School district bans Halloween to accommodate ‘cultural beliefs’

Let's get back to what we actually know from the reports here ...

The school didn't willy-nilly decide to destroy Halloween out of malace.

There were parents-students that did not participate in Halloween for religious reasons (as cited in the articles) ... i.e. they were not participating because they were ... wait for it ... exercising their relgious freedom not to do so.

Some of you, in your rush to condemn everything you see as PC, multiculturalism and diversity, are rapidly attacking the school for doing this ... when they did it to protect the very religious freedoms you're whining about.

Some of the same folks who are frantically condemning the school board for trying to respect religious beliefs are the same ones who in so many other threads are praising the rights of individuals to ignore our laws while supposedly standing up for their religious rights.

... to the extent that you're trying to declare modern American Halloween as a Christian holiday under attack by subversive leftists, liberals, Muslims, atheists ... you know ... your "usual suspects."

That's simply insane.

The modern United States was founded on "multiculturalism and diversity."

We are a uniquely multicultural people.

We are not a "pure race" as some would like.

Anything else is simply rewriting history.

originally posted by: Skadi_the_Evil_Elf


However, it is equally likely that no one complained, and this is an act of an over-zealous PC Brigade limp-leftist school board member seeing or anticipating offense where none exists. That happens way more than people realize. Some zealous little goody-two-shoes assumes that a certain group of people will be offended by something because they think they should be, when in actuality, said group of people are either supportive of or, apathetic towards, whatever the offensive thing might be. I've seen it happen a lot. A school that has Muslim students in it will decide to ban Christmas decorations because they believe the Muslim students will be offended, yet the students themselves either aren't bothered by them, or actually enjoy the decorations, and never even made a complaint.

Either way, its ridiculous.

It appears from what little can be garnered from the article
that your last conclusion is probably the most accurate.

It does happen alot that people think something might offend
someone or might make someone feel left out,
so they have a knee jerk reaction.

I think that is why many schools, my daughter's included (she
is a teacher) are not allowed to put up any kind of
Christmas decoration at all, no tree, no ornaments, no
nothing, not even Santa. Easter too. Not even a bunny or egg.
Hanukkah is also thrown out, no dradle, no candles.
Often times no one has complained about trees, or ornaments,
or santa, or candle holders, or bunnies, or eggs. They just
decide that someone might get their feelings hurt and so
ban them. That is so very common these days.
The PC police at work and quite vigilant.

originally posted by: Gryphon66
Let's get back to what we actually know from the reports here ...

The school didn't willy-nilly decide to destroy Halloween out of malace.

There were parents-students that did not participate in Halloween for religious reasons (as cited in the articles) ... i.e. they were not participating because they were ... wait for it ... exercising their relgious freedom not to do so.

Some of you, in your rush to condemn everything you see as PC, multiculturalism and diversity, are rapidly attacking the school for doing this ... when they did it to protect the very religious freedoms you're whining about.

Some of the same folks who are frantically condemning the school board for trying to respect religious beliefs are the same ones who in so many other threads are praising the rights of individuals to ignore our laws while supposedly standing up for their religious rights.

... to the extent that you're trying to declare modern American Halloween as a Christian holiday under attack by subversive leftists, liberals, Muslims, atheists ... you know ... your "usual suspects."

That's simply insane.

That's great exercising your religious freedom to not participate doesn't mean doing away with it. Also I have no love of religion but now public schools deciede to respect religion. I think there is some bs in this article. But it is what it is

originally posted by: Squirlli
Can someone please help me, I am terribly confused.

