Living here in Northern Massachusetts, home of the supposedly open minded folk of the East coast and spending my spare time running a Pagan BBS, I thought we were comfortably far off from the recent media blitzs of National tv, the Christian Networks and the recent controversey in CA with the OTO. Then I opened up the local sales-flyer paper we get each week, The Minuteman Chronicle Sunday, circulation of 101,672 in the Lowell/Billerica region, to a blood Dripping headline: Satan in The Suburbs To one side was the green blobed quote: "Look at me, Satan's Child. Born of evil, thus defiled. Brought to Life through satanic birth. Come look at me and I'll show you things that will open your eyes...." Fron the song 'Possesed' by the group Venom. Blazened in spectacular four color newsink, were a listing of Symbols: An Anhk (labeled as Egyptian ANCH Cross, and with a sidelabeling of 'The Cross of Satan represents Life') A Peace Symbol (labeled as The Cross Of Neri, and with a sidelabeling of 'Cross upside down with the arms broken') A Dagger, upright (labeled as 'The Sword of power' and a sidelabeling of 'Aggressive force used in Satanic rituals') This in a local shoppers flyer, distributed for free to all the homes in the area (Oct. 29th, 1989 date on issue) that usually has local town meeting results, real estate ads and the weeks grocery coupons - in otherwords no real hard news or 'bad news'! Mouth agape I read on... 2 full pages of the paper's worth of print (in a paper of only 36 pages, 22 of which are fully ads) claiming expose, local devil worshipers suspected, how to id a devil worshiper etc...My stomache turned at their misinformation and obvious madness of all this. THis area supports an ADF proto-Grove, a Wiccan Group, the college is about to allow the formation of a Pagan STudents Group and two very visbile (media wise) Masonic Temples, and a population that is less than 50% Christian (We have in the area a large immigrant population from the Orient which sport their own beliefs and places of worship). This sort of 'reporting' should not even begin to be visible here... I want people here, and thru the Nets, to see the sort of material thats showing up, and see why we must start pulling our groups and selves together into a true feeling of community and protect ourselves before we are all destroyed seperatley or forced to do as was done before and slip back into the shadows to hide from these fanatics....My next few posts will be from this paper, which is published by Beacon Communications, 20 Main ST., Acton MA 01720, editor Bill Lindsay. If anyone wants to help sway them by writing to the editorial department, they insist you send them full address info and a phone number you can be reached thru. Perhaps a flood of letters from us each time the media does this sort of thing will help bring some changes.... thats [Minuteman Chronicle Sunday Oct 29th, 1989] SATAN IN THE SUBURBS by Elizabeth Banks, Senior Reporter Alchol and drug abuse is no surprise in area high schools, but police are now confronted with troublesome evidence of satanism in some suburban communities. Dead animals in Acton, graffiti in Maynard, heavy metal music blaring themse of Satan and the occult - all these are evidence of cults and devil worship, say area police. But, there are signs parents can look for, and some teens are more susceptible than others to the rituals of satanic worship, according to Wesley Simons, director of Burlington's Community Life Center, a teen counseling center. Teenagers most prone to satanism, Simmons said in a recent interview, are those who have no close relationship with either family members or friends. And, he added, "These are angry kids." Anger and isolation are the two characteristics, Simons stated, "that predispose an association withh angry acts." Another sign, SImmons warned, is involvement with "Overtly satanic acts" such as the use of symbols, rituals, animal killings, reading occult books, listening to heavy metal music, and sometimes, playing the fantasy game "Dungeons and Dragons." "Emotional factors feed this behhavior," Simmons stressed. If the emotional problems are not present, he added, teenagers may just "dabble" with the symbolism of satanism such as the satanic alphabet, heavy metal music, or related games. Even with strong close relationships heavy involvement could happen, Simmons said, but "most likely it won't happen." Cult practices and satanism are not limited too teenagers, police say. Because satanic acts are performed in secrecy police often lack concrete evidence of criminal acts. However, police now say that abducted childeren or runaways may be victims of satanic rituals used as a guise for sexually abusing children. One case, reported last March by Lowell police, involved a cult of local 13 and 14 year-olds. Two members reportedly drove two recruits to a New York town where they were subjected to satanic rituals involving bloodletting and animal sacrifices. In other suburban communities police report evidence of satanic worship ranging from graffiti on buildings depicting satanic symbols to shrines in wooded areas, to animal mutilations. While most incidents go no further than graffiti and are perceived as harmless, there are enough isolated incidents of more serious activities to concern police in some towns. "Its here," said Inspector Ken Duane, Chelmsfords juvenile officer, simply said "We have no actual documented facts, but we've found little shrines in the woods with rocks and candles." There was also one isolated incident of a mutilated dog he said. Duane reports dealing with teenagers involved in satanic activites, but extreme involvement does not take place "to a huge degree. Police," he added "definately see a connection between drug use and satanic worship. Anyone on drugs is capable of anyuthing." [Continued NEXT posting...] [Continued from last post] Recently, there was "talk" of organizing a satanic group between Chelmsford and Tyngsboro teens, Duane said. But police managed to break up the groups and "get some of the leaders off the streets." "We also see a connection between Heavy metal music and drugs," he stated. "These kids wear black T-shirts with Satanic symbols," Duane said. In Chelmsford, as in many other suburban communities, satanic graffiti is evident throughout the town. Police, Duane said, do not know id it should be taken seriously, or if teens"are just fooling around." Acton police also report signs of satnaic activity. Suspicions began when animals began disappearing and mutilated animals were discovered. But none of this, police say, could be directly related to satanic activity. Again, while no direct proof exists, graffiti is presently located at ACton-Boxborough Regional Hhigh School depicting the numbers 666, the sign of Satan. In other areas of town, police have located