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DEL.ICIO.US“Fear takes toll on trick-or-treaters’ ranks”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There I sat, waiting, loaded with bounty.
Candy corn. Hershey’s Kisses. Starbursts. Sweet-and-sour tarts.
Now all I needed on this Halloween evening were for the ghosts, goblins and witches to drop by. Please. Almost any costume would do. Krueger, Jason, Tinker Bell. Anything but some 10-year-old girl dressed like a French maid.
My neighborhood has kids of all ages, colors, shapes and sizes. They play football, basketball and ride their scooters and bikes all the time. When Halloween rolls around, though, they generally seem to disappear.
In the past few years, few trick-or-treaters trudge to the door and announce in a trill: “Trick-or-treat!”
Generally, people still celebrate Halloween. More do than don’t. According to an AJC Gwinnett News article, a 2006 Gallup poll found that only about 10 percent of Americans object to Halloween on religious grounds. Fine.
I know it’s a pagan holiday, but that moniker seems ill-fitting when it comes to the public’s acknowledgment and celebration of it. Pumpkins. Apple bobbing. Watching, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” And costumes, of course. Harmless stuff. You can’t graduate from dressing like a witch to wanting to actually be one in one night. Same goes for reading fictional accounts about them.
So it’s good to see folk embrace the fun, like the staff did at Gold’s Gym in Lilburn. “The Witch’s Inn,” stated a sign perched on the kiosk. Behind it sat receptionist Cherie Holst, dressed in a witch’s costume.
“I am the Good Witch of the North,” she informed me. “Good witches wear red. Like Wendy, the Good Little Witch. Remember [that comic book character]?”
Actually, no, but I appreciated Holst’s nature. She, like many, knows that Halloween equals fun for those who partake, especially kids, if precautions are taken.
Speaking of precautions, that might be the reason my doorbell has grown increasingly silent on Halloween. Fear. We guard against true evil. Cat torturers. Sickos who might screw with the candy or foul up the fruit. Maybe it was an urban legend, but when I was a kid the story about the kid who bit into a razor-laden apple ran its course.
Sadly, the loss of innocence continues. That’s one reason so many malls, organizations and churches sponsor Halloween events. Most discourage “sinister costumes.” The marquees don’t refer to the gatherings as Halloween, either. It’s a fall festival. Why, just this Sunday, my church - Tucker First United Methodist - hosted one in conjunction with the Baptists, our neighbors.
On Wednesday, similar events took place across Gwinnett. North Metro First Baptist Church expected 1,000 or so at its free festival, a decades-old tradition that attracts young and old, members and nonmembers.
“Our neighborhoods aren’t the safest places anymore,” lamented Lisa Bullard, a church administrative assistant. “Here you can come, have fun, and not worry about the candy you bring home.”
Still, there’s nothing like going door-to-door. Just follow safety tips. Walk in groups. Have an adult with you. Carry flashlights. Only approach houses that appear welcoming, are well-lighted and display signs of Halloween fancy.
Houses like mine, in unincorporated Norcross, decorated with a scarecrow, cobwebs, and pumpkins. The wife and kids’ doing.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the Badie Tour was still waiting for a few ghosts and goblins. None had shown. I was on my third piece of chocolate, and from the looks of things, I’d have a bunch left to take to the office.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail rbadie@ajc.com.
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By Bruce Wilcox
November 1, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this
We had about thirty or so, all under the watchful eyes of their parents. It seems to change from year to year, maybe that is the normal turnover rate in our neighborhoods now a days? My wife and I always enjoy it, clever customs and very polite children.
One advantage of growing up in the city when I was young was that you could hit more houses. All the yards were in the back and just small alleyways seperated the houses. Two blocks, hitting both sides of the street you would have more candy than you could handle.
It much a much bigger deal in the North, but of course all Yankees are pagans anyway!
By jim d
November 1, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
6 so the last two got a whole bag of candy. Which eliminated the need to bring it to the office. (and saved me having to loose it before the holidays) :-)
By Bruce Wilcox
November 1, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this
I forgot to add something, I was standing out in the driveway just before nine, like jim d, trying to get rid of the last of the candy, when a car pulled up. Two children with their mother got out to trick or treat, I asked why she was driving and she told me so many houses in her sub-division were dark, as well as the next sub-division, it was the only way the little ones would get any candy.