I THOUGHT America was supposed to be a melting pot of cultures and beliefs. Like a big 'ol pot luck of freedom.
That it was not only allowed but ok to openly and freely practice your religion and cultural practices here in America without fear of persecution. within reason. Not that Halloween is a religious practice (though have you seen how some people decorate?)

whats next
Valentine's Day - its not fair to single ppl
St. Patrick's Day - not everyone is Irish/ St. Pat was a jerk for chasing all the snakes out of Ireland (its anti pagan) (i'm reaching)
Easter - there is no way a dude came back to life/ *gasp* why would anyone celebrate sexuality/ fertile lands/ other stuff
Mother's Day - Not everyone is a mother/ or likes their mother
Father's Day- Not everyone is a father or likes their father
Thanksgiving - ( I personally can not think of a reason to ban this day, it is literally the best day of the entire year in my opinion and I refuse to even try to attach a negative meaning to it)
Christmas - Not everyone believes in christ/ ** Spoiler alert** Santa isn't real/ people are too greedy/ and turn into bigger Jerkfaces around this time of year

Maybe I'm stupid, or maybe I'm anti politically correct, BUT I just don't get it, WHHHYYYYYY!

Another superstar of a post!

Thanks for really getting what I meant by starting the thread!

originally posted by: ManBehindTheMask

originally posted by: Gryphon66
a reply to: ManBehindTheMask

Not from the South are you.

Check out the links I provided above.

Or ... is Pat Robertson not Christian?

Followup: Any reason you're disagreeing with me out of hand? I did post links proving my point, and its easy to find thousands more ... just type in "Christians against Halloween."

Gosh, I feel like you guys don't love your loyal Opposition anymore ... *sniff*

Yeah actually I am , born and raised

I realize you can find certain groups that dont do halloween

But the simple fact of the matter is the majority do take part in Halloween

First of all, thanks for your response way-back-there ... I missed it in the flurry.

Second, Christians in and around Atlanta (north-central Georgia) northern Alabama, Florida ... have been on about the Devil's holiday for years. It's the basis of the "trunk or treat" activities around here.

You were trying to cite me for unfairly suggesting that the "religious issues" with Halloween might have been Christian.

I didn't say that all Christians hate Halloween, and to claim as you did that it's not fairly widespread that Halloween is "of the Devil" among American Christians just seems like you're obsessively responding to anything you see as "an attack."

What I said wasn't "an attack" it was a reasonable observation that has not been disproved in any way.

originally posted by: Azureblue

originally posted by: grandmakdw
"MILFORD, Conn. – A Connecticut school district is banning Halloween in an effort to be inclusive.
Victoria Johannsen, a mother of a third-grader at Live Oaks School in Milford Public Schools, says she received a letter stating the school’s decision to no longer recognize Halloween “arose out of numerous incidents of children being excluded from activities due to religion, cultural beliefs, etc.,” the Connecticut Post reports.
The school is discontinuing a popular costume parade, banning students and staff from wearing costumes on the day and is rebranding Oct. 31st to be “fall themed.”
And if that’s not bad enough, Michelle Obama’s school lunch rules are impacting the lack of fun: “food is not an option” for classroom activities, according to the school’s letter."

Well, I suppose we should have seen this coming.
After all Halloween has several religious basis.
1. Christian (All Saints Day) - must be banned for that connection for sure
2. Pagan religious holiday
(Yes, there are modern Pagans who are still active)

Satanists and Wiccans for the most part have declared
Halloween a Christian and Pagan based religious
holiday.

Yep, we must be inclusive and fair to all,
all religious holidays must be banned from
all public arenas.

That is the modern politically correct way!

Multiculturalism and diversity are subverisve weapons used to weaken and disunite a country

The purpose of immigration is designed to water down national pride and national identity.

Why? firstly its part of Agenda 21 to reduce the living standards of the masses in first world countries to reduce 'unsustainable consumption' of xyz, in such countries and secondly, to weaken the the first world countries concerned.

Why weaken them? A country with racial, religious and cultural differences inevitability experiences those sorts of internal conflicts. This weakens and waters down national identity and national pride because the people start to care less about the country as they focus more on their own lives and keeping their head above water.

A country with a singular cultural, religious and racial identity has a lot of pride in that identity. Such country is united, has a strong sense of it own ideity and proud of who and what they are, their way of life and their values.

Such a country will fight much harder to repel those who would take it over using cultural, economic, financial, diplomatic and other silent and loud weapons. Japan is one such nation.

