Statesman

Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: Opinion

Halloween brings out the weird and crazy in everyone. Over the years, all different types of costumes have come out. But have Halloween costumes become too offensive to be allowed in public? Recently, a costume sold at stores nationwide was removed from the shelves due to its supposed offensive nature toward immigrants. The costume included an alien mask, a green card, and an orange jumpsuit labeled illegal alien.

According to the New York Times article "Illegal Alien Halloween Costume Sparks Ire," Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, referred to the costume as ''distasteful, mean-spirited, and ignorant of social stigmas and the current debate on immigration reform.'' Salas is a part of the group that demanded the costume be removed from stores.

The group reportedly sent e-mails to Wisconsin-based BuySeasons and Minneapolis-based Targets, in order to cease selling of the "illegal alien" costume. According to the article, "The group said it also planned to send letters to other companies that are selling the costume."

I cannot believe anyone would actually support this initiative to repress people's rights to market and buy what they please. Why are we concerned with the feelings of illegal aliens when they have yet to take the proper steps to become a citizen? I completely support immigration and the American melting pot, but only when people within the pot have all obtained legal citizenship. However, even legal immigrant citizens are upset about this Halloween costume.

But why are legal immigrant citizens of the United States offended by this costume when they went through all of the red tape necessary to become an American citizen? The costume is not in any way directed toward current immigrant American citizens, but only those that immigrated here and did not obtain such legalities.

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of L.A. needs to remember that Halloween is full of fun costumes and themes that poke fun at many different groups and specific people. These costumes are not meant as a personal attack toward illegal aliens, but rather they are marketing ploys to create something funny, creative and unique in order to meet consumer's desires to dress up as something unlike themselves.

This huge spectacle is simply another example of how society has become too sensitive and can't take a joke. There are more pertinent issues to focus on rather than what costume someone decides to wear to a party one night out of the year.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools