Now they're going after Halloween

[L&Lfan]

I believe there's a war on Christmas, a war on Halloween and we've just seen there's a war on Columbus Day. I think there's a war on many things that are a cherished part of American culture and traditions. Ok, knock yourself out flaming away...

 

[dish rag]

I believe there's a war on Christmas, a war on Halloween and we've just seen there's a war on Columbus Day. I think there's a war on many things that are a cherished part of American culture and traditions. Ok, knock yourself out flaming away...

Well I agree with you, and it's what I was alluding to earlier.

 

[Kaytie]

Or put another way, Salem in Sept-Oct. is absolutely the last place any humorless, spoilsport Halloween hater would ever want to be.

Nope. The last place we want to be is in ridiculous traffic on the roads leading into Salem. What ever happened to that flyover that was mentioned a few years back?.

 

[wonder whisper]

I know a lot of evangelical families who view Halloween celebrations as offensive to their religion, but I don't think any of them belong to denominations where that is explicitly preached - it is just their interpretation of their church's teachings about the occult and supernatural.

Given there aren't very many evangelicals in my area, I can't comment on the level of "offense" they may or may feel regarding Halloween. From what I have read over time, the overwhelming majority of religious based objections to Halloween being celebrated are fragmented, usually popping in the late September to mid October time frame in the form of sermons or edicts in random fundamentalist congregations (usually in parts of the midwest and south) urging members to spurn the holiday, . The educational administrator tact of banning the term for use in any school sanctioned activity "out of concern not to offend or isolate" is relatively new and appears most frequently in so-called "progressive" regions.

 

[declansdad]

Thank you for the example and yes, what is going on here (given the vague statements by the school administrators involved about Halloween not being "inclusive" enough) is at it's core tyranny of the minority. All it takes is for one person to complain that they find a particular holiday to be "offensive" and the bureaucrats immediately force the majority to accommodate that single complaint.

The problem is, that only exacerbates the problem, since these decisions are being made with complete ignorance of the emotional impact of banning long held traditions. What had been a benign annual event in October now becomes another flash point in the battle between those who want to hold on to traditions and those doubling down on trying to steam clean everything - based on a flawed notion that there can be a world where no one is ever offended by anything.

Oh man, exaggerate much.

By the way Halloween is not a holiday.

Wasn't there a poster that started one of these threads every year around this time, Candy something?

 

[IAHFTPT]

.

 

[wonder whisper]

Or you could take it as the majority has embraced the fact that there are also the minority and there is nothing wrong with doing something for all of us, not just some of us.

Embracing the minority is fine. That is why the CHRISTMAS holiday band I perform in -- which performs at many schools -- has Christian, Jewish even some Atheist members. But the repertoire is primarily made of CHRISTMAS music (yes, we have some Hanukkah numbers) and we are referred to as presenting a CHRISTMAS -- NOT a "holiday" - concert.

Or put another way, embracing the minority does not mean one has to gut the traditions of the majority.

 

[Suger Mag]

As a Salem resident you who hate Halloween are kindly uninvited to attend the month of October - all the rest meet you at the Main Spot for a pint, ghost tour & costume contest!!!! I'll be dressed in as Neegan & carrying Lucille.

Hey no fair, I NEVER said I hate Halloween, it is one of my favorite times of the year. Wish I could get to Salem this month because it is a hoot, but too much going on.

Pics or it didn't happen, or I just love Neegan (sidenote: I just love Neegan.)

LOL, my daughter's dance studio is doing a Haunted Nutcracker this year for a local festival. She is the Sour Plum Fairy... and my husband is Neegan the Rat King, I had a lot of fun making his Lucille.

 

[Colleen27]

Given there aren't very many evangelicals in my area, I can't comment on the level of "offense" they may or may feel regarding Halloween. From what I have read over time, the overwhelming majority of religious based objections to Halloween being celebrated are fragmented, usually popping in the late September to mid October time frame in the form of sermons or edicts in random fundamentalist congregations (usually in parts of the midwest and south) urging members to spurn the holiday, . The educational administrator tact of banning the term for use in any school sanctioned activity "out of concern not to offend or isolate" is relatively new and appears most frequently in so-called "progressive" regions.

