The picture shows that it is Halloween, a holiday based on the tradition of handing out candy to all the trick-or-treaters, by the children wearing costumes and the Jack-O-Lantern placed upon a stool filled to the brim with candy. The mother in this cartoon represents not only the "health freak" mentality that a growing number of Americans are adopting, but also the rational and normal thought process on the dangers of trick-or-treating.
The mother’s statement is, “Have fun but be careful. There are some sick evil people out there who might be handing out treats laced with trans-fats and sugars.” The validity of the mother’s statement holds true and has a touch of irony alongside the basic natural precaution lectures most parents give their children before they go off trick-or-treating. The mother’s usage of the word sick in her statement also alludes to the unhealthiness of the candy that might be handed out to trick-or-treaters.
But, does the health freak mentality have such a strong hold upon Americans as the cartoon portrays? Does this cartoon accurately represent it?
I like the cartoon. Nice choice of words. Makes it seem like the candy is drugs. I'm not much of a candy person myself, however, I did trick or treat as a youngin' and I would go out and get so much candy, eat so much that I would get sick. But as a kid, you don't pay attention to the amount of sugar in what your eating, you either don't know about it or you just don't care at an early age. You could look at that as a parenting thing. Parents are letting their children go out and trick or treat and fill their buckets full of "junk" which I think should be regulated a little bit. Trick or treating is most popular in America (only guessing) so if that's true, one might blame trick or treating to child obesity. I think there are many factors in child obesity not just in the happy meals, but in our country's traditions.
ReplyDeleteAlthough childhood obesity is a main problem facing America today and especially Tennessee, I think it would be a stretch to blame obesity on Halloween. There are children who go out and get enough candy for 5 pieces a day for the rest of the year, but from my experiences I have found kids get all this candy and then totally forget about it three weeks later. I think there is a way to be conscious about what you are eating and feeding your children without being a "freak". I think this cartoon is a very good depiction of parents who are taking the health fad too seriously.
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