fracas

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Fracas’ The Monday Melee for October 29, 2007

Todays Melee will focus on the topic of ‘Halloween’.

1. The Misanthtropic: Name something about humanity you absolutely hate.
The sick and twisted side of anyone that would make them think it’s ok to tamper with Halloween treats in an attempt to harm children. 

2. The Meretricious: Expose something or someone that’s phony, fraudulent or bogus.
The idea that we’re celebrating evil, satan, or any other number of ways to describe that.

Honestly folks… I’m 43 and never in my life was even I, ever taught that this is was Halloween is about. Halloween today is about getting to dress up like a princess, or a bumblebee, a fireman… or even a big hulky monster… and play pretend. With Halloween on a weekday this year, this past Saturday evening brought Halloween promotions at watering holes all over. Having reason to be in one briefly that evening, I noted with great pleasure, the creative inventions of the college crowd there to enjoy the fun. There was a fellow wearing a hospital gown open in the back to reveal a large fake bum; a gal dressed in white with large colorful dots painted all over her… to go with the “Twister” spinner she had attached to her; the cutest bumblebee costume cleverly made by abundant usage of black electrical tape; Pipi Longstocking, and the list goes on.

One never gets too old to enjoy a little bit of excusable pretend. I have a sneaky feeling the candy might play a bit of a part too. And this… is what Halloween really means to everyone I’ve ever asked about it. Now don’t get me wrong, if you’re someone who doesn’t celebrate… I respect that. I just really wish those who don’t would stop trying to make those of us who do, feel as though we’re doing something terrible and evil.

After all, God knows my heart and you don’t. I think I’ll let Him decide. Thanks.

3. The Malcontent: Name something you’re unhappy with.
I’m unhappy that people use the whole trick or treating thing to excuse handing out religious paraphernalia.

I’m a firm and unshakeable Christian. I’ve placed more things in my life into God’s hands than some people will ever have to deal with. And yet… you who hand out little cards hawking your view of Christianity to my children offend me greatly.

You see… there’s this thing about having children. It means that it is not only my responsibility, but my right to bring them up according to my own faiths and beliefs. I do so knowing that when they are an adult, they might choose to continue with the faith they were raised in, or they might choose to follow another. I do my best and leave the rest up to the God that I believe in. Rememeber you who give out religious propaganda to my child, that it is a child you are dealing with. You are attempting to usurp my role as a parent in this, and frankly… you are out of line.  Go forth and attempt to convert other adults… we expect that and we as adults, hopefully have the capacity to weigh what we hear from all those attempting to convert us, and make an informed decision. Our children though, are not for you to convert. Bring up your own children in your own faith, and know they too, like mine, will reach adulthood and make their own choices.

So this Halloween, if you don’t believe in the handing out of treats, just turn your porch light off and leave the teaching of religion to the parents of those children. Why not instead, spend the time you would’ve spent at the door trying to convert my child… with your own?

4. The Meritorious: Give someone credit for something and name it if you can.
I have to give credit to those who use their imagination and come up with something really clever as a costume. Some of the most wonderful costumes I’ve seen have been those that cost little in the way of money, but were high on the imagination, genious and in all liklihood… time taken to craft. 

One that comes to mind was the student who came dressed as a bag of groceries. Crafted from paper and cardboard, he was a walking paper grocery bag… with an abundance of groceries peeking out of the top. (I sure hope his mom made sure the cereal and cracker boxes were empty before she fastened them.) Then there were the twins who came as dice, and  the girl who came as a bunch of grapes. Nothing more than a body suit, tights and a lot of purple balloons.

5. The Mirror: See something good about yourself and name it
My children have always known that whatever they wanted to be, mom would move the earth to try figure out how to make it for them. As such, I have boxes of costumes that include Alvin the Chipmunk, the Tooth Fairy, a very authentic looking Fireman’s coat, an impressive shimmery Snow Queen’s cape, an assortment of animals and my favorite… the year fraccy child #1 was the Big Bad Wolf and fraccy child #2 was the right age to be Little Red Riding Hood.

Someday, I’ll be the Grandma with the best dress-up clothes trunk around.  

6. The Make-Believe: Name something you wish for.
People to understand that this is 2007 and they really shouldn’t hand out treats that are unwrapped. I’d rather they just didn’t hand out anything because I’m going to throw it out anyway. It just has to be that way because of Melee answer #1.

Now it’s your turn.

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[Image Sources: ratemyhalloweencostume and uberreview]