There is however, one small but very powerful country in the mid east that advocates multiculturalism for every other country but they themselves will have nothing to do with it.

1 guess only which country that is.

Superb reasoning and excellent post.

I had not looked at it this way.

This is a new perspective on political correctness
and why it has run amok.

a reply to: grandmakdw

"Superstar" eh?

Totally ignoring religious freedom, totally ignoring the Constitution, totally ignoring the facts of the matter ...

The point of your thread ... anything to hang a little more divisiveness on?

originally posted by: awareness10

originally posted by: Lucid Lunacy
a reply to: awareness10

Athianigod religion.

Are you looking for the term antitheism.? It seems like you are, yet... religion is precisely what it's against.

I was trying to make the point by quickly come up with a new cult name for atheists against god/religion as there are so many that keep popping up such as the flying spagetti religion which is a bit ridiculous. I find all of it ridiculous though, as it stifles human growth.

Anti-theism means people who are
against all religion, not just don't
believe but actively seek to destroy
all religion.
It is a very evangelistic group
who try very hard to convert
everyone to their "rational
way of thinking"
Kind of ironic.
But they actually exist, even
here on ATS.

a reply to: grandmakdw

I am amazed that you continue to glorify division in these threads, and yet, at the same time, make claims to be both a traditional American and a Christian.

When both of those traditions are all about inclusion, loving each other, accepting differences ...

Quite the conundrum, eh? No, not a bit of cognitive dissonance on display here.

a reply to: Gryphon66

Second, Christians in and around Atlanta (north-central Georgia) northern Alabama, Florida ... have been on about the Devil's holiday for years. It's the basis of the "trunk or treat" activities around here.

Can you calm your ego and Christian bigotry down long enough to realize that these things, church parties, school parties, trunk or treat have been created by groups of people to protect their children from receiving dangerous or contaminated candies?

originally posted by: grandmakdw

originally posted by: awareness10

originally posted by: Lucid Lunacy
a reply to: awareness10

Athianigod religion.

Are you looking for the term antitheism.? It seems like you are, yet... religion is precisely what it's against.

I was trying to make the point by quickly come up with a new cult name for atheists against god/religion as there are so many that keep popping up such as the flying spagetti religion which is a bit ridiculous. I find all of it ridiculous though, as it stifles human growth.

Anti-theism means people who are
against all religion, not just don't
believe but actively seek to destroy
all religion.
It is a very evangelistic group
who try very hard to convert
everyone to their "rational
way of thinking"
Kind of ironic.
But they actually exist, even
here on ATS.

And why do you post, again Grandma?

Haven't you told us, time and time again, you quite often post here as a sort of "mental experiment"?

Because, you want to try to invoke argumentation? While claiming all the while that anyone who was in favor of rationality and freedom would see things as you see them? While you take the opportunity to chime in with all the typical right-wing responses to ... well, everything?

Condemning an "evangelistic group that tries very hard to convert" others?

You sound like you're condemning your own actions.

originally posted by: angeldoll
a reply to: Gryphon66

Second, Christians in and around Atlanta (north-central Georgia) northern Alabama, Florida ... have been on about the Devil's holiday for years. It's the basis of the "trunk or treat" activities around here.

Can you calm your ego and Christian bigotry down long enough to realize that these things, church parties, school parties, trunk or treat have been created by groups of people to protect their children from receiving dangerous or contaminated candies?

My ego and Christian bigotry? LOL Because I speak the truth and back it up with facts?

Are you denying that there are many Christians who see Halloween as Satanic and demonic?

Are you now speaking for all Christians everywhere too?

Let me make an alternative suggestion. Why don't you post what you want to and I'll do the same as equal ATS members?

Save your little passive-aggressive quips for someone else; I'm not interested in your off-topic opinions of me.

a reply to: Gryphon66

My ego and Christian bigotry? LOL Because I speak the truth and back it up with facts?

Are you aware of the definition of propaganda? That's all you're doing here. Finding only those snippets that support your own narrow opinion while disregarding others.

Save your little passive-aggressive quips for someone else; I'm not interested in your off-topic opinions of me.

