NYPost

JESSE: LET'S JUST CANCEL HALLOWEEN

By VINCENT MORRIS and WILLIAM NEUMAN

October 30, 2001 -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson says it's too soon after the Sept. 11 terror strikes to put on masks and go trick-or-treating - and he's calling for a nationwide Halloween boycott.

"In these circumstances, I'd say that we should cancel Halloween, take off the masks, stop the door-to-door visits, and spend the night with our families," Jackson wrote in a syndicated article distributed to the media yesterday.

In calling for a Halloween hiatus, the civil-rights leader cited the "demonic attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon," the spate of anthrax deaths and infections, and government warnings of another imminent attack.

"The president says we need to get on with our lives, and he is right," Jackson wrote. "No threat of terror should keep us from going to work, to shop, or to the movies.

"But Halloween is a different matter . . . This year, the risks seem magnified and the spirit seems wrong.

"It's hard to think about painting blood on faces when we've seen too much real blood on real faces."

Jackson's caution came as the Bush administration warned of a new, though nebulous, terror threat and yet renewed calls for Americans to stick to familiar routines.

"The president believes people need to go about their daily lives. Recognizing the heightened state of alert, they should exercise caution," said White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan when asked about Jackson's comment.

With thousands of New Yorkers expected to take in tomorrow's Halloween parade in Greenwich Village, City Hall sounded a similar note.

"In the past, the mayor has said Halloween should go on; the parade should go on," said Mayor Giuliani's spokesman Peter Fenty.

In his article, Jackson said he wasn't giving in to fear - but merely promoting "prudence" while seeking to protect children.

-- Anonymous, October 30, 2001

Answers

Some of the smaller Ohio communities have banned Trick or Treating this year. No one in my neighborhood will be passing out treats, but several of the parents are having parties for the children.

-- Anonymous, October 30, 2001

the door to door bit has been on the wane for years now.

I think that parties, and selective 't and t' would be okay. A chance to get to know the neighbors, you see them around but don't know them. Now is your chance.

But, it seems that the email is coming home to roost. Stay away from malls. Remember that one? A good idea to stay away from large public gatherings.

The Palistinians bombed a disco tech. The bin Laden terrorists can do the same.

-- Anonymous, October 30, 2001

Barefoot, if I'm not at work or cruising around "dumped vehicle hotspots" in Columbus looking for the van of SAR's missing father, I'm home! I haven't been near a mall or large gathering in several weeks, and I intend to keep it that way.

-- Anonymous, October 30, 2001

I'm with you meemur! I happen to have halloween off from work, and briefly considered going out for a while as a relaxing distraction.

Then, I remembered what planet I lived on. LOL

Maybe we'll just go south and see the nephew and niece. The farther from downtown and the airport I can get, the better I'd feel.

I regret that my sibling's children have to grow up in a world like this. I regret that any children have to grow up in a world like this.

-- Anonymous, October 30, 2001