Jack-o’ lantern
I can’t tell you how totally bummed I am by the War on Halloween that’s taking place in Newington, Connecticut, just over the southern border of my own West Hartford.
You haven’t heard of it? Well, it’s big news here in the Nutmeg State.
It seems that a few years ago two of Newington’s four elementary schools cancelled traditional Halloween parties and parades “because of concerns that they exclude children whose families don’t celebrate the holiday.” And this year, because of some kind of bureaucratic consistency imperative, the town’s other two elementary schools have been obliged to axe their Halloween festivities too.
These have been replaced with “fall- or harvest-themed” celebrations — reports of which have, not surprisingly, created quite the stir among Halloween traditionalists in our Land of Steady Habits. “You’re caving to radical Islam,” read one email to a school official. “It’s called ‘Trojan Horse.'”
Holy political correctness, Batman!
Actually, it’s unclear who’s being caved to. According to Newington Elementary Education Director Wendy Crouse, some families sent their children to the principal’s office or kept them home from school on days of the parades or parties for religious or other reasons.
“What was happening with the costume parade is we were actually encouraging a celebration of it and that’s where the line has to be drawn,” Crouse said. And believe it or not, there are some professors who actually approve of this line-drawing.
“Fall or harvest-themed celebrations” is just as bad as “Seasons Greetings!” We’ve got to put the Hallow back in Halloween. Where’s Bill O’Reilly when we need him?