Contrary to popular opinion, candy manufactures did not invent Halloween. That’s not to say, like any good business, they don’t take advantage of a good opportunity.
Halloween began in Europe more than 2,000 years ago with the Celts. They celebrated the end of harvest on October 31. It was also their new year, a time when they believed the veil that separated life and death was at its thinnest.
As the Catholic Church grew into power, they frowned upon the pagan rituals the Celtics performed to keep away the dead.
In the seventh century, the Vatican started its own holiday on November 1 called Hallowmas to honor martyrs. Hallow means holy. Hallowmas translates to mass of the holy — or saints. Today Catholics celebrate All Saints Day every November 1.
The night before, October 31, was All Hallows Eve, which eventually became Halloween.
In the 1840s — during the potato famine — Irish immigrants brought their traditions with them for this holiday, including playing tricks on neighbors. To keep from being recognized, young pranksters wore masks.
During the 1930s, the tricks grew to be more dangerous until it became a form of extortion — give us candy, or we’ll trash your house.
I remember helping my dad in the 1970s coat the windows of the newspaper with kerosene to make it easier the next day to clean off any rotten eggs or graffiti written in wax.
At this time, the town published an ordinance the week before Halloween making it illegal to “possess any egg, rock, firecracker, bottle rocket, missile, paint, paraffin, wax, aerosol can containing paint, shaving cream or a soap solution” on the street. The ordinance also contained a 9 p.m. curfew.
That ordinance was last published in 1987.
That seems scary. But today, there are even more frightening stories.
Last week, in Broward County, Florida, a school board member was proud to chaperon a group of elementary school children on a field trip to a gay bar. Their menu features The Big Girl Burgers, Rhoda Cowboy, Ivana Hooker, Hellena Bun, Georgia Bleu, Young ranch hand and Willy cheesesteak.
Where do they take their Middle School students on field trips, Hooters or maybe a strip club?
In Loudoun County, Virginia, a mother pulled her children from the public school system after her 6-year-old daughter asked her if she was “born evil” because she’s white. Her daughter learned this from a history lesson on critical race theory at school.
Also scary is the way some schools treat parents who are concerned about their children’s education.
As a parent in the Los Alamitos Unified School District in California received applause after speaking about her concerns with mask mandates at a school board meeting, the district president was caught on a hot mic saying “f--- you,” during the applause.
From elementary school to college, our education system today is more focused on political indoctrination and less on knowledge. This is scary.
Last week the University of Pittsburgh added new words to be frowned upon to their ‘sexist language’ list. Examples of sexist language include secretary, clerk, ombudsman, mankind, chairman, freshman, upperclassmen, lowerclassmen and ladies and gentlemen.
Of course these are just suggestions now. But you can bet, any student using these words in a paper or report won’t receive an A.
Indoctrinating college students with hate at Rutger’s University is Brittney Cooper, a professor of women’s and gender studies and African studies. During a critical race theory discussion last month, Cooper — who is black — said “I think that white people are committed to being villains in the aggregate.”
She said there’s no “sufficient” solution to addressing white supremacy. “The thing I want to say to you is we got to take these motherf---kers out.”
After that statement, she followed up that she “doesn’t believe in a project of violence.” Really?
Cooper is the literal definition of a racist.
Turn those statements around. If they had been made by a white professor about the black race, he or she would have been fired immediately and ostracized by society, and rightfully so. Nothing will happen to Cooper.
These are just five examples, all within the last month. Are you scared yet?
