The very sad little boy who had no trick or treat.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

A bit of sociological observation here:

I live in a little town where nobody decorates for Halloween or Christmas much. The fundies have made it a no-fun zone. The churches have "Trunk or Treat" which was Sunday night.


The humorless fundies want to destroy all the holidays. They don't know that they were all stolen from the pagans anyway. My formerly fundie stepson got upset when I told him to get rid of his pagan evergreen Christmas tree and his pagan Easter eggs, if he wanted to get rid of all pagan holidays. And the Virgin Mary is venerated because the natives would not put up with an all-male Trinity that did not have a Goddess.

Dear Hubby let out his inner Clark Griswold and put up orange and purple lights. I sewed myself a witch's robe out of black cotton printed with haunted houses and bats and witches. Drafted my own pattern too -- I'm proud of that!!! I never took pattern drafting in college, just regular sewing.

I dyed my hair bright red and got some circle contacts (like Lady Gaga wears in the bathtub in the Bad Romance video) that have bright green rings around the pupil. They're corrective so I can see what I'm stumbling over (I'm extremely nearsighted and can't function without glasses or eyeballs).


We passed out candy both Sat. and Sun. nights. Sun. night we put up a movie screen and used an LCD projector and showed the first Harry Potter movie. Last night the woman across the street came over and handed out candy with us. We told her that people in England spell words differently than we do. I told her about "colour" and "jewellery". That was big news to her. She's the one that said "Whut's that Obammy thang?" when we had a big sign out in 2008. No idea that there was a presidential race going on. This woman is thirty years old. Not a little kid.


Sat. night a lady came up with her very depressed little boy and said he had found NO houses to trick or treat at. He looked so depressed. I would be too!! We loaded him up with Tootsie Pops and bubble gum so he would have something.


I'm convinced that Rural America is chronically depressed because of their churches telling them how bad and evil and sinful they are. Original sin is a poisonous doctrine. Everything that is pleasurable is sinful. They run commercials when the local communities vote on selling alcohol, telling the people that if they sell alcohol in a community it will turn into a place of sin and immorality -- automatically.

My county just went wet a couple of years ago. Now they sell beer and wine for off-premises consumption at the convenience stores. I don't know of any restaurants that sell hard liquor but there may be some in the county seat, a burg of 8,000 people.

The churches took over trick or treat by telling them witches and spooky costumes are satanic. They don't know that Halloween is short for All Hallows Eve, and that Nov. 1 is All Saints Day and Nov. 2 is All Souls Day, when we remember our dead ancestors, so it IS a Christian holiday (stolen from the pagans of course). But these fundies wouldn't know that because that's Catholic and they don't know anything about those "idol-worshiping Papists." They believe whatever their preachers tell them, which is probably wrong.

And they don't know that the Hispanics make a big deal out of Day of the Dead. In Houston I have seen Hispanics sitting around in cemeteries having a picnic at the graves of their loved ones, with their sugar skulls and special pastries. I think that's kinda neat.

Fundie rural America is busy stomping out fun in childhood. I see a lot of wasted opportunities to have fun with kids and a lot of wasted potential in the kids. Their parents don't want them to learn anything. They need mentors and the parents won't bring them around me, or other adults to learn skills. Example: We had some friends over Saturday to eat dinner. A little boy was fascinated with my sewing machine. I was working on my witch's robe. I explained that you make clothes on them. His momma said, "He's never seen a sewing machine before." I said, "If anyone wants to learn how to sew, I got three machines and we can have at it." The momma took off outside, and the little boy kept staring at my Singer.

Some people across the street from me that kept their lights off and that I heard homeschool their kids because they are fundies -- got their house toilet papered. We went out and interacted with the kids.

Several mommas told us how much they appreciated us having trick or treat so the kids would have something to do. In Crockett they had trick or treat on the square around the courthouse on Saturday, but we were told they didn't do it on Sunday.

[la la]

1. 'they' want us to go back to the past, dontcha know?

no fun, no enjoyment in life, all that will come in the 'hereafter'!1!!11

i want it NOW, when i can enjoy it~ ;>)

[bluestateguy]

2. It's the Right's annual War on Halloween

and we need people to write books and do TV shows about it to stop them.

[yellerpup]

3. What a fabulous manifestation of holiday spirit!

Sounds as if you and your husband really know how to throw a party. Thanks for educating the ignorant masses. I enjoyed your post very much.

;kick: & Rec.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

14. I did not explain the origins of Halloween to anybody.

I found out that explaining things, correcting peoples' misconceptions, is a waste of breath. After the neighbor woman said that "Buddhism is VOODOO!" and crossed her forearms like my Medicine Buddha statue was EEEEVIL. I gave her a five minute speech about Buddha and who he was. It did no good.

I figured that explaining the origins of Halloween to a woman who said "What's that Obammy thang?" two years ago was hopeless.

I just handed out candy and dressed up as an example.

