Free Republic

The controversy surrounding Halloween arises largely from how cultural and commercial forces have distorted its original meaning. Once a simple vigil (All Hallows Eve) connected to the twin holy days of All Saints and All Souls, Halloween has evolved into an oversized commercial season—now the third most celebrated American holiday after Christmas and Thanksgiving. In the process, troubling cultural trends have emphasized darkness, fear, and the macabre, often at the expense of faith and virtue. Understandably, many Christians worry about exposing children and families to themes that glorify evil or trivialize the reality of death and the afterlife. This distortion...

It's easy to forget that Halloween isn't the same carefree holiday for every child in our community.In the central city, some neighborhoods can be scary places all year round. These are not places where you feel comfortable allowing young children to go from house to house accepting treats.In areas where drug dealing, gunfire and other negative elements exist, you think twice before allowing young kids to knock on every door. Mac Weddle, executive director of Northcott Neighborhood House, 2460 N. 6th St., thinks some of today's children will never get to know about the kind of Halloween fun their parents...