Halloween

The Bishop of Bolton has started a campaign to encourage supermarkets to give shoppers a choice of things at Halloween. He has done this (according to the Cof E website) by revealing a shocking poster. The image above is not the shocking poster that the bishop is going to reveal. It is one I found on the internet. If you want to see the Bishop’s shocking poster go to the special website.

I have to say that I am often against such initiatives because I think that when Christians protest it usually backfires and makes them look reactionary and grumpy. However, on this occasion it is being done in quite a positive way and is one of the better anti-halloween campaigns I have seen. I’m not quite sure about the ‘offering a choice’ argument as surely people can choose to buy crisps and pop if they do not want to buy masks and witches hats. The positive alternatives that the Bishop is suggesting include:

glow tubes
balloons
face paints
coloured (felt) pens
crayons
coloured scoobies
paints
coloured paper and card
bright clothes
mozaic pieces
fruit
hair braids
hair bands
friendship bracelets
books on party alternatives

Some of them are good although I cannot see the campaign being successful in persuading the supermarkets to stock fruit.

I must say though that I find the sort of violent toys that are sold in the shops at this time of year and illustrated in the picture above quite unsavoury. There is enough violence in the world as it is. Also the makers and sellers of such items need to recognise that there are a lot of stupid people out there who cannot necessarily distinguish between plastic axes and scythes and real ones. I am also against trick or treating as it relies on scaring people such as the elderly (and pets). Anyone who goes trick or treating and gets bitten by a dog (or a granny) is getting what they deserve.

In summary: I am not saying that readers of the Cartoon Blog should drive their shopping trolleys into the displays of axes and scythes in the supermarket scattering them left, right and centre. But I for one would turn a blind eye to any such misdemeanour.

Alternatively you could support the Bishop and his shocking posters.

Update: Mad Priest has been having fun with the shocking poster. Naughty fellow.