I saw a story on the news earlier, and later read an AP article in the New York Daily News regarding the same issue today. There are several towns around the country that are now limiting the age of Trick-or-Treaters to 12 and under. Now I understand people using discretion as to whether or not they will give candy to older members of the halloween festivities. But actually enacting an ordinance that says teens will be fined and or JAILED for going out for free candy on a night where it is perfectly acceptable to solicit sweets from every house in the neighborhood is downright offensive.
Mayor Mark Eckert of Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis led a push in 2008 to ban trick or treating by high school-aged teens. His reason for this ban was because single mothers and senior citizens were complaining that "6-foot-tall teenagers" were showing up on doorsteps and frightening them. That's the point of the holiday, and what happens when a 6-foot-tall 11 year old who hit an early growth spurt shows up knocking for candy? Does he get turned away because he's freakishly tall for his age? It's discrimination at it's worst. Not only that, it's discriminating against children. And it's wrong.
Hans Broedel, a University of North Dakota History Professor and expert on early traditions, says excluding teens from trick or treating could make it more appealing for teens for do other, less desirable things.
Later, while searching for more rediculous Halloween Laws, I came across this gem:
Bruce Nolan of The Christian Century reports that Livingston Parish, Louisiana, has passed an ordinance that makes trick-or-treating on Sunday, unlawful. For the first time ever, the Parish of roughly 120,000 will observe Halloween festivities on Monday, November 1. In recent years, parish officials had discussed whether or not to observe the child friendly holiday at all citing its associations to the occult.
In 2003, Parish officials moved Halloween to Oct 30, to prevent it from coinciding with Friday Night High School Football. Then in 2004, the parish passed a law that says that Halloween will be observed on Oct. 31 unless it falls on a Sunday, then it will be observed on Monday.
The American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU) warned of threat to the religious freedom of anyone wanting to celebrate Halloween as a religious feast, although trick-or-treating is not part of Wiccans' observance of the day.
All in all, I feel that local governments are getting just a bit too involved in things that may not be such a top priority on the government agenda. Go balance your budget or something, I'm sure that's in need of some work, and leave the kids alone on the one night of the year when it's ok to go knocking door to door and simply saying, "Gimme Candy!"
To see what the fear-mongers have to say on this issue...go check out http://itfeelsright.blogspot.com/2010/10/trick-or-treat-not-in-my-backyard.html
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Who IS David R. Edwards?
An Honorably Discharged Disabled Veteran, Formerly an Army Broadcast Journalist and Public Affairs Specialist, a Former student of the Temple School of Radio/Television/Film, an addict of Nicotine, Caffeine, and most things legal, but unhealthy. I'll take a stance on any topic, no matter how irrelevant or uninteresting...The fun is in the argument, and you never know where the argument will take you. I may not always have the most popular opinions, but respect has to start somewhere. While I may not always like your side of the story, I'll listen, respect it...and then tell you all the reasons you are probably wrong...
And this is...
And this is...
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