By delois
November 1, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
I was musing to my husband last night when we were driving home through our very dark neighborhood, that I was glad our son (who is 22 now) had the chance to really enjoy Halloween back in the day when our subdivision actually made it fun. Everybody used to hang out in front of their houses and it was an annual event to see who could do the best decorating. The kids today are, for the most part, missing out.
By JSC
November 1, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
There is fear on the other side of the door too. You never know any more if the teenager standing outside your door saying “trick or treat” will kill you if he/she doesn’t like what you give or the amount you give out.
Maybe the little ones (who are the ONLY ones who should be “trick or treating”) should be taken around the neighborhood on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
My husband and I have lived in Gwinnett County for 21 years. I would never open my door at night again without knowing exactly who is there.
It’s a shame, isn’t it?
By Sandy_G
November 1, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
We had quite a few trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood and gave away several bags of candy. Our neighborhood has an active social organization though and we know a good many of our neighbors and socialize together.
It’s a real shame that the media chooses to feed this “fear” of each other when the reality is that “tainted” candy or “stranger snatching” is much, much more rare than the media would lead us to believe. As for me, no, I don’t open my door to someone I don’t know after dark either, but on Halloween? Come on!
By AM
November 1, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
I agree with Sandy G. We gave out over 500 pieces of candy last night. I sat on my front portch until 9:00. Most children came in groups of 5 or more. Most were very polite as were their parents. Even the teenagers were polite and put thought into their costumes. The sad thing was most of my neighbors did not participate and give out candy. When my children were little, almost everyone decorated and gave out candy. This year only four on my street did. I feel for the kids these days. It’s just a holiday for them to enjoy. What makes it bad for them to dress up and go door to door to get candy. As for the tainted candy, how many of you have ever gotten any tainted candy or know someone personally who did?
By JR
November 1, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
Hey Rick After your “Wind” column maybe people are afraid to come to your house!
By Doug
November 2, 2007 6:22 AM | Link to this
Killed? People really worry about being killed by trick or treaters?
Come on, you’re more likely to die of a heart attack from the worry. How many people have been killed by disgruntled trick or treaters JSC?
By Amy
November 2, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Our neighborhood was a delight. We sat in rockers in the yard and chatted with our next door neighbor. Kids came from about 5:30-8:00. I was surprised none came later. Lots of cuties in wagons, with partying parents. Fun atmosphere. I hope it can continue.
By Chrissa
November 2, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
For the past three years we have gone to our church for the “fall family fest.” But this year she was invited to go trick-or-treating with friends. We ended up hitting three neighborhoods, ours and that of her two friends. She received so much candy. So much more than from our church. And she got a LOT more exercise that way. And mommy had fun getting to know the other parents. Next year I’ll take her around the neighborhoods again too, if she’ll let me. ;-)
By Bruce Wilcox
November 2, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
The upscale Trotters Ridge sub-division hired an off duty Gwinnett Police officer to patrol the streets. Now if that wasn’t bad enough the officer Tazered an unruly, HANDCUFFED 14 year old girl.
The girl was cursing and took a swing at the officer, okay, reason enough to arrest. But he had her in handcuffs already when he Tazered her? If a police officer can not handle a handcuffed 14 year old girl without a Tazer he is in the wrong line of work.
Gwinnett both sheriffs and cops seem to be Tazer happy, I know of two that have died, it may be three by being Tazered. The one was handcuffed, the other handcuffed, shackled and deputy’s sitting on top of him, having an attack while he was repeatedly Tazered.
This county needs a review in the use of Tazers, not by Danny Porter or the Chief of police, but an outside objective agency.
By Michele
November 2, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
It is a shame that people allow the media to instill so much fear in them. If you spend your life being fearful, what kind of life it that and what message are we spreading to our children? There is fear then there is cautious enjoyment. I prefer the latter…especially when it comes to a holiday like Halloween.
