Hateful Halloween

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As I sit here hoping for the Advil to kick in soon to lessen the pain in my mouth, my thoughts turn to Halloween. This event is hugely popular especially where I live. Nowadays whole stores crop up just for Halloween. Everwhere we go and everything we see on tv or read in magazines has some mention of Halloween.

I hate Halloween.

When did it become ok in our society to glamorize horror, violence, and evil things? Why is it acceptable to target this message to children and young adults in particular?

Some people might think I’m being pretty cranky. It’s just innocent fun, I’m told. I don’t agree. In a world where you hear about incredibly violent, evil deeds against innocent people — especially children — every day, I just can’t understand the disconnect in many people’s minds.

I can’t stand the fact that everywhere we go, in spite of our best efforts, our children are subjected to this stuff. It’s not right.

  • Jane Janovyak

    You're making perfect sense to me, Steve. I share your feelings. We started down the trick-or-treat road years ago when the first kids were young, but it didn't last long for us. That was 28 years ago. Already, the decorations and costumes were getting too out of hand, and the sheer meanness of the teens out on the streets was disheartening to see. We gave it one more try when we moved to a small town in 1990, thinking things might be more low-key there, but, no, it was just as creepy.

    The whole spread of the appetite for horror creeps me out about our culture. Saw VI? Clive Barker novels beside the cash registers in grocery stores? It makes me sad.

  • http://www.twentysixcats.com/ Ashley

    I feel the same way. There are Halloween stores here, too. And it makes me sad when so many people – especially Christian friends – talk about how it's their favorite holiday. Paul and I both grew up not celebrating Halloween, and we are doing the same with our family. I'm still trying to figure out what that looks like, though. (Are “fall festivals” okay? Costumes? Trick-or-treating?)

  • Jane Janovyak

    You're making perfect sense to me, Steve. I share your feelings. We started down the trick-or-treat road years ago when the first kids were young, but it didn't last long for us. That was 28 years ago. Already, the decorations and costumes were getting too out of hand, and the sheer meanness of the teens out on the streets was disheartening to see. We gave it one more try when we moved to a small town in 1990, thinking things might be more low-key there, but, no, it was just as creepy.

    The whole spread of the appetite for horror creeps me out about our culture. Saw VI? Clive Barker novels beside the cash registers in grocery stores? It makes me sad.

  • http://www.twentysixcats.com/ Ashley

    I feel the same way. There are Halloween stores here, too. And it makes me sad when so many people – especially Christian friends – talk about how it's their favorite holiday. Paul and I both grew up not celebrating Halloween, and we are doing the same with our family. I'm still trying to figure out what that looks like, though. (Are “fall festivals” okay? Costumes? Trick-or-treating?)