That's funny. You are the champion of ad hominid attacks. Projection, much?

Can you at least admit that "trunk or treat" is to prevent children from receiving contaminated candies? Or will you continue to assert that's it's because of the vile Christians?

originally posted by: Gryphon66
a reply to: grandmakdw

I am amazed that you continue to glorify division in these threads, and yet, at the same time, make claims to be both a traditional American and a Christian.

When both of those traditions are all about inclusion, loving each other, accepting differences ...

Quite the conundrum, eh? No, not a bit of cognitive dissonance on display here.

Wow who knew that was what it was all about. Guess the native Americans didn't get the inclusion memo .

originally posted by: angeldoll
a reply to: Gryphon66

My ego and Christian bigotry? LOL Because I speak the truth and back it up with facts?

Are you aware of the definition of propaganda? That's all you're doing here. Finding only those snippets that support your own narrow opinion while disregarding others.

Propaganda? LOL ... I've backed up what I've said repeatedly with quoted materials.

I want you to state, clearly, that you are denying that there is a national Christian effort to condemn Halloween.

I want you to state, clearly, that you have personal knowledge that every "trunk or treat" episode is merely Christians trying to protect their kids from bad candy and is not related to ridiculous beliefs about demons and devils.

If you won't state that, admit that you're trying to cite me with something that you have absolutely zero basis for.

And, as before, I encourage you to ignore what I'm writing if it offends you. That's certainly your perogative.

The school district under consideration in OP's uncited post made a decision to respect certain families "religious beliefs."

This has been roundly condemned here, when it is just as likely that those "religious beliefs" were Christian.

So, basically what I'm saying here is, if you feel that I'm spewing propaganda by pointing out the facts, it is indeed you who are trying to suppress the truth, not me.

a reply to: Reallyfolks

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

From "The New Colossus" written in praise of the message and symbolism of The Statue of Liberty ...

... or is the Statue of Liberty now a socialist/progressive symbol as well ... it did come from France, after all.



What was the original motto of these United States?

"E Pluribus Unum" ... out of many, one.

Traditional American values seem to disagree with your position.

originally posted by: angeldoll

Save your little passive-aggressive quips for someone else; I'm not interested in your off-topic opinions of me.

That's funny. You are the champion of ad hominid attacks. Projection, much?

Can you at least admit that "trunk or treat" is to prevent children from receiving contaminated candies? Or will you continue to assert that's it's because of the vile Christians?

So, you want to write about me and my "ad hominid" attacks? Not the actual matter under discussion?

As ad hominid would roughly translate as "to the human" ... are you saying I shouldn't address posts to people?

Look, you seem to be on some sort of "protect the Christians" kick that is blinding your reason ... let me summarize this for you:

1. The school officials stated that their initial decision to limit aspects of the usual Halloween celebration was intended to be more inclusive and to respect the "religious differences" of some familes.

2. I hypothesized that in some cases those "religious differences" might have come from Christians, and got piled on here by the usual suspects and told that Christians don't have any issues with Halloween, that it's actually a Christian holiday, and that I'm just "attacking Christians" for pointing out the facts of the matter.

3. You, like others before you, seem obsessed with absolving all Christians everywhere of these ridiculous ideas about Halloween, that it's "the devil's holiday" et. al. ... to what end I'm not sure: the facts to the contrary are obvious.

4. I am not and have not said that all "trunk or treat" celebrations are anti-demonic, but I have said that many of them that I am PERSONALLY FAMILIAR WITH are established on that basis.

5. And again, I encourage you to play the ball and forget your obsession with my posts. You seem upset.

originally posted by: Gryphon66
a reply to: Reallyfolks

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

From "The New Colossus" written in praise of the message and symbolism of The Statue of Liberty ...

... or is the Statue of Liberty now a socialist/progressive symbol as well ... it did come from France, after all.

What's said and what's reality are often two different things. As I suspect this issue falls into that category. If you want to be realistic and factual then the start would be to admit history is not filled with inclusion as you tried to post to support a point.