October is the time of year for falling leaves, cooler days, football and, yes, Halloween, with haunted houses, trick-or-treating and spooky stories of ghosts, goblins, witches and ghouls. But now we have a new twist on the seasonal specters.
This year, we hear about the scary tales of the terrifying "tea party" and those creepy conservatives. Ooooooo! I know that I would be afraid of a Sarah Palin mask -- wouldn't you?
The urban legend goes on about how tea party members are racist, too radical, and that they are a terrorism risk, all because they're fellow Americans from all walks of life peacefully and legally standing up for their conservative ideals based on facts and truths (remember, facts are neither conservative nor liberal) and not, as they are portrayed, based on just what they are being spoon-fed. A reason to be afraid of them, right?
If you are one who wants to spend your time hiding under the covers, you have the right to do so. But I believe that most of those reading this are among those who want to face their fears head-on and are willing to find out what's really lurking under the bed or going "bump" in the night. It is not the tea party that is the bogeyman. The only real "bogeyman" out there is ignorance.
Rich Schachte
New Kensington
