Should We Freak Out About H.R. 1955?

One of the more disturbing bits of news to hit headlines today was that back in October, the House of Representatives passed a bit of legislation entitled Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007, H.R. 1955. Reading quick synopses and evaluations of this bill, one might think that Orwell’s 1984 really is at last upon us. Public criticism seems to focus on how this legislation opens the door to “thought-crime” punishment, how we are all off to the gulags, now. Carefully reading through the bill, however, does not support these outraged assertions. Still, it’s not a far leap to reach some fairly disturbing conclusions.
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Why We Need Halloween

Even outside the church, there are concerns that it promotes unhealthy food choices. It scares the little ones. And to top it all off, it’s dangerous, with its glorification of violence, poisoned and razor-bladed treats, and the way it encourages children to take candy from strangers (not to mention encouraging encouraging scantily-clad sorority chicks to take free drinks from strangers). All of these concerns have been around for years, and yet Halloween is not going away, not dying out while children sit home and partake of a healthy harvest meal and listen to “Winnie the Pooh and the Heffalump”. Why? Because deep down, we know we need Halloween.

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