What do you think?

Satire: the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.

Okay, so I'm not sure that I agree with the harshness of this definition...I can be, however, incredibly sarcastic and I use irony in larger portions than may be wise. So when I wrote the following, I suppose I was, indeed, using sarcasm and irony to poke a little fun at the opposition of a holiday that's become nothing more than a "come as you AREN'T" night for most of us. (quote from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Joss Whedon is truly profound.) Here's the piece:

October is an amazing month. Already the sights and smells of fall are evident. The days and nights are cooling down and minds and bodies are settling and calming from the rush and bustle of summer in preparation for the slow winter months. Peace and reflection seem to be the themes for October...however, there is an evil brewing, lurking, creeping inexorably closer. Halloween. Halloween is the dark blight on the beauty that October brings us. In a month when we should be celebrating discovery, peace and calm comes an evil depiction of the depravity and corruption worming it's way into the heart of society. Ghosties and Goulies polute the streets, vampires and werewolves gnash and howl at simple law-abiding citizens and the kicker of it all? If you don't give in to their demands you may find yourself on the receiving end of a nasty prank! Not only is Halloween directly responsible for the downfall of America's youth, but recent studies show that this holiday will be the nail in the coffin for our struggling economy. Money that could be funneled back into useful purchases are spent on boatloads of candy so that your home and cars are safe on Halloween night. Costumes are bought from companies who purchase them from outside the U. S. and then sold to us at top dollar. It's a travesty! I know I'll probably find my house toilet papered some morning soon for even suggesting this, but here is my proposition for taking back the night of October the 31st and minimizing the damage done to the moral fiber of our youth and the damage to the economy: first of all, make your own costumes! Dig out a sheet and go as an angel. Bend a bit of wire (I used coat hangers) into wing shapes and wrap them in panty hose or knee highs. Use an old turtle neck and paint dots on it to turn your small one into a puppy. A little face paint and imagination (and a couple books at the library for inspiration) will bring about amazing costumes that are original and wholesome! Instead of the candy that will send our young ones to the dentist in droves...on second thought, maybe candy is okay. Dentists are part of the economy too, after all. Thank you for your time and attention to a matter that needs our immediate action!

April Dawn LeFevre