I can\u2019t imagine a more dire time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So many involved\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So much fighting\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deaths across the globe\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And even though some say \u201cwe won,\u201d the past few years were grueling. Exhausting. Maybe even crippling for our country, earnestly wondering whether it\u2019s even possible<\/em> to return to civility and serenity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But we did it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After over 400,000 American casualties, as the soldiers came home from World War II, we learned how to do life again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the insight of those who lived through the time, families began having babies; jobs were plentiful; the economy was strong; an increased push for equality began; people felt safe, and the nation was collectively hopeful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, there was a residual cost to the tough years prior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It thus makes me wonder: what will be the current, residual cost?<\/p>\n\n\n\n What have we lost? <\/p>\n\n\n\n What thing that\u2019s \u201cbest\u201d do we need to get back? To seek. And to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fascinatingly, after WWII, one of the \u201calmost costs\u201d<\/em> was actually trick-or-treating\u2026 almost,<\/em> if not for the help of Disney, a few children\u2019s magazines, and one of the absolute, most influential cartoonists. Ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The origin of trick-or-treating is somewhat ambiguous. The Halloween habit came to this country in the late 1920\u2019s; however, in May of 1942, sugar was legally rationed due to the fact that one-third of American sugar imports then came from the Japanese occupied Philippines. As reported by The History Channel,<\/em> \u201cWith deep cuts to sugar allowances (half a pound a week, 50 percent less than pre-war consumption levels), it came as no surprise that children\u2019s Halloween celebrations had to be adjusted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The consumer commodity would be rationed for 5 years. \u201cWhen sugar rationing finally came to an end in June 1947, the commercialization of Halloween took off. Candy companies like Curtiss and Brach<\/em> wasted no time in launching their Halloween advertising campaigns. But it wasn\u2019t just candy companies that had stock in the reemergence of these festive celebrations. As early as fall 1947, the children\u2019s magazines Jack and Jill<\/em> and Children\u2019s Activities<\/em> both featured trick-or-treating in their October issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still trick-or-treating was an \u201calmost cost\u201d until the talented Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the comic strip Peanuts <\/em>(and iconic characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Patty and more) used his platform for healthy, appropriate social influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the fall of 1951, Schulz ran three consecutive Halloween-themed strips. Always an encourager what\u2019s best, Schulz\u2019s artistic efforts were considered significant in trick-or-treating becoming an established American tradition just one year later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schulz used his time, talents and platform to encourage, unite, and spread joy. Allow me to admirably ascertain, he used his gifts for good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As this grueling season comes to a close, may we be aware of the residual costs. May we also not be ok with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May we recognize that just because something has stopped \u2014 or even rationed \u2014 it doesn\u2019t have to remain that way. We can do better. We can stop chastising those we don\u2019t understand. We can quit typing words from our keyboards that we would never dare say face-to-face. We can resist making idols out of people or politics. And we can \u2014 and should \u2014 work to restore civility and serenity. Each of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow?\u201d one asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Honestly, sincerely, seriously\u2026 how?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n By committing to seek what\u2019s best, persevere, and use our gifts for good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I can\u2019t imagine a more dire time. So many involved\u2026 So much fighting\u2026 Deaths across the globe\u2026 And even though some say \u201cwe won,\u201d the past few years were grueling. Exhausting. Maybe even crippling for our country, earnestly wondering whether it\u2019s even possible to return to civility and serenity. But we did it. After over … <\/p>\n