Our neighborhood was a bustle of activity. I have three children, 17, 15 and 12. All of my children dressed up. I did, too. I walked around the subdivision with my youngest and his friends and friends’ parents and the others stayed home with their father to pass out treats. There were quite a lot of kids and parents out. We are, however, fortunate to have a good mix of younger children and older children in our subdivision. Everyone seemed to have a great time!
By Mark
November 2, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
As usual, I gave out ice cubes for Halloween. It’s cheap, and also fun to watch the little brats cry when the bottom of their bag gives out a few doors later.
By Michael H. Smith
November 2, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
Is it fear or well founded concern taking a toll on old hallows day?
Too much hate and meanness in todays society is behind this so-called fear, in my opinion.
By Mark
November 2, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
Bruce Wilcox
The brat was tasered because she was being unruly. I condone that. Maybe next time the brat will do what she’s told.
Good parenting probably could have avoided this.
By Michele
November 2, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this
It’s a little bit of both depending on who it is, I think. I think it is irresponsible to not look out for the safety of our children but I do think some take it to an extreme because of pictures that are painted for them night after night on the evening news.
In my 17 years of parenting I have been fortunate to live in neighborhoods where everyone knows everyone and, if you don’t know someone personally, I can guarantee you that someone you know does. Even still my 15 year old daughter walks no where by herself. Am I being fearful or cautious? I think it is being cautious and smart. After all, we all have heard of the buddy system…even those of us who grew up in the 50s 60s or 70s when it was seemingly a simpler time!
Bad people doing bad things are not new to society. It is debatable, however, whether there are more or less baddies now then there were say 30, 40, 50 or more years ago.
What has changed in the past years is how we get our news. Every day at 5PM you can tune into find out what bad things have happened most recently in your area and around the nation and world. The news shows the worst of humanity and we take it all in and accept it as if the majority of people are like this. It is no wonder people do not want to open their doors…the regular old joe that did that last night got shot. I saw it on the news!
But what about the 10s of thousands of other people who did open their doors to a stranger and didn’t get shot?
So, so and so got shot but 1 million other people didn’t!…bet you would never hear THAT on a news broadcast.
I guess my point is that I know there are bad people out there but instead of shutting our doors and turning off the lights we should remember that the majority of people really are good people who want to have their children and families experience the types of Halloweens we all remember.
By Bruce Wilcox
November 2, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
Mark, if two of Gwinnett’s finest can not get a handcuffed 14 year old in a patrol car they need a new line of work. Hate to see what these two would need to handle a bar fight, the SWAT team?
I do not condone an officer being judge and jury and handing out the punishment.
By Mark
November 2, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this
Bruce, Your opinion noted.
Neither you or I were there, but I’ll bet the situation was pretty ugly. Maybe they tased her to shut her sluttish mouth, or maybe to show the other brats around at the time that that kind of behaviour will not be tolerated? She was warned, she was out of control, and the taser did it’s job. If you don’t want to be tased, then obey the officer. She learned a good lesson.
By Doug
November 3, 2007 3:31 AM | Link to this
Just as the police aren’t allowed to beat someone up to teach them or other people a lesson, they aren’t allowed to taser people. Or to taser or hit people with their truncheons to shut them up.
That’s a good thing.
As for the guy who got shot, the police think he was targeted. Just because the shooter said ‘trick or treat’ doesn’t make it a trick or treat related incident.
By Mark
November 3, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
Doug The police are allowed to taser people if the situation warrants it. That’s why police are supplied with them. In this case, he had every right to use his taser. Maybe if they started using tasers in rap videos as props, these thugs would think twice about using violence as a tool.
By Doug
November 3, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
If you are saying guidelines vary, that’s correct. If you are saying there are no guidelines, maybe there are policie forces which have none but if so that is completely irresponsible as tasers can and do kill. A lot of police forces and cities ban the use of tasers on minors. Certainly I don’t know of any force that would allow them to be used as punishment or as a warning to others. Ok, the girl was swearing and didn’t respond at all well to the policeman, but can’t our policemen control a handcuffed 14 year old girl?
By Mark
November 3, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
Doug, Maybe they couldn’t. I see alot of black 14 yr olds that resemble their mothers. Large and overweight. Maybe she was on crack, which will enhance muscle use. To say that this cop over reacted is an over reaction. He was exonerated, BTW.