Editor:
Imagine this. A refugee has finally accomplished her dream — escaping a war-torn country and finding sanctuary in Canada.
All she’s ever wanted is to walk down a public street without being confronted with decapitated human bodies and severed limbs. No bloody handprints on the walls — no screams in the night. Wait a minute.
Let’s hope she doesn’t arrive in the month of October.
Yes, Halloween is gearing up, and our city will soon be awash with fake gore.
People will again be digging into human-eyeball candy, hanging up plastic replicas of children’s mangled limbs, and staggering down the street in red-drenched rags.
Anyone who might have missed the fun will get a celebratory front-page scoop from the local newspapers.
I’m not a refugee, but my sympathies are with those people who have seen tragedies.
It troubles me when our culture belittles such realities into a game of thrills.
How can we expect to make any headway against humanity’s suffering when we are comfortable with it as a source of entertainment?
The argument supporting Halloween gore is universally, “It’s not real!” I don’t agree.
Play is simply rehearsal/practice for real-life activities.
If we don’t like world events, maybe we should first re-examine our entertainment.
It’s time to shun Halloween’s celebration of horror. Be the change you want to see in the world!
Mariah Reimer
Williams Lake
