Is not the cancellation of a national holiday simply because of complaints (regarding religious influence) illegal? Throughout my school system, Halloween was cancelled this year. I find that downright sick. Why, oh why, Marissa, was Halloween cancelled, you ask? Because parents in my town worried that celebrating Halloween in the school system would have too much Pagan influence on their children. And how did our new superintendent introduce herself into our reclusive little world? She went and cancelled Halloween. No more pumpkin cutouts were to be hung on bulletin boards, no more Halloween parties/festivities, and the high school was no longer allowed to wear costumes under the title "Halloween". I am, however, proud of my social studies teacher and the administrators at the high school. The high schoolers were allowed to wear their costumes only if their activies were called "Crazy Clothes Day" or something to that effect. My social studies teacher followed tradition and still trick-or-treated from classroom door-to-classroom door. Now, the cancellation of any event (for seemingly no good reason) that was previously allowed bothers me. This, however, was due to complaints...about religion. If memory serves me right, our constitution prolcaims clearly that, in America, all religions are to be tolerated and allowed free worship. I do believe that we live in America, no? And I also think I am correct in saying that Paganism is a...*gasp* religion. Now, I'm not a Pagan, but I think that they should be allowed their religious rights just as anyone else. Do Pagans have some disease or defect that should disable them from any right or treatment such as that of a Christian? I surely don't see any. Of course, we wouldn't want our children to be converted in the school system. We all know that witches, gouls, Satanists, Pagans, hooligans, goblins, etc. all come into our schools on Halloween day and corrupt our children. Hey, now, watch out for those pumpkins too! I realive I'm being sarcastic. I'm being sarcastic because this foolish bit of rambling is almost satire. Come on. Do you really think that there are rampant Pagans in your child's school? Even if there were a gang of Pagans, do you think they're going to be presistent in converting your child to the "dark side" at all, let alone on Halloween? I highly doubt they'd even want your child. I cannot speak for them, however, and refuse to do so. I also wish to point out that I am not just angered by this because the religion being persecuted is that of an alternative style. I'm sure I'll shock some in saying that I'd be angered if Christianity were being persecuted. Although at times I feel that those rightist-Christians deserve a taste of their own medicine, I know that nothing would come of it and I am being hypocritical in wishing for this. Thus, I brush the scorn off my lips and once again take my place under my picket sign as I re-enforce the preachings of the constitution. All religions, regardless of origin, history, traditions, or quirks, should be allowed equal freedom. I feel also that this shows weakness on the behalf of my praised superintendent. After a bout with a time of horrible, runaway, cowardly (insert giggles here) superintendents, we're all supposed to be really excited about having this great, pretigious, glorious, omnipotent, even god-like superintendent. Guess what. I'm not. Heh...anyway. And so once again I have set myself away from the crowd by thinking differently than I probably should. Hey, at least I have a reason. Remember, folks, don't let anything alter the true religion. Burn your children's Harry Potter books, because he's such a damned pre-teen hooligan. Buy all the pentagrams you can find and melt them into a new pointy metal cross with which to stab those Pagans. Also, enjoy the flickering from your Christmas tree and wood-burning fireplace, because we all know they're free of Pagan influence. And to top it all off, wake refreshed on Christmas morning not with the knowledge that there are coveted gifts and trinkets just down thte stairs, but that you have just risen on the birthday of your beloved savior...er...alright, so you're a few months early. We can still pretend, right? Disclaimer: If you haven't figured out by now, I do not hate Christians. I don't base hate on stereotypes or labels such as "Christian", "prep", or "stupid, superficious bastard with the brain of a termite". I only wish to point out the comical attributes to these groups so that they may be exposed for what they really are. My long-term goal is to do this to basically all I see. However, I think we all know that this isn't very realistic. I will surely get more finished as time sees fit. If you still don't believe me, I promise to publish a moderately sized section on the absurdity of myself. How's that? |
| Rant I |