School district bans Halloween to accommodate ‘cultural beliefs’

a reply to: ketsuko

So you speak for all Christians everywhere then?

I didn't say I know better than all ... that was you.

You told me I have not witnessed what I have witnessed, and that I don't know what I know.

I offered my opinion. I backed up my opinion with facts. You've done nothing but spit at me.

I "googled" to make it obvious that you were talking out of your hat. I know you're not comfortable with actual evidence.

You want to make it about me. It's not about me.

Get over it.

a reply to: angeldoll

Did I argue for taking Halloween away?

(I'm starting to feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone.)

a reply to: grandmakdw

Did the Muslims do it?

Did the Liberals do it?

You didn't bother to post a citation in your OP.

I followed up with an article from a local newspaper/website.

But, curiously, Is there something wrong, intrinsically, with wanting to include ALL KIDS in school activities?

Is bringing people together rather than separating them part of the liberal/progressive/communist plot to destroy America now?

And of course, as you claim, the deep sacred Christian Holiday of Halloween?

... are you READING what you're writing, even?

a reply to: earthling42

So Samhain and All Saints would be similar in a sense. It seems the Catholic Church was trying to do its usual thing there. There is also Dia de la Muerta from Central and South America which was originally more an August time of year thing, but has similar connotations. It got moved to more November also.

There are quite a few days at that time of year that have the similar theme - marking the dead with the spooky idea of them coming back to join you.

a reply to: Gryphon66

We have both Googled, and we both have anecdotals.

So, we are where we are. You can ignore that, but I don't.

a reply to: Gryphon66

You might be in the twilight zone I hadn't considered that. :0

Anyway, the OP was pointing a finger at PC, which she obviously despises, and yet there are those who like to blame everything on Christians. I personally blame everything on the tea party, but as you wish.

Meh, this whole thread has gotten silly.

Happy Halloween, Gryphon.

originally posted by: grandmakdw

originally posted by: Gryphon66
a reply to: grandmakdw

How did this get morphed into PC?

Just out of curiosity.

That was my intention when I started the thread actually.

To point out the absolute ridiculous notion of banning
anything that just might, maybe hurt someones feelings,
or make one person feel left out.

How about banning football?
I feel really left out during football season,
I don't like watching football and it hurts my feelings
when people talk about it in front of me and I feel
left out.
See how insane it all becomes?

Regardless of who wanted to ban Halloween at the
school, it was ridiculous, and done in the name
of inclusiveness according to the Principal.
How insane and inane.

So you were playing your "mind games" with us again, instead of actually being concerned about kids not getting to celebrate Halloween?

Bravo. You win.

Blather on about PC all you want.

originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: Gryphon66

We have both Googled, and we both have anecdotals.

So, we are where we are. You can ignore that, but I don't.

LOL ... but when I Google it's questionable.

When you Google, it's just verifying ...

You're obsessed. I haven't ignored anything.

I didn't claim that Christians were to blame. I suggested that might have been some of the complaints.

You're the one who went apoplexic on me, because you, oh wise one, know all.

Again, get over it. The kids have their Halloween back! Isn't that the important thing?

a reply to: angeldoll

Happy Halloween to you as well, Angel.

Did you think I was in favor of banning Halloween?

If so, why? I'm just curious. No diatribes will be launched at you, LOL.

originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: earthling42

So Samhain and All Saints would be similar in a sense. It seems the Catholic Church was trying to do its usual thing there. There is also Dia de la Muerta from Central and South America which was originally more an August time of year thing, but has similar connotations. It got moved to more November also.

There are quite a few days at that time of year that have the similar theme - marking the dead with the spooky idea of them coming back to join you.

Good point.

Probably has a lot to do with "honoring the ancestors" as well as "being thankful for the harvest."

In more tropical environments, where there's no annual harvest, the two themes got separated.

Nice.

a reply to: grandmakdw

At first when I read the headline I was very dismissive of the idea.