[yellerpup]

24. I agree. Strong opinions can't be changed by fact.

But, you did provide FUN for the kids in your neighborhood and memories of generosity with a theatrical flair. The example you set will last with them. If you'd explained they would have had to endure counter-programming. A costume, candy, and a little kindness with go a long way. You probably helped open minds much more than you know. :hug:

[MuseRider]

4. Thankfully my little area

is exactly the opposite. I know there are a lot of conservatives here (not the time to debate that they are really socialist farmers but they have heard it from me) but not a word against Halloween that I have ever heard. Since we are so spread out there is an annual Halloween celebration......at the church. Dunno why it is this way but for now it is and I hope it stays like this.

[tigereye]

11. the Quakers here have a Halloween/harvest celebration and so do many

other churches.

[MuseRider]

35. :-)

These are Presbyterians and they load up with candy and other goodies for the kids. The entire community is invited and they come with trunks full of stuff.

We are in Kansas. The area is pretty conservative. I am sure there are many other tiny communities that are like this but I am pretty sure there are many who are not as well.

[whathehell]

5. Gawd....Makes me glad to have grown up an "idol worshipping papist"

What a bunch of dickheads.:eyes:

[lillypaddle]

6. What a COOL fucking thread

Ya know, :yourock:

That was the best EVAH!

[no_hypocrisy]

7. What gets me is a majority of these no-fun grown-ups went trick-or-treating as kids

and ate their fair share of candy and apples. And then once they're too old to do it, they won't let their kids go out.

[tigereye]

12. yeah, that always seems sort of odd..

[Alcibiades]

32. You're right: the attacks on Halloween are new

Began sometime in the 1980's, if I recall correctly. Like any cult, anything that gets the kids out of their controlled cult environment is bad.

I had one teen try and give me a brochure on her local baptist church as I gave her candy. She seemed embarrassed about it. If that's what makes Halloween OK for her freaky parents, I suppose it's OK. Still didn't take the brochure, though.

[boobooday]

8. The puritans forbade laughter

These guys want to go all the way back to that.

[monmouth]

9. Loved, loved your homepage. The house looks beautiful....n/t

[Control-Z]

22. Homepage? Where?

I want to see the house.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

23. At my blog.

http://lavidacountry.wordpress.com

Got the house painted blue a few months ago. The local gossip reaction, "Did some Messicans move in?". It's a Gothic Bungalow that I believe was built in 1883.

Here in Drab World, white folks don't paint their houses anything imaginative. They're all white or neutral brown or beige. Yuck.

:rofl:

[tigereye]

10. good for you! Keep up the good work.

Christianity (and I suspect other religions) seems to love the idea that people are inherently sinful - that's the way I was raised as a Catholic, with original sin, and confessing your sins, and guilt, etc. As an adult I have to say that this seems an absurd notion, since it denies so many aspects of joy and pleasure, which are so natural, particularly for children. Seems that there should be a way to teach decent behavior, kindness and good ethics without all the guilt, whatever one's religious beliefs may be!

[hedgehog]

43. A little off-topic - but right now I think the big fight in the Catholic Church is

between those of us who believe in a loving God and those who want to go back to original Sin, guilt, weekly confession, ignoring people at Church because you're too busy praying to God, etc, etc.

[virgogal]

13. Man,am I glad I live in Eastern MA.

[TBF]

15. Our neighborhood in suburban Houston decorated &

had a blast. Some have Bill White signs, some Perry, but many were handing out treats and we had tons of people come through. I thought it ironic though that the one house that is the most political (4 big republican signs in the yard - including "Save NASA Stop Obama") was one of the few houses not participating. Huge house with a 3-car garage and he was sitting it out. Typical...

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bullwinkle428]

25. "Save NASA - Stop Obama"?? BWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA!!

Do they have any idea that NASA is one of the biggest examples of socialism in American society?

I love the smell of tea-bagger hypocrisy in the morning!

[Dappleganger]

16. It's like we're living in Puritan times again...

so I guess that witch dunking comes next?

As a christian it pains me to see not just fundies who get bent out of shape about the holidays, but also those are easily misled by the fundies. Their kids are innocents in all of this and don't understand that we aren't to be led by fear. That's no way to bring up a child.

[KatyaR]

18. Jeebus G-d, how depressing....

I grew up in a tiny farming community, and we used to have the best time in the fall. We'd have a big bonfire out on somebody's property. The menfolk would spend days finding enough old timber to build a huge fire. We'd roast hot dogs and marshmallows and have hayrides and stuff, it was so much fun. Every one of those people were good church-going folk, but they never thought anything about celebrating Halloween.

Bless you for your efforts--I'm sure a lot of those kids will never forget this Halloween.

[47of74]

19. The fundies are all worried that...

...someone, somewhere is happy.

[JuniperLea]

20. That's why Irish dancers can only dance with their feet, you know...

And there can be no expression on their faces... in case the vicar passed the window, the kids wouldn't look like they were having fun or anything.

