Today is Halloween, the night of fright. This is normally a festive time where people of all ages run around dressing up in costumes to get as many treats as possible. Unfortunately, the recent events of the Florida bomber and the Synagogue shooting have me rather upset. In addition, the country is in the middle of a bitter election that just keeps getting worse. As a result, there's a lot on my mind and I want to put it here.
First, Halloween is a time for fear. We see it in our films, stories, and haunted houses which we love to attend this time of year. Unfortunately, the goal of the recent terrorist attacks has been to instill fear in our hearts, to make us feel unsafe in our homes. Some of the worst things in history were justified in the name of fear, so we can't let them win by dividing us and giving into that urge. For as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Second, All Hollow's Eve is the day before All Saints Day and two days before All Souls Day. It is on this day the Catholic Church celebrates and remembers the souls that have gone before us. This has been celebrated in Mexico, Ireland, and France. Recently, 11 innocent people lost their lives, and left behind loved ones despairing right now beyond words. In the spirit of the season, we should keep them in our thoughts and prayers as we celebrate this holiday.
Halloween is a special time. Every year, families spend time together going door to door, visiting neighbors they probably don't talk to otherwise. That should serve as a reminder that no matter how polarized we allegedly are, we still trust our fellow man. And with that in mind, the best thing you can do is go out there, meet up with friends and neighbors, and try to make their lives in this dark, dark world a little better. In short, "if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change."
