceless on social media: the user collective functions as mob, judge and executioner.
An individual not conforming to our cultural sense of normality is regarded with hostility.
Existing in groups of the like-minded makes it hard to change.
Where is the line between us and them?
The line that designates them outsiders?
Do we know the ostracised?
Do we know the context of their lives, their thoughts, their true beliefs?
Do we take the time to find out?
Or do we believe the assumptions?
Is evidence formed from prejudice and hearsay sufficient to damn them?
Are we willing to cease hunting to learn?
Or do we believe them to be witches?
[EDITING DIRECTION: BEGIN FADE-OUT HERE]