upside down crosses. In Burlington, Simmons reports counseling two local teens involved in satanism. While he believs neither was seriously involved, one was "into" "Dungeons and Dragons". There are also reports of suspicious graffiti in Billerica, Lexington and Maynard. The Rev. Gary Heikkila of Maynard's Mission Evangelical Church began investigating satanism after receiving a "strange letter". This letter, he said, "talked about finding a mutilated animal in the Gardner area and otehr things that seemed far out, but worthy oof investigation." Convinced that many Christians are ignorant of Satanic worship. Heikkila spoke with cult experts in preperation for a speech which he would later deliver to the Maynard Community. Through his research, Heikkila said he learned "that Satanism is much more than Halloween. These people have violent impulses that prey upon angry, powerless people who lead secret lives and are attracted to heavy metal music," he said. "I'm convinced that satanisim is linked to pornography, child abuse and murder," Heikkila stressed. Further study of satanic worship put Heikkila in touch with a cult expert in Dallas. "Various types of satanism are on a meteoric rise," he was told. "Satanism is predicted to be the cult of the 90's," he added. THrough his church, Heikkila said a local woman came to him and said she found paraphernalia involved in satanic worship in her grand-daughter's closet. And, he learned of covens meeting in Boxboro. "There are definately telltale signs," Heikkila continued. Teenagers involved in satanism report keeping a "Book of Shadows". These he explained contain suicide notes. Some young people, Heikkila cnotinued, are preoccupied with death, while others have satanic symbols either tattoed or cut into their skin with razors. Particularly troubling to Heikkila is the influence of the Church of Satan, organized in California in 1966 by Anton Lavey, also known as the Black Pope. This church, Heikkila said, "is amazing - its almost like science fiction - but its very real." [Continued NEXT Post] [Continued From Last Post] Laveys teachings are "absolutely contrary to everything Christins would accept." he continued. "(Lavey) teaches Satan is the best friend the church has ever had." And, according to Heikkila, bookstores report Lavey's Satanic Bible sells out shortly after shipments are received. Taking his research to Gardner, Heikkila made contact with a musician from a heavy metal or black metal band. The band, he said is involved in satanism and the music reflects it. Because Heikkila was disturbed by what he learned was happening in his own and surrounding communities, he delivered a speech about satanic worship. Shortly after, he reports, someone attempted to burn down his church. During their investigation, police found gasoline and matches next to the church building. While there is no proof that satanists were involved in the arson attempt, Heikkila also reports receiving threatening letters. "I recieved some unsigned letters saying some terrible things would happen," Heikkila said. "I would shudder to think about them happening." Police urge anyone, whether a parent or concerned citizen, to report signs of possibl satanic worship. In response to what is seen as a growing national problem, an organization called BADD (Bothered About Dungeons & Dragons) was founded in 1983 by Pat Pauling, whose son killed himself after becoming involved in the Fantasy game. The organization provides a reading and resource list as well as information about preventive programs in "teen devil worship" information can be obtained by writing BADD Inc PO Box 5513, Richmond VA 23220. Additional information is available from the National Coalition on TV Violance, c/o Thomas Radecki, MD PO BOX 2157, Champaign IL 61820. Locally anyone with information about cults or seeking information about cults and satanic worship may call the Cult Victimization Hotline in Concord at (508) 369 5437. ****************************************************************** Theres more folks - this was just the largest of the articles, all done up by the same reporter and the same sources of info as mentioned herein....agains, maybe a real letter writing campaign might help, not only to the paper, but to the organizations they are plugging so they understand that we aren't satanists! Any other suggestions are welcome too! I'll try to post a few more from this batch of misinformed and unsubstantiated articles (with lots of photos too - all of Graffitti for various rock groups including Aerosmith! can't include these here,but they're not much to look at). [More From The Minuteman Chronicle Sunday] SIGNS, SYMBOLS and SIGNIFICANT DATES ------------------------------------ By Elizabeth Banks, Senior Reporter As a tool in recogniziong and identifying possible satanic behavior, a chart depicting satanic signs and symbols is available from BADD INC or the National Coalition on Tv Violence. Also available is a list of satanic holidays and magic colors. According to these organizations signs of Satan include a horned hand - the satanic salute - the numbers 666, the letters FFF,or a lightning bolt. And Satan is sometimes written backwards in "ancient writing" where 'A's are written as triangles. The traditional "peace sign" in satanism is the symbol of the Cross of Neri. An upside down cross, often associated with Heavy metal music, symbolizes a denial of Christianity. Another "common" symbol is a five pointed star. Two points represent devil horns and the remaining three symbolize the denial of the Christian Trinity. For members of covens, simple lines and arrows, often painted on traffic signs, point the way to secret meetings. One area police officer reports seeing such directional signals and several suburban towns. Particularly appealing to some teenagers, are satanic alphabets derived from the ancient runes. Using these alphabets, satanic worships can communicate in secret. In satanism the most meaningful holiday is ones own birthday. THis date is revered by other cult members. In order of importance other significant holidays are : Halloween (Oct 31) May Eve (April 30) the Summer Solstice (June 22) and the Winter Solstice (Dec 22). One tehse days, police report using extra surveillance for signs of satanic worship and rituals. Colors are also found to play a role in the occult. Black, often the color of ceremonial robes, means darkness, sorrow, evil or the devil. Red, symbolizing blood, can also mean energy, or physical life. Green is a soothing color, depicting nature and vegitation. ****************************************************************** And so the misinformation goes on. Is there any way to deal with this drivel legally? Its obnoxious, stirs the people up against the wrong folk and is about as far off as they can get from what satanists believe...