Where I Stand — Brian Greenspun: Keep Halloween safe

Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001 | 8:15 a.m.

I am sure I join most Americans in questioning so many aspects about the prosecution of our war on terrorism and the actions being taken at home to secure us against further attacks by people who have demonstrated no regard for our lives nor any concern for their own.

I understand the need for the administration to conduct much of our war effort shrouded in the kind of secrecy that doesn't telegraph our every punch to the enemy. There must be, however, some form of communication with the citizens of the United States that would better serve our need and desire to know what is going on and the obvious requirements of the military to not share that information with the enemy.

I am not, for instance, convinced that ideas like taking time off for the celebration of certain holidays makes a whole lot of sense while our men and women remain in harm's way. While we all must respect the religious holidays of others, there is a time -- and war time is that time -- when those niceties must give way to harsher realities. I don't know that such a respite in the conduct of this war is even being contemplated, but if it is, don't you think we, the people, should have a say in the matter?

And the ever-tightening tying of the hands of our leadership by coalition members seems to be hurting our war on terrorism, not helping it. That's what I get from television and newspaper accounts and, since our government ain't talking about this stuff to the public, what other conclusions can we draw?

The point is that there are millions of frustrated Americans who care what we are doing but don't know and aren't being told enough to feel comfortable that all that should be done is being done. So, where does that leave us?

We can either be frustrated with the situation 24 hours a day or we can do the sensible thing. And that, for the time being, is to deal with those matters over which we do have some control and leave the rest to President George W. Bush.

That brings me to the subject matter for today. Halloween is one day away. Has anyone given consideration to just how we are going to act normally in what is clearly the most abnormal situation any of us has ever faced?

I am talking about the normal and usually very enjoyable ritual of taking our kids out trick-or-treating. Except this is not a normal time and this is not the typical "watch what your kids bring home in the bag" kind of warning. We are way past that. What I am thinking about is doing what we are supposed to do for our kids and their enjoyment of Halloween, but doing it in a manner consistent with the understanding that life in these United States has been forever changed.

I am not smart enough to know all the actions we should be taking to ensure our kids' safety, but there are some obvious ones. Don't go to homes we don't know and don't travel to neighborhoods with which we are not familiar. For my money, I would let the kids fill up their bags and then replace the contents with candy and goodies I bought myself. This may seem like a lot of worry about nothing, but the phrase, "better safe than sorry" comes to mind about now.

And what about those of us at home? I am not sure I want to open my front door to someone of more than small-child status unless I can see that person's face. Who is prepared to welcome masked people on this Halloween night at your front door? Chances are excellent that no one is hiding behind a mask who wants to harm us. But should we take that chance this year?

And that brings me to the next question. Why aren't the authorities making it illegal, as a police matter, to wear masks in public places this year? Costumes are fine and so are masks in private homes and parties, but anonymous people roaming around public areas? Give me a break.

I know we aren't supposed to get paranoid, but it seems to me a small concession to common sense if we are a bit more cautious in the way we celebrate Halloween this week.

What would be the harm in being a little more careful than normal? What, we would spoil a great look! Better that than some clown or worse deciding to spoil the rest of our lives.

So, use your head. If our government won't let us control the war and the spread of anthrax in our cities -- and it is evident we can't seem to do that just now -- then deal with the things we can control.

How about the safety of our children for a start? Can you think of anything more important than that?