Rhetoric 1101

dont you think that it is weird that you live in the united states and you do not even try to acclimate to the traditions or culture of the united states? i think that everyone that lives here (not just halloween or not specifically halloween) should accomadate their cultures to the culture of the united states, it really irrates me when/if people complain about things like this. if immigrants dont like the culture here then get out of this country. i am not saying this specifically to you, but just in general

chris, i think that you are being alittle unreasonable. personally i think that the united states shouldnt have to accomadate to other cultures if people from those cultures choose to live here, i dont think that she should have to hand out candy for halloween tho, what i am talking about is things like they cant call christmas break, christmas break, they have to call it holiday break and i think that it is unreasonable to have to change that for others when its always been like that, i think they should be able to call it that, but people that choose not to celebrate it is totally up to them and if they want to celebrate something else they should be able to assuming that it isnt in some form illegal in the US. the reason why they cant call it christmas break is because people get offended, dont you think that people are taking that alittle too far? i mean you could be offended by just about ANYTHING!! i think that this is maybe a touchy subject and maybe not something that needs to be discussed in a blog post but maybe be better discussed face to face so that people can understand better the tone of which people say things and its always easier to talk then to type, plus when you talk you can be more clear with your opinions. *people from class* i would really appreciate it if you have a problem with my view that you dont look down upon me just because of what i think, its only an opinion and i am entitled to that, thanks

It's kind of funny that you said that because I was wondering if I was the only one who didn't really celebrate Halloween. First of all, to me, Halloween is kind of like Valentine's Day, it's not considered to me to be a religious holiday. I've heard of Halloween coming from many different places and ideas, all hallows eve, some druid thing, the beginning of a new year, all kinds of ideas, I don't know which one is right but I grew up in a Christian home where we didn't really celebrate Halloween either. I think it's rediculous that people would give you a hard time about it, you don't celebrate it, big deal, America is big enough and there are enough holidays to chose from that if you don't participate in Halloween it's nothing for the neighbors or whoever to get upset about.

Ok first of all...Chris' post really shows what kind of a person he is doesnt it? *sigh* oh well...some people just are so narrow minded..anywayz, I wasnt saying that people were giving me a hard time about Halloween, I just said that we do not celebrate it. No body so far has been offended by my not celebrating Halloween, just as I am not offended that most Americans do not celebrate some other holidays that I do.
Hmm..some people really should learn to be courteous to others, and respectful of other's traditions and beliefs (i.e Chris)...and thanks Erin for speaking up and stating your opinion ! by the way, I am not an 'immigrant' as you put it Chris, I am an American citizen just the same as you and millions of other are (if you are). It's sad that people like you just don't take other people's feelings into consideration. Comments like Chris' really make a person wary of posting their opinions, views, beliefs, etc..how rude.

I just thought of something really funny...I wonder how Chris would like it if he went to some foreign country and people asked him to "accomadate" his "cultures to the culture" of that country...boy, I wonder how well he'd take that. Oh and by the way, did I ever "complain" (as Chris puts it) about Halloween? NO. People that twist my words really bug me. And no I don't think it is weird that I dont try and acclimate to US cultures and traditions..and anywayz, the US is made up of so many different cultures and traditions that you cannot say Halloween is an American tradition (or celebration)..I am an American and I do not celebrate Halloween...Josh (as mentioned above) is an American and does not celebrate Halloween..Americans are so diverse in their cultures and beliefs that it is absurd to say that Halloween is a nation-wide American tradition, celebrated by all Americans because that is not true. All in all, your argument falls apart!

where do i begin. i come from a catholic family (hence all the brothers and sisters). we do not celebrate halloween but instead all saints day eve (also known as all hallows eve in europe). growing up we were not allowed to dress up as evil creatures, instead we dressed up as saints(like joan of arc). we still go trick or treating but we would only get to go after we talked about what saint we were and why.

halloween is an interesting holiday. it comes from catholic and celtic background (an interesting mix i know). the celtics celebrated it as the beginning of their new year. they believed that the dead could come back to life on october 31st and so they had huge bonfires and sacrificed stuff. and then as catholicism and christianity begain to have it's effect on europe the pope at the time (i can't remember which one it was exactly) decided to put a catholic holiday on nov. 1st to try and take away from the celtic tradition. that holiday was all saints day or put in another way all hallows. so just as we celebrate christmas eve we also celebrate all hallows eve.
if you add in a country that isn't all catholic, people who still celebrate the celtic holiday and the commercial industry and you get the american version of all hallows eve which is halloween.
i can't blame alia for not celebrating this holiday. it's not really an american tradition. in fact i don't really know why you would celebrate it unless you were catholic or if you celbrated the celtic version (i think it's called samhan).

Closed mindness is a dangerous thing. Chris needs to remember that America is the land of the free...freedom for all, no matter their beliefs.

On another note, it's interesting you mention the Celtic Haloween, Samihan, which a blogger friend of mine talked about in this post:
http://downwardlife.blogspot.com/2004/10/happy-samhain.html

Thank you Berne ! My point exactly.