Do you think perhaps that is a product of perception rather than objective reality? As has been pointed out here, schools all over the country have been making these same changes for many years... but it is a news story brought to this board for discussion when it happens in a "progressive" state. No one seems to care when midwestern or southern schools yield to pressure from book-burning fundamentalists and took the "demonic" holiday out of the schools, or when pragmatic administrators simply decide that having kids come in/change into costumes is too much hassle and move the Halloween parties to after school.

And honestly, I don't get why seeking not to offend or isolate is such a bad thing. School is tough enough with enough pressure to conform for most kids without making it a free for all of "just sit it out" traditions that offend or alienate members of certain groups.

 

[wonder whisper]

traditions that offend or alienate members of certain groups.

So the supposedly aggrieved universe is now being described as nameless, faceless "certain groups." If supporters of banning the use of the word "Halloween" in labeling school functions want to be repeatedly vague about they are ostensibly trying to protect, it's probably better to use the "phantom" label I employed earlier, since it's more descriptive of what's really going on here.

 

[tvguy]

Halloween has been banned in a lot of public schools here for at least 25 years. It's now the "Harvest Festival".

 

[roseaster]

Sock puppets, sock puppets everywhere.

 

[Colleen27]

So the supposedly aggrieved universe is now being described as nameless, faceless "certain groups." If supporters of banning the use of the word "Halloween" in labeling school functions want to be repeatedly vague about they are ostensibly trying to protect, it's probably better to use the "phantom" label I employed earlier, since it's more descriptive of what's really going on here.

No, I used "certain groups" because those groups vary from issue to issue and I was speaking broadly. On Halloween, "certain groups" is primarily fundamentalist and conservative Christians - those who feel there is something inappropriate about enjoying, even in a playful way, the occult and supernatural - as well as some educators and parents who object for practical reasons, like the logistics of costumes in school or parties taking away from class time. When it comes to Christmas, "certain groups" is non-Christians who feel excluded from celebrations that ignore their holidays and traditions while pressuring them to comply with the traditions of the majority. On other issues, it is other groups - for example, grandparents' day is now special person's day, in acknowledgment of the fact that many children don't have living or nearby grandparents to invite to school.

 

[Kaytie]

As a Salem resident you who hate Halloween are kindly uninvited to attend the month of October

We weren't planning to, but does the Salem Chamber of Commerce know you're disinviting a number of potential visitors?

ll the rest meet you at the Main Spot

?

Embracing the minority is fine. That is why the CHRISTMAS holiday band I perform in -- which performs at many schools -- has Christian, Jewish even some Atheist members

Hiring, or accepting qualified/talented persons without regard to religion is common sense*. Nothing to do with embracing any minority.

If supporters of banning the use of the word "Halloween" in labeling school functions want to be repeatedly vague about they are ostensibly trying to protect

'In a message to parents the school principal says, “…the costume parade is out of our ordinary routine and can be difficult for many students. Also, the parade is not inclusive of all the students and it is our goal each and every day to ensure all student’s individual differences are respected.”'
This could easily refer to financially, with no connection to beliefs.

*and probably legally mandated

 

[mummabear]

Our school is going the other way.
Halloween is not big here but getting bigger every year.
This year is the first school Spooktacular, we plan this to be an annual carnival.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

no pun in intended
For the Love of GOD
I am tired of all the "adapting" to those who find offense in the "new age"
If you don't like something, oh well.

 

[sam_gordon]

no pun in intended
For the Love of GOD
I am tired of all the "adapting" to those who find offense in the "new age"
If you don't like something, oh well.

I'm curious. Did you even read the articles? They covered two schools. Once school is having their party/costume parade after school hours. The other school had TEACHERS saying they didn't want to plan a party that all the kids wouldn't participate in. Neither article said anyone was offended by anything.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

I'm curious. Did you even read the articles? They covered two schools. Once school is having their party/costume parade after school hours. The other school had TEACHERS saying they didn't want to plan a party that all the kids wouldn't participate in. Neither article said anyone was offended by anything.

You keep mentioning the teachers but honestly who cares what they want. The class parties are about the kids, not the teachers.

 

[wonder whisper]

Halloween has been banned in a lot of public schools here for at least 25 years. It's now the "Harvest Festival".

Oh, no! Does that means that mean the next thing on the chopping block is the annual KCBS showing of "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown?"

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

You keep mentioning the teachers but honestly who cares what they want. The class parties are about the kids, not the teachers.

If you want to go down that route... Schools are for learning, not parties.

I don’t personally feel that way, just saying...