My church drove me to drink. We had costume parties on Halloween, but we had to dress as people from the Bible. My cousin grabbed the Devil costume; she had the most fun. It had a pointed rubber tail and everything. I decided to be Pharaoh's daughter, and I made my own costume to look exactly like the one she wore in my Bible, and I borrowed the dog's wicker basket bed, wrapped one of my dolls in cloth as close to the Hebrew cloth shown in my Bible. Then I got into trouble for making harem pants and was told they were inappropriate, and that my costume was too revealing... but it covered way more than the picture in my Bible. The Elders ultimately made me leave, permanently. Not for the costume, but they never seemed to let up on me.

I love spiritual people, but religious people scare the hell out of me.

[Denninmi]

21. Well, one Taliban is pretty much the same as the next.

It's too bad we have to have one here in America.

So, the 'Hell House' episode of King of the Hill a few years back was NOT a fabrication.

Personally, I couldn't stand to live in Fundieopolis. I live in the 'burbs of Detroit, with all kinds of people in my neighborhood, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist. Boy would THAT freak them out.

[mzteris]

26. just a little note:

not all homeschooled kids are fundies.

Lots of secular and/or liberals homeschool, too!

[EmeraldCityGrl]

29. Manifestor_of_Light

What a perfect name for you. Keep that light shining.:)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

34. thanks. Someone in ASAH gave me that name, I don't remember who.

Back when we had name change amnesty.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

30. I know that. But around here they're all fundies.

In fact, I know 3 kids that have just entered public school here and are a year late because they were homeschooled because their asshole father doesn't WANT them to get any education. I had to buy the 12 year old a dictionary, and they have to SNEAK BOOKS!!! He has forbidden his wife and kids from having any contact with us. If these children's minds are wasted it will be tragic.

Fortunately, they are old enough that they have NO respect for his Stone Age ideas. The two older ones are in high school. They are football players and weightlifters, and have threatened to beat the crap out of him if he hits their mother. Typical dysfunctional rednecks. They need help. The father will be a lonely old bastard, sitting around wondering why his family has deserted him. Unless he decides to kill them all first, to keep them from leaving (I am not kidding).

He wants to cripple their spirits and destroy them mentally, which in my opinion is evil. Please see details in my thread in R/T called "I am sick and tired of having Christianity shoved in my face."

[Generic Other]

27. Sounds like Mr Potter's Bedford Falls!

George Bailey killed himself after all.

[gkhouston]

28. um, what's the "trunk" in Trunk or Treat? n/t

[Manifestor_of_Light]

31. I think it's car trunks.

I am not sure but I think they park cars in rows and open the trunks and the kids get candy from them.

:shrug:

[gkhouston]

33. That's just weird. And doesn't sound very fun, either. n/t

[JNelson6563]

36. Very sad but good news here.

I live in the city, the largest one in the region, where there are actually neighborhoods and sidewalks. All the kids from the outlying rural areas come here to trick or treat. Thousand s of 'em! I got as much candy as I could afford to buy and we held our for a few hours but then had to turn the light out. It was great! Kids of all sizes and ages, some clever costumes, some barely costumed. I gave everyone candy and sent them all off with a "have fun!" Some of those little ones were so cute, just adorable!

I love my little city by the bay, we're very different politically and on matters of religion but we're all in agreement on having a good time. Halloween is one of those times, there are others throughout the year like the National Cherry Festival, the Winterfest and a few others. Come party with us sometime! :hi:

Julie

[Pacifist Patriot]

37. That's great. The fundies in your area would go apoplexic in my neighborhood.

My husband passes out beer. The lady across the street has pitchers of margaritas. A couple around the corner serves jello shots. The wine glass I carry around with me while escorting the kids never goes empty for very long. Must talk to the neighbor who put white zinfandel in it though. That was the creepy highlight of my Halloween.

You sound like such a wonderfully nice person. Definitely fabulous neighbor material!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

38. Thanks. You guys sound like lots of fun!!!

I don't drink because a)I don't like it; and b)I don't like hangovers, but I don't mind if other people drink my share.

I only pop the champagne on special occasions. The last time I did so was when we elected our first half-white half-black President.

[Javaman]

39. "King of the Hill" Holloween episode is still my favorite from that series. nt

[LiberalEsto]

40. If you take apart the word "fundies"

you get "fun dies".
And that's what they want. Nobody, anywhere, having any kind of fun. They remind me of the Puritans who banned all celebration of Christmas.

In our old neighborhood here in the Washington DC suburbs of Maryland, there were a couple of KKKhristian families who told their kids that Halloween was Satan's birthday.Talk about willful ignorance. My Unitarian kids laughed themselves sick over this idiocy.

Thank you for sharing your light with these sadly-deprived children.

[deaniac21]

41. On behalf of his dentist, thanks!

[Gold Metal Flake]

42. Growing up in Corpus & Houston in the 1960s-70s ...

...we trick or treated the hell outta the neighborhoods. People didn't decorate the houses as much then but we had no problem filling our bags. Your efforts may pay off in years to come as other parents in your area say "fuck it, lets have a Halloween".