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Halloween is for Kids, Community

This holiday is a great opporunity to get kids out in the community.

October 31, 2007

A Christmas List: 2005: Several things that I need to do to myself to improve myself.

Christmas List 2004: The annual look at what we really need this Christmas-time.

Independence Day: Thoughts on independence today and yesterday.

Memorial Day 2007: Some thoughts on today's holiday.

Thanks to Big Oil and Coal: Giving thanks to the darker side of our holiday.

Thanksgiving 2003: Giving thanks to all for building a great society.

Thanksgiving 2004: Considering what this holiday really means.

Thanksgiving 2005: This Thankgiving give thanks to somebody special: yourself.

Halloween is for Kids, Community

Everybody knows Halloween is a fun holiday for kids, to get out, meet some of their neighbors and have a good time in the fall. Giving out candy when visiting neighbor's houses inspires community and less of a fear of neighbors.

Too often today our society has become isolated from one individual to another. Halloween is one such chance to get back together, and spend sometime as a community talking to our neighbors. At least for one night a year, the people you live so closely to are not so isolated from your life.

I do not understand why the religious right is so anti-Halloween. It's a fun holiday, one more about community then the worship of daemons or fears. It's meant to peak one's sweet tooth at least for one night, and enjoy some candy. Most kids do not know or understand why they dress up and knock on neighbor's doors, but the sense of community it brings is invaluable.

It is more concerning how some adults choose to partake of this holiday. Some older people now want to join kids in the celebration of the holiday. These big kids, often go tricker-treating or have parties. But shouldn't adults have enough community experience, and know their neighbors well enough to not need to celebrate the holiday.

There also needs to be a commercialization of the holiday. Too often, it's easy to get a Halloween costume for $20 or $30 dollars from a store, in about any commercially popular character that you want. All made out of toxins, proudly imported by China. Reinforcing commercial messages, encouraging children to excessively consume.

All in all, this high-fructose corn syrup holiday is a fun diversion from our everyday life. It's a great chance for our young to meet our neighbors, and learn that they are not the scary people that the mass-media so often portrays them to be.

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