The leaves are falling, October is nearing its end, and Halloween is just around the corner. Now is the time for pumpkin spice in almost everything from coffee to ice cream; breads, puddings, and even the leaves have taken on the very color of orange. As we walk around neighborhoods we see ghosts and goblins decorating doorways and bushes, and soon the real life miniature ghouls will be ringing doorbells and singing out the familiar phrase, “trick or treat.” While all of this may seem exciting and fun to many, I must admit that Halloween is my least favorite time of the year; frankly, it frightens me. After all, it isn’t called “Devil’s Night” for nothing.

It used to be that a group of teens would TP a house, toss a few eggs, or as some of the older folks will remember, turn over an outhouse or two. But today those things are too calm. Today the desire to be involved in more sinister pranks is more the norm.

Halloween seems to open the door to the evildoer and the prankster who wants to push the envelope just a little bit further, to frighten a little more, to terrorize just a smidgeon, to turn laughter to tears; it can be a time of danger. What is this need to frighten and to be frightened? Is it the rush of adrenalin, the heart racing causing our blood pressure to rise and the sweat to form on our foreheads? While the ghosts and goblins scream, witches ride on brooms, or the scary faces carved on pumpkins light up we can enjoy the moment knowing it isn’t really real. But once the things that elicit this rush subsides and the cerebral cortex takes over and we are once again safe and secure in our own homes, will we seek out a greater rush? Therein, I believe lies the real concern and the true frightening part of the Halloween season. The need for a greater rush – a greater danger – a greater need for satisfaction. Some of us will move on, but some won’t.

In Fort Myers, Fla., this past weekend, gun violence broke out at the annual ZombiCon event, leaving one person dead and another four injured. This shooting is not unusual. It seems that almost every year during this time there is an uptick in gun violence. Are people today seeking opportunities to get a bigger and greater rush? Is trick or treating for candy not enough anymore? Or has today’s society become desensitized to seeing images of the death and destruction on a daily basis that like the crack addict, we are constantly seeking that next high?

There is a house in Parma, Ohio, where the residents have decorated their lawn with a gruesome display of corpses in varying states of torture; should the neighbors be concerned? Do the owners of this display have a right to their freedom of expression and to just “enjoy the Halloween spirit” or should there be a balance? Do these types of personal freedoms of expression invoke anger, fear and possibly over-the-edge actions?

According to a recent report by the Seattle Police Department, they are concerned about the increase in gang-related violence this time of year, and are taking additional precautions and adding manpower for the week preceding and following Halloween. The NYPD is increasing its surveillance and manpower for the Halloween weekend, and Washington D.C. is reportedly doing the same. So where and why do we have these concerns; let’s take a look.

“The Walking Dead” series is one of the most popular television shows today, just write in a vampire to a movie script and it is suddenly a box office bonanza. Write a show around mass killings, the use of MK-47s and assault rifles and you have yourself a hit. And yet, we talk about the gun violence in America, movies out of Hollywood glamorizing violence, video games showing cop killings and mass murder, and we have the audacity to ask what is our government going to do about it. Maybe we are expecting too much of the government.

Maybe we should take a look at the shows we watch and allow our children to watch. Maybe we should no longer buy tickets to movies that give credence to the violence and mayhem of flesh-eating zombies, blood-sucking vampires or the Uzi-toting shooter. Maybe we should think of Halloween as candy for the children, Casper the Friendly Ghost and Shrek. Maybe we should take responsibility for our role in society and the violence that is too often portrayed as “only a movie, a game show, pretend and make believe.” Maybe we need to look for our adrenaline rush through the thrill of being together with family sharing love and laughter. Maybe we should ban the fright and violence to where it belongs, the dark recesses of “Devil’s Night.” After all, zombies aren’t real, vampires don’t exist and pumpkins shouldn’t be scary.

Before I close, let me say emphatically that I am not suggesting a war on Halloween or am I advocating for a crack down on freedom of speech or the right to bear arms. I am merely suggesting that if there is a problem in our society today with violence and guns, maybe we are partly responsible.

Finally, for all of those little ghosts, goblins, Elsas and zombies, there will be candy aplenty for you at my house; Sam and I will be waiting to see you (Richard will be there too, but Sam answers the door.)

Have a great day.

Vicki Westling is a Dunkirk resident.

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