As a kid I was raised in a fundamentalist household and forbidden from celebrating Halloween because it was a day that "glorified darkness". Naturally this made me want to celebrate it that much more. So when I hear about someone trying to take the fun of Halloween away from a bunch of kids I have to cringe and think "let them have their fun!"

But on the other hand why should a SCHOOL, a place of education, even feel obligated to acknowledge holidays? Outside of giving kids off on certain federal holidays I can't really see any cause for schools to even celebrate if they don't want to. Now obviously I think the whole "Politically Correct" thing often goes overboard and is the wrong motivation but if they want to opt out of Halloween let em, schools shouldn't be under any obligation to celebrate a holiday.

a reply to: Titen-Sxull

According to some of the extremist positions above, bending over backward to transform this into an anti-PC rally, Halloween is a CHRISTIAN holiday!

It's one of the underlying foundations of American Christian Culture! Along with Christmas and Easter, apparently.

These folks didn't grow up in Georgia, I know that for sure.

Halloween has been the Devil's Holiday for at least 20 years down here, simultaneous with the rise of the Christian Right, etc.

But, hey, I just live here and see it year after year.

I think Halloween is fun for kids, costumes and candy. Thanksgiving is for family, football and turkey dinner. Christmas is lights, snow, presents, booze and good food. New Years? Meh. About the dumbest holiday out there, imho. 4th of July is good for celebrating independence. Labor Day for cook outs. Memorial Day for remembering the vets. If you want to celebrate any other day, then knock yourself out I suppose.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
I think Halloween is fun for kids, costumes and candy. Thanksgiving is for family, football and turkey dinner. Christmas is lights, snow, presents, booze and good food. New Years? Meh. About the dumbest holiday out there, imho. 4th of July is good for celebrating independence. Labor Day for cook outs. Memorial Day for remembering the vets. If you want to celebrate any other day, then knock yourself out I suppose.

That's a perfect secular take on all of it. (I'm not being sarcastic; I think you've just made an excellent point!)

Too bad some folks want to invoke religion in the middle of it and mess up the fun, eh?

a reply to: Gryphon66

Oh no, I didn't think you were in favor of banning Halloween. I think you are in favor of banning Christians.

a reply to: Gryphon66

That's my take on it. It's what my family and I do. If people want to throw religion into the mix, they should. None of my business. And that's the crux right there. Ban it, hate it, love it, I don't care. We'll celebrate it regardless and do it our way.

a reply to: Gryphon66

I didn't find out Halloween was, at least in part, based on a Christian holiday until I was close to adulthood, by that time I was too old to even really care about celebrating it anyway.

In some Christian circles it is seen as a bad thing, in others it's a completely innocuous secular holiday.

People take holidays way too seriously in my opinion. For instance I am an atheist, but I celebrate Christmas, and most of the time that's what I call it, Christmas. You don't have to believe in the superstitious element of a holiday to have a good time and hang out with your family/friends. That's why I like Dicken's Christmas Carol so much, it's the ultimate non-religious set up for Christmas, a day about charity, good will, family and friends.

a reply to: Gryphon66

Halloween was derived from Samhain, it has transitioned into a celebration with some old elements such as the opening of the gate to the underworld, the thin veil between the world of the dead and the world of the living, hence the ghosts and dark sphere.
It has nothing to do with christianity, but they have christianized pagan traditions and gave their own meaning to it.

originally posted by: angeldoll
a reply to: Gryphon66

Oh no, I didn't think you were in favor of banning Halloween. I think you are in favor of banning Christians.

I am in favor of not letting Christians trample the Constitution.

The Constitution prevents me from "banning" Christians.

I would like for people to leave their belief-based culture behind and adopt logic and reason, but that's personal.

Thanks for your answer; enjoy the Season.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: Gryphon66

That's my take on it. It's what my family and I do. If people want to throw religion into the mix, they should. None of my business. And that's the crux right there. Ban it, hate it, love it, I don't care. We'll celebrate it regardless and do it our way.

Most of America used to think like you and your family.

I miss that America. Thanks for your answer!